DukeMed Alumni News
Fall 2007

In Brief:

Thank you to the more than 900 DukeMed Alumni who completed our online survey in March. Your responses will help the Medical Alumni Association provide
better services to our approximately 12,500 members.

What We Learned

You like Duke Medicine.
More than 91 percent of responders view Duke Medicine favorably or extremely favorably,
mainly due to the perceived value of and respect for the Duke medical degree or training. Accomplishments of faculty, alumni, and students, as well as Duke medical history and tradition, also ranked high.

Both personal and professional ties are important

School of Medicine graduates are most likely to interact with Duke Medicine by attending Medical Alumni Weekend or by referring patients to Duke specialists. House staff alumni—those who completed internships, residencies, or fellowships here—were most likely to interact by referring
patients and networking with faculty. A significant percentage of responders also serve as volunteers.

Responses to the open-ended question “In what other ways would you like to interact?” included these themes: more information on alumni in my area; better networking directory, more CME options, alumni programs for former house staff or specialty-specific reunions, a forum to submit or discuss puzzling medical cases, and serving as mentors or hosts for Duke
Alumni Respond to e-Surveymedical students or residents. Top barriers to participation were geographical distance and work and family commitments.

You read print and electronic communications

DukeMed Magazine was the most widely read publication from Duke, followed closely by DukeMed Alumni News. While many responders indicated they were not familiar with our e-communication, DukeMed Messenger, it was the way they received the survey.


You’re not using the Medical Alumni Association Web site

Only a small percentage of responders has ever visited medalum.duke.edu, the Medical Alumni Association Web site. Most responders didn’t recognize the distinction between the password-protected alumni directory (for updating your personal and business contact information and searching
for classmates) and Find a Duke Trained Doctor, the online directory potential patients and students can use to locate DukeMed alumni by specialty and geographic region. Only modest interest was expressed for on-line discussions, with the most interest in discussing unique or complicated
medical cases.

You give

Sixty-seven percent of responders have given to Duke Medicine in the last five years. Most of those who hadn’t said they felt other non-profit organizations were a higher priority. By far, gratitude for an excellent medical education or training was the primary motivator for giving back. Most responders prefer to donate by mail, followed by on-line giving. Many responders indicated they would give if asked by a specific specialty program, and not surprisingly, telephone calls are the least popular form of gift solicitation.

You have mixed feelings about “Mother Duke”

We received a wide-ranging variety of open-ended comments, including concerns about competition for patients, Duke being “big business,” an atmosphere of competition among clinical faculty, and concerns surrounding the lacrosse case. Many also commented on Duke as an extended family with a special spirit of camaraderie and expressed appreciation for being included and updated.

Your connection to faculty mentors runs deep

Nearly everyone who responded to the survey took time to share some thoughts and memories about their favorite faculty mentors. Your responses were so compelling, we’ve posted many of them online. To read them, visit medalum.duke.edu and click on “Alumni Survey.”

The DukeMed Alumni survey was sent to 5,638 alumni—all those for whom we had a current e-mail address. Everyone who responded was given the opportunity to request a Duke Medicine Alumni license plate frame. If you requested one but have not received it, please call Kevin Hirano at 919-667-2518 or e-mail medalum@mc.duke.edu.