Edwin G. Buckley, E'72, MD'77, HS'77-'81

Edward Halperin, MD, who has served as vice dean of the School of Medicine and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs since 2002, has accepted a post as dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, beginning November 1.

Edward G. Buckley, E'72, MD'77, HS'77-'81, who led the planning and implementation of the new medical school curriculum, will serve as interim vice dean for education. He will be responsible for the educational quality of Duke's MD, physician assistant (PA), and physical therapist (PT) programs as well as admissions, curriculum, student affairs, the medical center library, and anatomical gifts.

Halperin had been at Duke since 1983 as a professor of radiation oncology, pediatrics, and medical education. He was instrumental in strengthening the dual degree programs and implementing fresh ideas into the medical student curriculum.

“His service to Duke also includes innumerable, and often unheralded acts of sound judgment in his leadership roles,” said Dean R. Sanders “Sandy” Williams, MD'74, HS'77-'80. “He has been a valued friend and key advisor to me in the most important and difficult decisions I have faced as dean.”

Halperin also served as an unofficial historian of Duke Medicine, including spearheading a project that led to the creation of “Heritage Hall,” a hallway in the administration area that displays images of historical Duke Medicine leaders.

Buckley is the division chief of pediatric and neuron-ophthalmology. In addition to his Duke education and training, he completed two fellowships—one in pediatric and one in neuro-ophthalmology—at the University of Miami 's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

He has served as chair of the curriculum committee, associate dean for undergraduate medical education, and as a member of the admissions committee.