A pediatric rheumatologist and a urologist have joined the DCRI.
Welcome to Mara Becker, MD, MSCE
Mara Becker, MD, MSCE, joined the DCRI on July 15 as an associate professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine’s Division of Pediatric Rheumatology.
Becker comes to Duke from Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where she served as the associate chair of the department of pediatrics and division director for children’s rheumatology.
She received her MD degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and her master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital/duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. She also completed an additional fellowship in pediatric clinical pharmacology at Children’s Mercy.
Her research interests have focused on identifying factors that enhance therapeutic response and minimize toxicity to drugs used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in children. Her current NIH-funded research is investigating methotrexate in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, utilizing cellular biomarkers and genetic differences to predict drug response.
She has contributed to work published in journals such as the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Arthritis & Rheumatology, and Arthritis Care & Research. She is actively serving in national organizations such as the FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee, the American Board of Pediatrics, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Childhood Arthritis Rheumatology Research Alliance.
Becker will also serve as vice chair for faculty development for the Department of Pediatrics at the Duke University School of Medicine, where she will focus on mentoring faculty at all levels and targeting opportunities for leadership development and career growth for faculty within the department.
“Dr. Becker’s expertise as a clinical pharmacology-trained pediatric investigator will make her a great fit with the DCRI pediatric group,” said the DCRI’s Rachel Greenberg, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics. “In addition, she brings a new depth to the program with her subspecialty training in pediatric rheumatology, extensive foundation in translational research, and experience in faculty career development.”
Welcome to Deborah Kaye, MD, MS
Deborah Kaye, MD, MS, will join the DCRI as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery, Division of Urology on Aug. 19.
Prior to arriving at Duke, Kaye worked at the University of Michigan, where she was a clinical lecturer in the department of urology. Her research interests include developing and evaluating health care systems, tools, and processes, as well as exploring how to improve health care delivery systems. She is also interested in health care payment models and health outcomes in urologic oncology.
Kaye received her MD degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and her master’s degree in health and health care research from the University of Michigan. She completed a residency at Johns Hopkins University, a Clinical Scholars Training Program at the NIH, and a combined urologic oncology and health services research fellowship at the University of Michigan.
Her work has appeared in journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Urology, and Cancer.
“Dr. Kaye will add meaningful insight to DCRI Urology,” said the DCRI’s Chuck Scales, MD, associate professor of surgery and population health sciences. “There are so many patients in need of treatment for urologic cancers, and her interest in improving health care delivery systems will ultimately help us to deliver on our mission of translating knowledge to better patient care.”