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Diane Detmer
Website designed, published and maintained by Diane Detmer
Contact Webmaster: dinki@charter.net
Duke Lung Transplant Friends News
Letter from Dr. Palmer
April 28, 2008
Dear Duke Lung Transplant Program Patient:
I am writing to share with you an important change in the medical oversight of the Duke Lung Transplant Program. Although it has been a pleasure to serve as Medical Director of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, I intend to step down from this position beginning in the summer of 2008. I have enjoyed my tenure as Medical Director and am proud to have helped build Duke into a world leader in lung transplantation. However, because of the increasing growth and success of the clinical program, the administrative responsibilities required as Medical Director have increased dramatically. To continue as medical director would require that I significantly reduce my research efforts at a time when we are very close to making important advances in transplant research.
Because I feel so passionately about pursing research that will improve the outcomes of our lung transplant recipients, I intend to transition administrative leadership to David Zaas, MD. As many of you know from your experiences, Dr. Zaas is a wonderful and talented faculty member in the Duke Lung Transplant Program. Dr. Zaas has chosen to devote himself and his career to oversight of our clinical program. As this transition occurs, he will further introduce himself to you and describe his plans to ensure our program continues to meet all of your health care needs.
I want to assure everyone that I will remain at Duke and continue with my regular clinics and rounding. In addition, I will assist Dr. Zaas with program leadership and provide him with guidance as needed. Most importantly, I will now devote my time and energy towards research focused on making lung transplantation more successful for all of you. Although I am very proud of our long-term outcomes at Duke; more research is needed to make lung transplantation a truly successful treatment for all our patients. Our research efforts should lead to the development of new and innovative therapies to prevent and treat the many complications that can occur after lung transplantation. We are very fortunate to have funding to pursue these important studies from the National Institute of Health, private foundations, and generous contributions of our patients.
We are awaiting official approval of Dr. Zaas' appointment as Medical Director from the United Network of Organ Sharing and from Duke Hospital. We will notify of his official approval when we are notified.
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in your care and will continue to do so in the future. I want to reassure everyone that despite this planned change in our leadership structure, you will continue to receive the same outstanding care from Duke and me that you are accustomed to. Finally, if anyone would like to learn more about our ongoing research studies or contribute to them please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I wish you all continued good health and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sincerely,
Scott M Palmer, MD MHS, FCCP
Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, Lung Transplant Program
Medical Director, Heart-Lung Transplant Program
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
April 28, 2008
Dear Duke Lung Transplant Program Patient:
I am writing to share with you an important change in the medical oversight of the Duke Lung Transplant Program. Although it has been a pleasure to serve as Medical Director of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, I intend to step down from this position beginning in the summer of 2008. I have enjoyed my tenure as Medical Director and am proud to have helped build Duke into a world leader in lung transplantation. However, because of the increasing growth and success of the clinical program, the administrative responsibilities required as Medical Director have increased dramatically. To continue as medical director would require that I significantly reduce my research efforts at a time when we are very close to making important advances in transplant research.
Because I feel so passionately about pursing research that will improve the outcomes of our lung transplant recipients, I intend to transition administrative leadership to David Zaas, MD. As many of you know from your experiences, Dr. Zaas is a wonderful and talented faculty member in the Duke Lung Transplant Program. Dr. Zaas has chosen to devote himself and his career to oversight of our clinical program. As this transition occurs, he will further introduce himself to you and describe his plans to ensure our program continues to meet all of your health care needs.
I want to assure everyone that I will remain at Duke and continue with my regular clinics and rounding. In addition, I will assist Dr. Zaas with program leadership and provide him with guidance as needed. Most importantly, I will now devote my time and energy towards research focused on making lung transplantation more successful for all of you. Although I am very proud of our long-term outcomes at Duke; more research is needed to make lung transplantation a truly successful treatment for all our patients. Our research efforts should lead to the development of new and innovative therapies to prevent and treat the many complications that can occur after lung transplantation. We are very fortunate to have funding to pursue these important studies from the National Institute of Health, private foundations, and generous contributions of our patients.
We are awaiting official approval of Dr. Zaas' appointment as Medical Director from the United Network of Organ Sharing and from Duke Hospital. We will notify of his official approval when we are notified.
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in your care and will continue to do so in the future. I want to reassure everyone that despite this planned change in our leadership structure, you will continue to receive the same outstanding care from Duke and me that you are accustomed to. Finally, if anyone would like to learn more about our ongoing research studies or contribute to them please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I wish you all continued good health and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sincerely,
Scott M Palmer, MD MHS, FCCP
Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, Lung Transplant Program
Medical Director, Heart-Lung Transplant Program
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Duke University Medical Center