Effective April 1, Megan Huchko, MD, MPH, will assume the role of Director for the Ob/Gyn Clinical Research Unit (CRU). Working closely with the other members of the Ob/Gyn Office of Research, Dr. Huchko will oversee the CRU, including the scientific, operational and financial feasibility review process. She will also work to ensure that our research investigators and staff have the training, resources, and support needed to conduct high-quality, innovative clinical and translational research.
As an Ob/Gyn generalist, Dr. Huchko’s clinical and research efforts focus on cervical cancer prevention and global women’s health research. She currently leads NIH-funded research in Uganda and Kenya to evaluate the optimal implementation strategy for HPV-based cervical cancer screening in rural settings. As a faculty member in the Duke Global Health Institute, Dr. Huchko and her international collaborators recently launched the Center for Global Reproductive Health, which will foster expertise on policies, programs and innovations in reproductive health through research, education and strong relationships with partner countries.
Dr. Hucko’s role will complement the work being done by Duke Ob/Gyn’s newest Division, Reproductive Sciences, led by Susan Murphy, PhD, and Geeta Swamy, MD, in her new role as Vice Chair for Research and Faculty Development. This inter-Departmental collaboration will help to move the research mission and vision forward.