Start Year: 2018

College/University: UC Berkeley

Medical School: Duke University

Clinical and Research Interests

My clinical and research interests focus on outcomes research and finding innovative ways to provide value-based care to our patients in the Laboratory for Transformative Administration (LTA). LTA was founded a few years ago by one of our general surgery residents working to bridge the gap between administration and clinicians to optimize patient care and reduce costs. 

What were you looking for in a residency program?

The most important thing I was looking for in a residency program was how supportive the residents were with each other. Intern year and residency are going to be difficult regardless of which program you attend, but having co-residents I could rely on and call my dear friends allowed a demanding time in my life to be more enjoyable.

What are the strengths of the Duke program?

The collegiality of the residents and faculty are palpable here at Duke. I was fortunate enough to build relationships while I was a medical student, but one of the main reasons I hoped to stay for residency was the supportive environment fostered by all the residents and faculty I interacted with on a clinical or academic capacity. Duke allows for a creative environment for research with many mentors who can support you build a new research program or experiment even if one does not currently exist.

What advice do you have for incoming interns?

Working together as a team provides the best patient care possible. Do not hesitate to call your seniors or chiefs for any questions or concerns. Intern year is difficult but you learn an incredible amount and take ownership of patients in a way that was impossible to do as a medical student. Take advantage of time off to have fun and lean on your co-residents/new family!

What do you like best about living in Durham and the Triangle?

The beach and mountains are a few hours in the opposite direction from where we are located. It would be feasible to make a day trip to the beach and still be able to come home and prepare for work the next day. We have an awesome variety of restaurants, bars, breweries, and coffee shops to explore in the area at affordable prices. 

What do you like to do outside of Duke?

I enjoy taking walks with my dog and baking in my free time. Typically, extra baked goods will end up in the bellies of the general surgery residents.

Honors and Awards

• Feagin Leadership Scholarship (2016)

Conference Presentations

1. Chang D, Sexton SJ, Madden-Fuentes RJ, Zaid UB, and Peterson AC, “Cuff Downsizing has Good Outcomes in the Management of Urethral Subcuff Atrophy.” Poster Presentation. The Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association. March 24, 2017. Austin, TX.
2. Chang D, Sexton SJ, Madden-Fuentes RJ, Zaid UB, and Peterson AC, “Cuff Downsizing has Good Outcomes in the Management of Urethral Subcuff Atrophy.” Poster Presentation. Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Day. April 28, 2017. Durham, NC.
3. Turner MC, Chang D, Sun Z, Gilmore BF, Ong CT, Mantyh CR, Migaly J, and Moore HG, “Perineal Approach to Rectal Prolapse Repair is Associated with Less Morbidity and Equivalent Durability at One Year Compared to Abdominal Repair.” Podium Presentation. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. June 12, 2017. Seattle, WA.
4. Chang D, Turner MC, Sun Z, Gilmore BF, Ong CT, Mantyh CR, Migaly J, and Moore HG, “Perineal Approach to Rectal Prolapse Repair is Associated with Less Morbidity and Equivalent Durability at One Year Compared to Abdominal Repair.” Podium Presentation. Association of Women Surgeons. October 21, 2017. San Diego, CA.
5. Chang D, Allio BA, Brooks JM, Degoski DJ, Kahokehr AA, Peterson AC, Fraser MO, “Prophylactic Treatment Markedly Improves Bladder Capacity following Pelvic Radiation.” Podium Presentation. The Society of Pelvic Research. December 2-3, 2017. Reno, NV.
6. Leraas HJ, Cox ML, Rhodin K, Freischlag K, Gilmore BF, Chang D, Sudan R, Haney J, Migaly J, “Medical Student Involvement and Learning Objectives in Morbidity and Mortality Conferences: A National Survey of the Association for Surgical Education’s Academy of Clerkship Directors.” Podium Presentation. The Association for Surgical Education. May 1-3, 2018. Austin, TX.