Research & Medical Education

Research

Faculty & Staff

Research Faculty

Ruth Quillian Wolever, Ph.D. - Director of Research; Clinical Health Psychologist; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Wolever is a clinical health psychologist and the Research Director of Duke Integrative Medicine (Duke IM). She specializes in behavior change, treatment of stress-related problems, and mind-body health. Both her research and her clinical practice focus on the application of integrative medicine techniques to affect lifestyle change. She is specifically interested in utilizing the connection between mind and body to improve health. Dr. Wolever also consults with Duke Corporate Education to help executives identify strategies to better manage their challenging environments.

From a research perspective, Dr. Wolever studies the integration of innovative Mind-Body-Spirit treatments into mainstream medicine. She has studied treatments to improve sleep, weight management, diabetes control, and other health indices; some of this work focuses on the role of integrative health coaching in creating sustainable lifestyle change. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Office of Women’s Health), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and by GlaxoSmithKline.

Dr. Wolever has been working in the field of Health Psychology since 1989 and at the Duke University School of Medicine since 1994. She received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Miami in 1994, and completed her Clinical Internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill the same year. She is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist (State of NC), is certified as a Health Services Provider (NC), a PAIRS Facilitator (PAIRS Foundation, Fairfax, VA), a Lifeskills trainer (Williams’ Lifeskills Inc., Durham, NC), and is credentialed in Medical Hypnotherapy as well.
Formerly, Dr. Wolever was the Clinic Director of Duke Integrative Medicine, and the Director of the Health Psychology component of the Duke University Executive Health Program, Duke Diet and Fitness Center, and Duke Health and Fitness Center (collectively known as the Duke Center for Living). Prior to entering the field of Health Psychology, Dr. Wolever earned her B.A. in Spanish at the University of Virginia, taught in the Dade County Public High Schools and directed a youth program in South Florida. She and her husband Mark are active in educating the public on Rett Syndrome. Her deepest delight is her daughter Emma.

Jeffrey M. Greeson, Ph.D., M.S. - Clinical Health Psychologist; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Greeson specializes in integrating mind-body skills like meditation and hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy to help clients treat and prevent stress-related health problems - from obesity, high blood pressure and chronic pain, to depression, anxiety and insomnia.  Dr. Greeson holds a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology (University of Miami, 2006) and a Masters degree in Biomedical Chemistry (Thomas Jefferson University, 2001).  He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke, and a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in the state of North Carolina.

Dr. Greeson has conducted research in the fields of integrative medicine, mindfulness meditation, and stress physiology since 1998.  His current research is funded by a career development award from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  His work has been recognized at national and international conferences, and his studies have been published in several scientific journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; Brain, Behavior, and Immunity; and The Journal of Neuroscience.  Dr. Greeson has a growing interest in mind-body skills that promote cardiovascular health and that help patients prepare for successful surgery. 

Janna L. Fikkan, Ph.D. - Clinical Psychologist; Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Clinical Associate, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Prior to beginning her fellowship at Integrative Medicine, Dr. Fikkan completed her internship in medical psychology at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Montana in 1999 and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Vermont in 2008.

Dr. Fikkan’s clinical interests include applying mindfulness and acceptance-based treatment approaches to a variety of behavioral disorders.  She is also interested in how interventions that promote self-acceptance can assist individuals in achieving health-related goals.  Her clinical training at Duke included rotations in the Duke Eating Disorders Program, as well as the Cognitive Behavioral Research and Treatment Program, where she received training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Fikkan’s research has focused on understanding how body image and disordered relationships with food are maintained over time and how they interfere with the adoption of long-term health-promoting behaviors.  She is also interested in exploring the stigma associated with body size, particularly as it disproportionately affects women.  She has presented her work at both national and international conferences, published in academic journals and co-authored a chapter in a recent book on weight bias.

Michelle L. Bailey, M.D. - Director of Medical Education; Pediatric Integrative Medicine Physician

Dr. Bailey received her M.D. at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. Dr. Bailey directs educational programs in integrative medicine for medical students, residents, and faculty at Duke. She currently provides primary care in the department of pediatrics and provides integrative medicine consultations for children on a variety of health conditions at Duke Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Bailey was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship scholarship award and completed the 2 year Associate Fellowship program in Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. Special interests include community education in nutrition and prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children. She is planning to pursue research in pediatric integrative medicine, specifically looking at the effectiveness of mind-body therapies for a variety of conditions affecting children.

Research Staff

Kathy Buarotti - Administrative Assistant

Kathy joined the Integrative Medicine research team in January 2007. She started working at Duke 15 years ago after relocating from Long Island, New York.  Kathy has worked in several departments, including Development, where she supported Vice Chancellor Waters, the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center where she served as Administrative Assistant to H. Kim Lyerly, MD, Director of the Cancer Center.  From there, she advanced to the position of Project Coordinator, working on federal grants.

Linda Duda, M.S.W. - Integrative Health Coach

Linda Duda is a professional coach who remains passionate and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with amazing individuals who are committed to building healthy, meaningful lives.  Linda joined the Duke Integrative Medicine coaching team in 2003, initially providing group coaching experiences for selected Duke Prospective Health members interested in making significant lifestyle changes.  Since then, her responsibilities have broadened to include individual coaching with Duke Integrative Medicine clients, coach training, and participation in Integrative Medicine research studies.

While living in Connecticut for 15 years, Linda maintained an active, psychotherapy private practice as a licensed clinical social worker.  She counseled adolescents, adults and families.  In addition to serving on the Connecticut Clinical Society for Social Work board for a number of years, Linda spent 8 years teaching an interview techniques course at Yale Medical School.  Throughout her years in Connecticut, she volunteered her time mentoring young teens and supporting elementary education projects.

