Duke Office of Physician-Scientist Development

Strong Start scholars came together for an evening of connection, conversation, and community. Scholars across cohorts shared experiences, built relationships, and welcomed the 2026 cohort. Thanks to Dr. Gowthami Arepally for bringing our community together. #StrongStart #DukeMed

Motivated by personal connections to kidney disease patients, Caleb Spruill explored research through OPSD's PRIME PUMP program in Uronephrology. Learn how PUMP shaped his path toward medicine in the July OPSD Newsletter: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-july… #PRIMEPUMP #KidneyResearch

Congratulations to the 2026 OPSD Technician Support Award recipients: Yike Jiang, James Harris, Oleg Alekseev, Sonali Bracken, and Zachary Lorsch! Learn how this program supports #PhysicianScientists and explore opportunities in the July OPSD Newsletter: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-july…

Steven Yang explored neuroendocrine tumor research through the PUMP program, working with Luke Izzo in the Trudy Oliver lab, and building #BiomedicalResearch skills and experience. 🔗Read more + funding, events, and updates: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-june…

Celebrating the 2026 Physician-Scientist Strong Start Award recipients @DukeMedSchool: Eugene Vaios, Christopher Reed, Michael T. Forrester, George Cortina, & Krista Haines. Supporting bold research + the next generation of #PhysicianScientists. Read more: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-june…

Maxfield Brody explored improving renal disease through the PUMP program with @Ben_Catanese in the Daniel Edmonston lab. With PUMP, he built invaluable #BiomedicalResearch skills. 🔗Read more + funding, events, and updates in the OPSD May Newsletter: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-may26

Congrats to 2026 FRCS awardees Drs. Elizabeth Wilson & Jennifer Cohen. OPSD and @DukeMedSchool support #PhysicianScientists balancing significant caregiving responsibilities. 🔗Read more + explore funding, events, and updates in the OPSD May Newsletter: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-may26

Thank you to all who attended the OPSD Spring Mini-Symposium! Dr. Arepally highlighted outcomes from the #PhysicianScientist Strong Start program, and awardees Ammon Fager, Leah Acker, and Justin Low presented their compelling research projects. See you at our next meeting!

Congrats to Michael Lee, recipient of the highly selective @the_asci PSSF Fellowship! While working at @MSKCancerCenter, he’ll advance cancer immunology research and start his physician-scientist career. 🔗mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-apr26 #StudentCorner #PhysicianScientist #DukeOPSD

🎉 Congrats to the 2026 ASCI Duke awardees! Celebrating Young Investigator awardee @DeepAshanaMD and Emerging‑Generation awardees @SonaliJBracken, @MarkChenMDPhD & Ryne Ramaker—all previously supported by OPSD. Read more: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-apr26 #ASCI #PhysicianScientists

📢Join us for the OPSD Spring Mini-Symposium on April 21 from 4-6 pm in MSRBIII Room 1125. 🌟Address by Dr. Gowthami Arepally 🌟Presentations by Strong Start Scholars 🌟Network with physician-scientists Register: lnkd.in/euWug5Vd #PhysicianScientist #DukeMedSchool #Duke

We recognize Annika Elstrom and her experience with OPSD’s PUMP program. Mentored by Crystal Tyson, Annika worked with communities at risk for #CKD to improve study design—before launch. Learn more: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-mar26 #Nephrology #CommunityEngagedResearch #PhysicianScientist

📣 Investing in the future of medical discovery at Duke. OPSD thanks the Nanaline H. Duke Fund for a $11.45M award expanding Strong Start—catalyzing innovative research by early‑career #physicianscientists. Story, Funding, Events, and More: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-mar26 #MadeForThis

Looking forward to moderating this session! #PhysicianScientist @A_P_S_A @VUMCDiscoveries @DukeOPSD Link to register: medschool.duke.edu/research/resea…

OPSD is now accepting applications for the Poindexter Scholars in Basic Sciences Program! Rising 3rd‑year med students with a Duke laboratory research mentor can apply for awards of $10K–$25K. Deadline: March 15, 2026. Read more in our Feb Newsletter ➡️ mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-feb26

🌟Strong Start Awardee Leah Acker earns the 2025 McKnight Innovator Award! Her work explores the “inflammatory hangover” behind post-op brain fog and tests noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation to protect cognition. More: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-feb26 #PhysicianScientist #Research

Grateful to the Nanaline H. Duke Fund for renewed support of the Strong Start Program! Physician-scientists like Mara Serbanescu and Jeffrey Russ drive discovery to the bedside to transform patient care. Learn more: 🔗 giving.dukehealth.org/stories/fund-f… #MadeForThis @dukemedicine

Matthew Nuzzolo had an engaging experience investigating the synergistic efficacy of TTK/Mps1 inhibition on aggressive prostate cancer with @EMaciasPhD. Matt aspires to transform medical interventions through health policy research. Read more: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-jan26 #Biomedical

⏰Apply by Feb 8! OPSD is accepting applications for two #summer #research programs: PUMP for #undergrads and PRIME Summer Academy for #MedicalStudents. Build research skills, explore #PhysicianScientist career paths, and learn at @DukeMedSchool. Details: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-dec25

Our January newsletter is packed full of insights from the #YoungPhysicianScientistSeries, new funding opportunities, upcoming events, and the latest news. OPSD newsletters are🪡tailored to Duke🩺physician‑scientists🔬. Click to read: mailchi.mp/duke/opsd-jan26 #PhysicianScientist