Duke Medicine Timeline

Duke geneticists develop rapid screening test newborns for over 30 metabolic diseases. The test is now routinely used throughout the country.

The Bryan Research Building opens.

Duke begins new research program on health of Black American entitled, “Health, Behavior and Aging in Black Americans,” believed to be the first such program in the country. 

Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center develops the nation's first outpatient bone-marrow transplantation program.

North Carolina's first Geriatric Nurse Practitioner master's program begins at Duke.

Responding to the growing emphasis in the United States on preventive medicine, Duke opens the Center for Living Campus.

Duke performs its first lung transplant and its first heart/lung transplant.

Dr. Allen Roses and others identify apolipoprotein E (apoE) as a susceptibility gene for Alzheimer’s disease. It is one of many genetic risk factors for disease identified at Duke.

Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg’s team of researchers are the first in the world to use umbilical cord from an unrelated donor to treat children with leukemia and other blood related diseases. Umbilical cord blood is first used to treat adults at Duke in 1995.

Duke enrolls the final patient in GUSTO-I, the largest clinical trial conducted in the United States. The trial infrastructure formed the foundation for the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), the nation's foremost academic clinical trials center.

The Medical Center embarks on the busiest period of new construction in decades, including the Levine Science Research Center, Medical Sciences Research Building, a complete renovation of Duke Clinic, additions to the Morris Building for cancer care and research, a new Children's Health Center, a new ambulatory care building, and new parking garages.

Duke creates the Duke University Affiliated Physicians (now known was Duke Primary Care), an this extensive network of community-based primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

Dr. Louise Markert demonstrates that babies born with no immune system, a fatal condition known as complete DiGeorge syndrome, can be cured with thymus transplantation.

Duke scientists help discover the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes responsible for many inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancers.

Duke scientists, with colleagues at Princeton University, generate the first clear images of the human lung using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The new technique could greatly aid diagnosis and treatment of lung disorders such as emphysema and asthma.

Duke's Family Nurse Practitioner program launches one of eight national projects designed to address disparities of care in rural areas.

School of Nursing alumna Brenda Nevidjon becomes the first registered nurse to hold the position of Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Hospital.

The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) was created in 1996 from the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease (DDCD). Dr. Robert M. Califf was named as the first DCRI director. The DCRI designs and conducts small and large multinational clinical trials.

DUHS purchases Chartwell Southeast. The new entity is called Duke Community Infusion Services (DCIS).

Durham Community Health Network is formed. 

Duke begins managing Durham Regional Hospital.

Dr. Ralph Snyderman is the first president of Duke University Health System.

The National Institutes of Health partner with Duke to offer a joint master of health sciences degree in clinical research. Using distance learning and televideo equipment, NIH fellows can earn a degree at Duke. This is the first graduate-level degree partnership for NIH.

The Duke University Health System -- an integrated academic health care system serving a broad area of central North Carolina -- is officially created as Duke establishes partnerships with Durham Regional Hospital, Raleigh Community Hospital, and other regional health care providers. Today, DUHS includes three hospitals, ambulatory care and surgery clinics, primary care medical practice clinics, home health services, hospice services, physician practice affiliations, managed care providers, and other related facilities and services.

Duke purchases Raleigh Community Hospital.

Duke acquires Lincoln Community Health Center.

Duke and St. Joseph Home Care is formed.

Edward W. Holmes is appointed as dean of the School of Medicine.