Linda received a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Boston College, specializing in clinical work.  She obtained a BA from Meredith College with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and social work certification.  In 2004, Linda completed coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute.  She is currently enrolled in an advanced CTI coaching certification program. In 1992, she acquired Level I and Level II Reiki training in the Usui method.  Reiki remains a part of her daily life.

Linda’s interest, exploration, and instruction in complementary and alternative medicine are longstanding.  She holds a deep belief in the magnificent healing power that is present when mind and body work together.

Mark Dreusicke, B.A. - MSIII

Mark is a third-year medical student at Duke who joined the Integrative Medicine team in Fall 2008 to fulfill his third year research requirement.  He is conducting analyses on a study that addresses whether medication adherence improves when participants work with a health coach.  In addition, he is interested in cost-effectiveness and cost-savings analyses.  Mark graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a degree in Psychobiology/Neuroscience. Before medical school, he worked in various clinical and research environments focused on behavioral neuroscience and neuroimaging.  

Peter M. Njiru, B.S. - Data Manager

Peter joined the Integrative Medicine research team in July 2008, after moving to the U.S. from Nairobi, Kenya. His primary role in the lab is as a data manager, providing data entry, data cleaning, and modification of existing databases. The studies he has worked on include: Empower, GSK, Cliffs and BraveNet. He has a degree in mathematics from the University of Nairobi.

Tracey Vann, B.A. - Lead Clinical Research Coordinator

Tracey serves as the Lead Clinical Research Coordinator at Duke Integrative Medicine. She is responsible for coordinating three studies: (1) EMPOWER, an NIH-funded grant that investigates innovative treatments for weight-loss maintenance; (2) Health Coaching for Diabetes, a GlaxoSmithKline-funded study which explores the possible impact health coaching has on medication adherence and lifestyle behaviors; and (3) Student Health Coaching, a study supported by the Wagoner Fund and Duke Student Affairs that explores the potential effects of integrative health coaching on college students’ lifestyle and health behaviors.  Tracey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Psychology with a Clinical Concentration at North Carolina Central University.  Tracey’s clinical and research areas of interest are women’s health with a particular focus on reproductive health.

Jessica P. Wakefield, M.A., L.P.A. - Research Therapist; Psychotherapist; Integrative Health Coach

Wakefield received her Master of Arts in health psychology from Appalachian State University in 2001, and completed her clinical internship at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center and the Duke Center for Living that same year. From 2004 to present, Wakefield has sought additional training in life coaching through the Coaches Training Institute and has learned coaching techniques to help clients find life fulfillment, balance, and process. Wakefield is currently a licensed psychological assistant (master's level psychologist) in North Carolina, a Health Service Provider-Psychological Associate and a certified QuitSmart Smoking Cessation instructor.

As a part of the Duke Integrative Medicine research team, Wakefield has served as a research therapist on three federally funded studies evaluating the use of mindful eating with overweight and obese populations. These studies included an NIH-funded study exploring the utilization of meditation and mindfulness-based treatments for binge-eating disorder and an two NCCAM-funded studies investigating the use of meditation and mindfulness-based skills for weight maintenance.  Additionally, Wakefield has served as a health coach for a CMS-funded grant using a Strategic Health Planning model to reduce 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease, as research coordinator for the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)-funded study looking at diabetics and asthmatics barriers to medication adherence, and as a health coach for a GSK-funded study to improve medication adherence and the lifestyles of diabetics.

Wakefield's clinical and coaching practices have focused on helping individuals to obtain optimal health and well-being. She has helped clients reduce binge and compulsive eating, lose weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, become physically active, better cope with anxiety, depression and life adjustments, and improve overall health and quality of life. In her work with clients, Wakefield uses the mind-body approaches of mindfulness meditation, hypnosis, relaxation training (i.e., breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and imagery) and cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, person-centered and interpersonal therapies and coaching techniques with clients.

Daniel Webber, M.S. - Clinical Research Coordinator

Daniel serves as a clinical research coordinator for the Cliffs study, an outcomes study designed to evaluate the effects of an integrative model of health care.  Daniel also assists with database management, recruitment, laboratory work and analysis for several other studies.  Daniel graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2004 where he earned a bachelor’s in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Biomechanics and a Masters in Food Science with a Biochemistry focus.  While at the University of Arkansas, Daniel served as a student athletic trainer (sports medicine) for Men’s Athletics; he later went on to work as physical therapy technician at Washington Regional.  Daniel’s longtime interest in integrative medicine and prospective health care led him to join the research team at Duke Integrative Medicine. 

Shin-Yiing Yeung, B.S., R.Y.T. - Research Assistant

Shin-Yiing received a BS in Biological Sciences from NC State University.  Since 2006, she has served as a Research Assistant for three studies: (1) EMPOWER, funded by NIH, investigates the use of innovative approaches to weight maintenance; (2) Health Coaching for Diabetes, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, tests the effect of Health Coaching on Patients with Type II Diabetes and evaluates the barriers to medicine adherence; and (3) the BraveNet Registry Study, funded by the Bravewell Philanthropic Collaborative, a descriptive study of clients who seek services at Duke IM and seven other Integrative Centers across the US. Prior to joining the Duke IM research team, Shin-Yiing gained experience from a variety of different work settings including: USDA Research Lab, occupational health clinic,  chiropractic office, and a locally-owned health food store.  She wants to help promote evidence-based research on the Integrative Model of Medicine because her beliefs and lifestyle choices are founded upon this holistic approach to health and well-being. On her personal healing path, she has incorporated into her life ten years of practicing Vipassana meditation and hatha yoga, whole foods-based diet, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic modalities. In addition to her work at Duke IM, she is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance.