News

Congratulations to Sophie Shaikh, MD, MPH, MSc, who recently received the Physician Leadership Award at Duke Regional Hospital (DRH). Dr. Shaikh, is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health at Duke and has been seeing newborns at Duke Regional Hospital since 2016. She was elected Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Regional Hospital in 2019 and has most recently served as the director of the DRH Newborn Nursery.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its guidelines for evaluating and treating childhood obesity for the first time in 15 years, recommending early and intensive treatment — which includes medications and surgery for some young patients.

Edward G. Buckley, MD, vice dean for Education, School of Medicine recently announced that Aimee Chung, MD and David Gordon, MD have been selected as new advisory deans. In addition, Joseph Jackson, MD has accepted the role of director of the Office of Student Affairs.

Congratulations to Aditee Narayan, MD, MPH, on her award from Duke University School of Medicine.

Every spring the Duke University School of Medicine recognizes the achievements of a number of our colleagues with the presentation of School of Medicine faculty awards.

Despite the large number of children and adolescents who meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health disorder, fewer than 20% actually receive the appropriate mental health services because of the limited number of trained clinicians, including child psychiatrists, and multiple barriers to access, particularly in rural populations.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of the Division of Child and Family Well-Being to help achieve its vision of children who are healthy and who thrive in safe, stable and nurturing families, schools and communities.

Gabriela Maradiaga Panayotti is a Duke pediatrician who readily acknowledges that she can encourage teens to get vaccinated and give them all the reasons why she thinks they should, but the reality is that their peers are likely to have more influence.

Adolescents and young adults are at a pivotal time in their lives, during which health trajectories firmly take hold. A range of complex health issues that intermingle physical, behavioral, and developmental dynamics are common in this age group.

Charlene Wong is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Policy at Duke and the Executive Director of the North Carolina Integrated Care for Kids Model.