Welcome

A Message from the Vice Dean

Dear colleagues, friends, and members of the Section of Surgical Disciplines:

It’s a pleasure to introduce you to the Section’s 2021 Annual Report, which showcases the outstanding work and advancements produced over the past year by the Departments of Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences.

As you will see throughout this report, our faculty, staff, and trainees continued to dedicate themselves to our vision: to be united, for all patients.

We have seen continued growth in our patient volumes despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have adapted to these higher volumes with new data analytic tools, which have allowed our surgeons and clinicians to manage resources and deliver the best possible care to every patient more efficiently.

Our physician-scientists have continued to dedicate themselves to research that seeks to answer the world’s most complex medical and scientific problems. We’re proud to have so many faculty in our Division of Surgical Sciences now conducting research within the new, state-of-the-art Duke Research and Discovery @RTP campus. Our global impact continues to advance, as researchers within the Section collaborate on projects across twelve countries.

Our educational programs remain highly-sought-after, as we implemented new ways to recruit and connect with future Duke trainees virtually across long distances. The Department of Surgery is now ranked number two in the country among surgical programs in the U.S. News and World Report’s Rankings.

While we stay united for all patients, we have also united to support our own people. The new SEEDS initiative has renewed our focus on providing career development for Section members and providing resources to those who have historically been disadvantaged in academic surgery. We strive to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community for all members of the Section of Surgical Disciplines.

With the holidays upon us, I wish you the very best as we traverse the final weeks of 2021, and look forward to continued progress in 2022. Thank you for your continued support and interest in Duke Surgery.

Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS
David C. Sabiston, Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery
Vice Dean of Surgical Disciplines, Duke University School of Medicine
Surgeon-in-Chief, Duke University Health System