News

A Comprehensive Stroke facility needs to meet more than 400 complex requirements from the Joint Commission. As our Stroke Program Manager, Melissa Freeman, RN, MPH, works to make sure Duke University Hospital meets those requirements on a daily basis. In this week’s “Spotlight” interview, Freeman talks to us about the interdepartmental coordination, patient care, protocols, and education involved in her day-to-day work.

For Eleanor Wood, every day is arm day. As a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technician in the lab of Noreen Bukhari-Parlakturk, MD, PhD, she helps keep 10 pound TMS coils within half a millimeter of their target range. Wood also works in Duke University’s Opti Lab and Brain Stimulation Research Center where she helps conduct other TMS research and engineer new TMS technologies. For this week’s spotlight interview, the recent Duke graduate talks to us about what she enjoys about each of these jobs.

One year after coming to our Morreene Road Clinic, Crystal Ballard still enjoys the challenges and opportunities that come with her work. Each day her job involves supporting our neurology providers, supervising staff assistants, preparing patients for clinic and other tasks. For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, Ballard talks to us about this work, her various positions at Duke over the past 20 years, and embracing and adapting to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen White Tong first came to our EMG labs as a college sophomore, soon becoming fascinated with the neurological processes behind nerve conduction studies and with her interactions with patients. Now as a clinical research coordinator, she’s running a large clinical trial for patients with Parkinson’s disease and recruiting patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

With 18 new peer-reviewed articles from members of our faculty, August 2020 was a record-breaking month for the Duke Neurology Department. Clinical research highlights published in the past 31 days include an analysis of patients presenting with vertigo in Emergency Departments, an essay on the human cost of COVID-19 and how we can help people connect during difficult times, and a study finding new benefits for therapies for myasthenia gravis.

Clinical social worker Allison Allen, MSW, LCSW, is a member of the committee that plans the annual Social Worker of the Year award celebration. She thought it was odd she hadn't heard how the department would recognize this year's recipient virtually. That's because she was the 2020 awardee.

“We were having our weekly virtual check-in and I realized my bio was being read," Allen said. “My husband then entered our home office with our kids and presented me the award. Previous winners are my mentors, so it was humbling to be this year's recipient."

Jerri Harris’ path to healthcare started in childhood. As a daughter and granddaughter of nurturers and caregivers, Harris saw the difference that compassion, empathy, and care could give to individuals in need. Now as a regulatory coordinator within our Neuroscience Clinical Research Organization, Harris works behind the scenes to make sure our clinical research studies operate smoothly and effectively.

When Lauren Prochaska, BSN, RN, took on the role of nurse manager for Duke’s 1L clinic one year ago, she faced the formidable task of overseeing all the clinic’s daily operations. Since then she’s had to keep those duties up while thinking outside the box to make sure patients received safe, effective, and compassionate care during an emerging epidemic.

Jessica Carlson grew up with a “super mom” who was always present with affection, support, and a willingness to take her daughter to tennis meets every weekend in blazing summer heat. Seeing her mother get diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, as well as her perseverance despite the debilitating effects of the disease, inspired Carlson to pursue a career in neurology.

In addition to the development and administration of a potential therapy and following participants over time, every clinical trial also has a complex set of budgeting and financial concerns. Jillian Deignan, our finance practice manager, makes sure these issues are handled accurately, promptly, and completely for our Department. In this week's "spotlight" interview, Deignan talks to us about how her current job compares to her previous work in the Department of Pediatrics, and the highs and lows of her work.