WEEKLY SCHEDULED EVENTS

The following regularly scheduled conferences are listed. Please see the current Department of Medicine Calendar for a listing of current conference topics as well as other conferences of the medicine subspecialties.

DESCRIPTION OF CONFERENCES

Pulmonary Didactic Conference: This weekly conference is designed to provide fellows with opportunities to critically review literature and to interact with leading experts in the fields of pulmonary and critical care medicine and in basic research. Experts from Duke, other universities, and research settings such as Research Triangle Park, National Institute for Environmental Health Statistics and Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology have been contributors to the seminars. Didactic and interactive conferences include historical perspectives and their impact on current practices, applications of current research to the study of gross and cellular anatomy of the airways and lungs, physiology of organ and intact models, and environmental and occupational impacts on pulmonary disease, problematic areas in diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases and ethical considerations of laboratory and clinical practice.

Interdisciplinary Chest Conference: This weekly clinical conference is one of the best attended specialty conferences at Duke University Medical Center. Two clinical cases are presented each week with a review of radiologic/pathologic aspects of each case followed by interactive discussion of the pathophysiology of the disease process.

Journal Club: This conference is held monthly and is designed to teach fellows skills to critically evaluate the medical literature. The fellows will be responsible for leading the discussion.

Research Triangle Visiting Pulmonary Scholar Program: This is a joint program coordinated by our Division which includes participation by Duke University (Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine); the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Division of Respiratory Medicine); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Clinical Research Branch and Pulmonary Toxicology Branch); the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Laboratory of Pulmonary Pathobiology); North Carolina State University Veterinary School; and the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology. Six speakers are invited each academic year. The format of the Visiting Pulmonary Scholar Program follows. Two days are spent at two of the participating institutions (i.e., one day at each). The visiting scholar gives two lectures during the visit. The first lecture is followed by a reception at Duke University that includes two 30 minute research presentations by trainees from participating institutions. Trainees in the Pulmonary Training Program frequently present their research at this conference. 

Thoracic Oncology Conference (separately at Duke and VA): This is a multidisciplinary conference with medical oncology, radiation therapy, radiology and thoracic surgery where case management decisions are discussed. (This may be referred to as Tumor Board at other institutions.)

Occupational Medicine: This is a joint venture coordinated by our Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Program and the Occupational Medicine Program at Duke. These conferences are held intermittently and cover case conferences and didactics by Duke faculty or invited visiting faculty.

Critical Care Grand Rounds: This is sponsored by the Critical Care Services, and is a didactic lecture by Duke faculty or invited visiting faculty. Critical care conferences also may be in the formats of Pro-con debates, Morbidity and Mortality, and Case Management.

VA Case Conference: This conference is held weekly at the VA and is organized by the VA consult fellow. Cases are chosen to review clinical, radiology, and pathology. The format is similar but less formal than the Wednesday Duke Chest Conference.

Radiology Case Conference: An informal conference to present management questions, and to seek patient management decisions from others with the attendance of radiology fellows and faculty. Fellows and faculty bring "what would you do?" cases.