News

Duke Neurology Research Round Up, May 2021

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and members of the Duke Neurology Department were off to an early start. They contributed to six new peer-reviewed journals investigating stroke this April, bringing our total stroke-related articles published this year to more than 20. In addition to this research, our faculty, trainees, and advanced practice providers authored or co-authored 10 other studies and contributed to books advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s and dementia, brain tumors, epilepsy, and other conditions.

Staff Spotlight: Vera George, BSN, RN

Clinical research is an integral part of developing, testing, and refining new therapies. As one of our Clinical Research Coordinators Vera George is responsible for making sure dozens of these studies at Duke run smoothly and efficiently. For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, George talks to us about the joys of helping current and future patients with myasthenia gravis, movement disorders, and other conditions.

Duke Neurology Research Round Up, April 2022

This March, members of our Department contributed to studies that reveal potential new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease, help triage patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, address issues contributing to physician burnout, and more. In all, our faculty, staff, students, and trainees contributed to 15 studies published over the past 31 days. Read about them and find links to the original articles below.

Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders

Staff Spotlight: Amy Obssi

This week’s “Spotlight” interview shines on Amy Obssi, our newest clinical research coordinator in the division of Memory Disorders. Obssi talks to us about her role in helping to conduct research into treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias both at Duke and in her previous role at Toronto Western Hospital.

Staff Spotlight: Nicole Osborne

Nicole Osborne first came to Duke in 2020 to help screen patients for COVID-19 at Duke University Hospital. Last year, she came to our Morreene Road Clinic as a patient service associate (PSA). For this week’s Spotlight interview, Osborne talks to us about the joys of forging connections with patients, how having a close family member in need of medical care gave her a new perspective, and enjoying time with family and friends outside of work.

Staff Spotlight: Clare Essex

Professionally, Clare Essex lives in two worlds. Within the lab of Laurie Sanders, PhD, and Carol Colton, PhD, in the Duke Neurology Department, she’s working part-time to improve understandings the genetic underpinnings of neurodegenerative disease. Essex spends the other half of her work week as a medical scribe at UNC REX Hospital in Raleigh.

Staff Spotlight: Bryan Day

The life of Bryan Day involves balancing two separate roles. From Monday through Friday, Day acts as a staff assistant for the Neurology Department, answering phone and email requests, and helping patients and providers make and keep their schedules. On weekends and evenings, Day heads over to the Clarksville Station restaurant, which he owns and manages. For this week’s Spotlight interview Day talks to us about his work at Duke, the joys and challenges of running a restaurant, and how he uses lists to keep his busy life in order.

Staff Spotlight: Pamela Neville

Recent addition to the Duke Neurology Department Pamela Neville has big shoes to fill. After the retirement of Kathy Ervin, a nearly four-decade veteran of Duke, at the end of 2021, Neville is taking on the duties of making sure new faculty have the tools and systems they need to be successful at Duke as well as assisting in the promotions process.

Duke Neurology Research Round Up, January 2022

Research authored by members of the Duke Neurology Department published during the final month of 2021 advanced our knowledge of stroke, epilepsy, dystonia, and other conditions.

Duke Neurology 2021: A year in review (part 2 of 2)

The second half of 2021 was as eventful as the first for the Duke Neurology Department. Story highlights from July through December of this year include our Leonard White, PhD, winning a national award for excellence in teaching, the founding of a joint Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, two of our hospitals receiving the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s highest award for quality stroke care, and the School of Medicine receiving  awards totaling $18 million to uncover the origins of Parkinson’s disease.