When the Shingleton Society gathered in October to honor the 2025 Shingleton awardees, the event celebrated partnerships of all kinds — between patients and health care teams, between colleagues working collaboratively on a problem, and between Duke Cancer Institute and donors who help move groundbreaking research forward.
The society is inspired by William W. Shingleton, MD, a renowned surgeon who founded the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Through a generous estate gift to Duke University, Brad and Catherine Shingleton Branch established the Catherine S. and J. Bradford Branch Fund, an endowment supporting Duke Cancer Institute and Duke Heart. Their commitment reflects a desire to improve health outcomes and reduce mortality rates in areas of critical need, and both are exceptional advocates and ambassadors for Duke Cancer Institute.
A leading clinician and researcher, Andrew Berchuck, MD, specializes in the surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment of ovarian, endometrial, and lower genital tract cancers. He is a longstanding champion of the Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk, which has raised over $5.1 million. He is the director of the Duke Division of Gynecologic Oncology and holds the James M. Ingram Distinguished Professorship.
The Knox Martin Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, created in 2021 in memory of Becky Martin’s son, Knox Martin, has become a powerful force to advance brain tumor science at Duke Cancer Institute. The foundation, which partners with the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center to fund innovative research on the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, recently surpassed $1.1 million in philanthropic support. These funds have directly enabled three FDA-approved clinical trials.
Diane and John Mauk, along with their family, are steadfast partners of Duke Cancer Institute, generously contributing time and resources to advance cancer research and patient care. Their commitment is deeply personal, motivated by their son Holden’s journey as a pediatric brain tumor survivor. Their philanthropic leadership at Duke has been especially important for the Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program. Diane serves on the Duke Cancer Institute Board of Advisors, where she chairs the nominations committee and is a member of the executive committee.
The generosity of donors and friends like you makes it possible for Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) to discover, develop, and deliver the future of cancer care…now. Because of you, DCI stands among the nation’s premier cancer centers, driving innovation and transforming lives.After more than a decade as DCI’s inaugural executive director, Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhD, has decided it is time to pass the torch. Since 2011, he transformed DCI into a national model, championing multidisciplinary care, expanding research, and improving access and community engagement. A pediatric hematologist-oncologist and renowned cancer biologist, Kastan will continue as a Duke faculty member.On January 5, 2026, we welcomed Erik Sulman, MD, PhD, as interim executive director. Recently appointed chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Sulman brings exceptional expertise in brain tumor treatment and novel therapies. We are confident his leadership will guide DCI through this transition and build on its legacy of excellence.Thank you for all you do to elevate DCI’s mission. Together, we are changing the future of cancer care. The stories below highlight just a few examples of how we’re doing that.This message was originally published in the 2026 Breakthroughs. Read more about DCI's breakthrough research and patient care in this annual magazine.
Arlene Brown knew she was at high risk for breast cancer and stayed vigilant with regular screenings. But nothing could prepare her for the moment she found a lump — while 18 weeks pregnant with her first child.What followed was a whirlwind of decisions, fears, and a treatment journey that would test her strength and reshape her future.Brown was named after her Aunt Arlene, who died from triple-negative breast cancer. After Brown’s sister was diagnosed with the same cancer, Brown underwent genetic testing. It revealed that Brown had the BRCA-1 gene mutation, which elevated her risk for breast and ovarian cancer.Her doctors suggested she undergo a bilateral mastectomy to remove her breasts and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries. But Brown was 33, and she and her husband, Richard, wanted to start their family.Instead, she opted for regularly scheduled mammograms and MRIs. The results came back clear, and in December of 2022, the Raleigh, North Carolina, philanthropy officer was thrilled to learn she was pregnant.In March, after she felt a lump under her right arm during a shower, her doctor advised that lumps and bumps during pregnancy were common. In May, however, Brown had an ultrasound, then a biopsy. Like her family members, Brown was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
The generosity of donors and friends like you makes it possible for Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) to discover, develop, and deliver the future of cancer care…now. Because of you, DCI stands among the nation’s premier cancer centers, driving innovation and transforming lives.After more than a decade as DCI’s inaugural executive director, Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhD, has decided it is time to pass the torch. Since 2011, he transformed DCI into a national model, championing multidisciplinary care, expanding research, and improving access and community engagement. A pediatric hematologist-oncologist and renowned cancer biologist, Kastan will continue as a Duke faculty member.On January 5, 2026, we welcomed Erik Sulman, MD, PhD, as interim executive director. Recently appointed chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Sulman brings exceptional expertise in brain tumor treatment and novel therapies. We are confident his leadership will guide DCI through this transition and build on its legacy of excellence.Thank you for all you do to elevate DCI’s mission. Together, we are changing the future of cancer care. The stories below highlight just a few examples of how we’re doing that.This message was originally published in the 2026 Breakthroughs. Read more about DCI's breakthrough research and patient care in this annual magazine.
Arlene Brown knew she was at high risk for breast cancer and stayed vigilant with regular screenings. But nothing could prepare her for the moment she found a lump — while 18 weeks pregnant with her first child.What followed was a whirlwind of decisions, fears, and a treatment journey that would test her strength and reshape her future.Brown was named after her Aunt Arlene, who died from triple-negative breast cancer. After Brown’s sister was diagnosed with the same cancer, Brown underwent genetic testing. It revealed that Brown had the BRCA-1 gene mutation, which elevated her risk for breast and ovarian cancer.Her doctors suggested she undergo a bilateral mastectomy to remove her breasts and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries. But Brown was 33, and she and her husband, Richard, wanted to start their family.Instead, she opted for regularly scheduled mammograms and MRIs. The results came back clear, and in December of 2022, the Raleigh, North Carolina, philanthropy officer was thrilled to learn she was pregnant.In March, after she felt a lump under her right arm during a shower, her doctor advised that lumps and bumps during pregnancy were common. In May, however, Brown had an ultrasound, then a biopsy. Like her family members, Brown was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.