Everardo Macias, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, assistant research professor in the Department of Cell Biology, and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute.
From Migrant Farm Worker to Duke Scientist, Everardo Macias Tackles Prostate Cancer
Everardo Macias, PhD, assistant professor of Pathology at Duke University School of Medicine, explores the complexities of prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in men.
His quest to find innovative cancer treatments mirrors his own incredible journey – from a migrant farm worker to a groundbreaking scientist.
Years ago, the future he envisioned for himself was entirely different. A first-generation high school graduate working in the fields of Minnesota as a migrant farm worker, he never even planned to go to college.
Today he leads cutting-edge research, using human cancer genetics and advanced gene testing, to tackle one of prostate cancer’s trickiest players: cancer cells that dodge usual treatments. In lab studies, his method of targeting a protein called NUAK2 successfully slowed down the lethal spread of these cells.
Duke University School of Medicine Dean and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Mary Klotman, MD, and Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) Executive Director Michael Kastan, MD, PhDinvited Pathology Chair Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD and Duke School of Medicine Eleanor Easley Distinguished Professor Daniel George, MD, to present together to a joint meeting of the School of Medicine Board of Visitorsand the DCI Board of Advisors on Fri., Oct. 13, 2023.
These leaders in the Department of Pathology (Huang) and the DCI Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers (George) — both with extensive expertise and national recognition in the field of prostate cancer research — highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in advancing basic, translational, and clinical research in this area, which resonated well with the Boards. CONTINUE READING
Angelo Moore, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director of the DCI Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity program Office of Health Equity, has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). Moore, along with four other nurses at Duke, is among 253 new fellows selected from across 40 states, the District of Columbia, and 13 countries.
Beyond one's achievements within the nursing profession, fellows are recognized for "engaging with health leaders nationally and globally to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science."
As a U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officer, Moore served during three Gulf War campaigns. After subsequently attending, then graduating from Winston-Salem State University, he joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. All told, he served more than 25 years on active duty in multiple leadership roles from Germany to Hawaii — earning several service medals, commendation medals, service ribbons, and three bronze service stars. During this time Moore also completed a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in nursing.
Moore retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 as a Lieutenant Colonel, but his service continued in civilian life with his commitment to serve historically underserved communities in the U.S.
Moore joined DCI in May 2019. He oversees, coordinates, and helps design DCI's community impact-projects to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes for patients across North Carolina and beyond.
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Read this 2020 profile of Moore: "In Service to Others: On the Battlefield & In the Community."
The Academy will induct the new class of fellows during its annual Health Policy Conference in October. With this honor comes the Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing "FAAN" credential.
The other Duke inductees are: Mariam Kayle, PhD, RN, CCNs ; Mitchell Knisely, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, PMGT-BC;Staci Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN, CPHQ; Ryan Shaw, PhD, RN, ACHIP.