Chairman's Message

The Duke Department of Surgery has gained a reputation as one of the leading surgery programs in the world. In keeping with the mission of Duke Medicine, we are committed to providing outstanding patient care, training tomorrow's leaders, and conducting innovative research.

 

The Department of Surgery is comprised of an exceptional team of clinical and research faculty, staff, residents, and fellows. This foundation, along with unified support from the Duke University Health System and Duke School of Medicine, will allow us to continue to define the future of medicine.

The Department of Surgery selects surgical faculty based upon their educational background, clinical expertise and skill, and shared vision of excellence. Because of their high degree of specialization and technical prowess in applying innovative clinical research, our surgeons are able to treat some of the rarest medical conditions.

Consistently selected as one of the top medical centers by the U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking, the Duke clinics provide the best in patient care to over one million patients each year. Duke Surgery's faculty and staff provide a full range of surgical services, from general surgery to the most complex procedures, including experimental and highly specialized treatments offered at only a few medical centers nationwide. Our multidisciplinary approach, combining the perspectives and expertise of physicians from many specialties with the newest procedures, state-of-the-art facilities and technologies, all with an emphasis on quality and patient safety, make Duke Surgery a true leader in health care.

As a leader in education, Duke Surgery is committed to training world-class clinicians and academic surgeons through its residency, fellowship, and medical student programs. Our programs have historically received national recognition for providing a superior education and training experience in a comprehensive array of subspecialty areas.

 

Duke Surgery also takes the lead in employing advanced technology to enhance surgical training. The American College of Surgeons recently recognized our Surgical Education and Activities Lab (SEAL) as a Level I Comprehensive Education Institute - the highest ranking available. This state-of-the-art lab opened in 2005 to train residents, fellows, medical students, and faculty on simulation equipment in a risk-free environment to advance medical education and improve patient safety. Today, SEAL has expanded its training to include nurses, physician assistants, and anesthesiologists.

As an international leader in laboratory and clinical investigation, the Department of Surgery has a history of receiving more NIH funding than any other department of surgery in the world. Each of our surgical divisions pursues innovative advances in basic, clinical, and translational research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.

 

Duke Surgery researchers play a major role in cutting-edge research, conducting hundreds of clinical trials and outcomes studies each year. Our team of over 200 faculty members publishes hundreds of articles annually in peer-reviewed journals, disseminating key findings and insights far beyond our walls. At the same time, they work rapidly to translate pioneering discoveries in biomedical research from the lab to the bedside where patients benefit from advances in clinical therapies and treatments.

 

We hope you find this website helpful and invite you to learn more about the exceptional services provided by the Duke Department of Surgery.

 

 

 

Danny O. Jacobs, MD, MPH
David C. Sabiston, Jr. Professor

Chair, Department of Surgery

Surgeon-in-Chief
Duke University Medical Center