Congratulations to the students graduating from the School of Medicine’s education and training programs this year! Students in a few programs will receive their degrees or certificates later this summer, but we are taking this opportunity to celebrate all the 2025 graduates. Their success is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to hearing about the great things they will accomplish in the years ahead.
Meet a few of this year’s graduates below. Click on each one for a full Q-and-A.
Itzel Grijalva, Occupational Therapy Doctorate
The most important thing that I learned at Duke is that everyone has a story that plays a huge role in their recovery and who they are today.
Veronica Russell, PhD in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
I chose Duke because it has one of the oldest and most well-established programs in computational biology. Beyond academics, I appreciated the positive and welcoming atmosphere during recruitment, as well as the temperate climate and affordable cost of living—important considerations for life during a PhD.
Ashley Colemon, PhD in Molecular Cancer Biology
I hope to advance scientific discovery and innovation by promoting clear, accessible scientific communication. Strong science matters and so does how we share it.
Kathiravan Kalaivan, Master of Management in Clinical Informatics
The most important thing I learned at Duke was how to lead through complexity—where technical innovation, clinical realities, and organizational behavior intersect.
Harish Gopalakrishna, MHSc, Clinical Research Training Program
The most important thing I learned at Duke was how to think like a clinical researcher—asking the right questions, designing meaningful studies, and translating data into impact.
Ryan Rodriguez, PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
I knew that by attending Duke I would learn from and collaborate with faculty and staff conducting cutting edge research as well as having access to state-of-the-art instrumentation through the Duke Core Research facilities.
Brittany "Grace" Futch, MD
I would not be where I am today without excellent mentorship at every stage of my journey. This includes when I first changed my career from automotive to medicine as well as current day from residents and faculty that I have been honored to work with.
Shane Killarney, MD, PhD
The most important lesson I’ve learned at Duke is how profoundly the training environment shapes your scientific mindset and productivity.
Jonathan Hui, Master of Biostatistics
Beyond learning theoretical foundations and developing a comprehensive toolkit of biostatistical methods, I learned how to think like a researcher and how to collaborate effectively – especially in a field characterized by team science
Emma Torak, Master of Health Science, Pathologists' Assistant
I chose Duke because it was the first university to implement a Pathologists' Assistant program, which really stood out to me as it showed just how dedicated the school was and continues to be to this program.