When he first entered Duke University as an undergraduate, Dylan Ryan, MD, wanted to study chemistry, before a growing interest in the life sciences drew him first to study biology and then to enter medical school. As a medical student, he found that he enjoyed both the intellectual problem-solving nature of the field as well as the close relationship neurology allowed him to build with his patients.

When Charles “Hunter” Roark, DO, came to Duke last year, he wasn’t expecting to have to adjust to an unexpected global pandemic in addition to his internal medicine residency. Now as a Junior Assistant Resident, he’s bringing the foundation in general medicine, experience in working with patients, and practice using personal protective equipment (PPE) to his training as a Duke Neurology resident.

The Duke Neurology residency class of 2020 held their graduation virtually this week, celebrating the completion of their four years of training and contributions to our Department amidst departmental growth, a continuing global pandemic, and numerous other challenges.

Our graduating class of residents will complete their neurology training in fellowships across the field of neurology, both at Duke and in other leading academic institutions across the country.

For Matthew Khayata, MD, a lifelong interest in working with infants, toddlers, and adolescents, combined with the complex, problem-solving nature of neurology led him to pursue a residency in child neurology at Duke. Now during his year with the Neurology Department, he’s rotating throughout our hospital system, treating adult and child neurology patients, and navigating the COVID-19 crisis as it unfolds. For this week’s Spotlight interview, Khayata talks to us about why he takes inspiration from both his colleagues and Dr. Seuss in difficult times.

What do a genetic analysis of the intersecting pathways between Alzheimer’s disease and depression, a national prize-winning essay examining the ethics of unionization for physicians, and a systematic review of the literature surrounding a new potential form of therapy for stroke recovery have in common? They’re all subjects of peer-reviewed journal articles written or co-written by members of the Neurology Department published this March.

The Duke Neurology Department’s clinical, translational, and basic science wings came together last Thursday to discuss their work and collaborate at the Division of Translational Brain Sciences and Neurology Residents first joint poster session. 

Research faculty, postdoctoral associates, clinical neurology residents, and other members of the Department presented more than 30 ongoing research projects from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. 

Dozens of neurology-related (or neuro-adjacent) events are planned at Duke for the first few months of 2020, within our Department as well as those of our colleagues. Lectures, workshops, and symposia will explore topics such as neurobehavior, narrative medicine, and learning how to be an effective bystander. Read more about each of these events below.

Incoming Junior Assistant Resident Jennifer Kang, MD, felt the call to pursue neuro-oncology after her friend’s father died from glioblastoma. In this Resident Spotlight interview, Kang talks to us about this experience, what she’s looking forward to as a neurologist, and what she's learned from almost a decade of attending Duke and living in the Triangle.

For Senior Assistant Resident (third-year) resident Jennifer Creed, MD, PhD, a recent day might include everything from studying traumatic brain injury to practicing neurocritcal care, and bicycling from campus to Morreene Road and back, all before heading home to a baby and toddler. In this week’s Resident Spotlight, we talk to Creed about the joys and pitfalls of neurocritical care, growing up in a tri-lingual household, and making the effort to travel with a new family.