Duke in Pics: Hopes in a post-pandemic life

Duke in Pics:

Hopes in a Post-Pandemic Life

With most of Duke’s workforce fully vaccinated, Duke staff and faculty are seeing a bright spot after 17 months amid coronavirus.

Here’s what some colleagues are looking forward to in a post-pandemic life.

Seeing smiles again

As Student Shop manager for the Pratt School of Engineering, Steven Earp teaches students how to use drill presses and laser cutters for rockets, watches and vehicles.

While Earp worked on projects with students during the past year, his favorite aspect remained inaccessible: seeing students smile in-person. He’s excited to watch their expressions again as they operate machines.

“It’s been hard not seeing students smile when they successfully operate a piece of equipment for the first time,” Earp said. “The happiness on their face lights up the room.”

A return to date nights

For the first time in 14 months, Crystal Wright enjoyed a date night in the spring with her fiancé, Chuck. They ate crab legs at Crab Du Jour in Raleigh and toasted to being fully vaccinated. “I felt like a new person once I dressed up,” said Wright, patient service representative for Duke Patient Revenue Management Organization.

Running with friends

No crowds cheered on Kim Manturuk when she completed a 3.1-mile run in Chapel Hill, but she threw her hands in the air to celebrate anyway.

She had achieved a goal of running a 5K – 3.2 miles – for 500 days in a row. The goal kept her moving during the pandemic, and she hopes to compete in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, her 14th marathon, in October. “I like races or running with friends because you feel the energy of everyone,” said Manturuk, associate director of research, evaluation and development for Duke Learning Innovation.

Crystal Wright Steven Earp

Kim Manturuk

Family safety

Dr. Jared Christensen, associate professor of radiology, suits up for work with scrubs, shoe covers, lead apron, thyroid shield, gloves, N-95 mask and face shield. He does it for his safety and that of his eight children.

He’s ready for movies, soccer and music lessons his kids, who range in age from 5 to 21.

“I’m excited for all of our mental and social well-being to return,” Christensen said. 

By Jonathan Black

@DUKESOCIAL

What you’re sharing online

Bonita McMorris 

Working@Duke

June 19 at 11:30 PM

Optimal Work/life balance. #DukeTimeOff

Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

@DukePsychiatry

In this @WorkingatDuke article, Duke staff members reflect on how they unplug during vacation. Duke Psychiatry's Dr. John Mitchell comments about the importance of taking a break for mental & emotional well-being. ow.ly /8vG250FlWQO @jtm5000 @DukeMedSchool

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