WORKING@DUKE NEWS YOU CAN USE Volume 8, Issue 5 October/November 2013
inside
Open Enrollment Begins Pedestrian Safety Campaign Veterans Day Ceremony
The Pulse of Duke’s Workforce Special Report: Arthritis, diabetes and hypertension among top health issues for employees
Editor’s Note LEanora Minai
The Pulse of Duke’s Workforce
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his issue of Working@Duke features a special, six-page report, “The Pulse of Duke’s Workforce,” a package of articles covering the top health issues in Duke’s workforce. Did you know that arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and spinal/back disorders are among some of the top health conditions for employees and their covered family members? The report, which begins on page 4, includes the intimate accounts of four Duke employees who share how Duke’s medical plans and resources have helped their health conditions. We’ve also got a Q&A about how health care reform affects you and an article about open enrollment and medical plan premiums, which will rise slightly in 2014. With the federal Health Insurance Marketplace launching Oct. 1, it’s more important than ever to be an informed consumer. “Under health care reform, we are observing some organizations moving away from managing their own plans,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration. “With the success we have had over the past several years, we believe it makes the most sense to continue our plans for the immediate future.” Personally, I am grateful for my health insurance, which costs me $70 per month through Duke Select. From July 2012 to July 2013, I underwent two MRIs – one for my lower spine, the other for my left foot. Turns out long hours at my computer station and a work commute over the years contributed to a bulging lumbar disk, and running half marathons led to a partial tear in my foot’s plantar plate. I’m feeling well and on the road to recovery. I got in touch with Duke Ergonomics for a workstation assessment and visited a physical therapist, who suggested stretches and exercises. I ended that commute by moving from Raleigh to near downtown Durham. An orthopedics doctor helped me with my foot, and I’ve got a carbon fiber orthotics (a thin insert for my left shoe) on order so I can run again. Like the employees featured in this month’s special report, I’m grateful for my health, and for the top-notch health insurance Duke provides.
Contents
4 10 11
Cover: The Pulse of Duke’s Workforce
As faculty and staff consider options for health care coverage in 2014, Duke employees share how they successfully manage their health with Duke’s help.
Veterans Day Ceremony
On Nov. 11, Duke will host its annual ceremony on the Chapel Quad to thank and honor all those who served in peacetime and wartime.
Preserving Duke’s Past
Since its creation in 1972, the University Archives has collected more than 10,000 linear feet of items – enough to stretch from Duke Chapel to East Campus.
12 Extra login step provides computer protection 13 Police put pedestrian, bike safety in high gear 14 Employee discount: Bull City Art & Frame Company 15 New pavilion for events at Campus Farm Cover Photo: Pamela Edwards, associate chief nursing officer for Duke, monitors her blood pressure each day to ensure she’s staying healthy.
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2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 Gold Medal, Internal Periodical Staff Writing and 2013 Silver; 2009, 2007 Bronze, Print Internal Audience Publications
This paper consists of 30% recycled postconsumer fiber. Please recycle after reading.
Briefly
Be a good neighbor Doing Good in the Neighborhood, the annual employee giving campaign, returns Oct. 7 to Nov. 15. Last year, slightly more than 1,000 faculty and staff donated $614,200 to the campaign to support local and regional programs such as Walltown Children’s Theatre, Lincoln Community Health Center and United Way. Donors can designate specific areas they want their money to go. Robin Geller, project coordinator and office manager for the Nicholas School of the Environment, donates each year to United Way because she recognizes the value of sharing with others in the community. “Not only does this program help others, but it’s been proven that charitable giving has added benefits for the self-esteem and health of the giver,” she said. “It’s a win-win deal.” Employees can donate by signing up for payroll deduction or making a secure online donation at doinggood.duke.edu.
KidZNotes is one of the local organizations supported by Duke’s Doing Good in the Neighborhood campaign.
Get life insurance at reduced rates Insurance premiums for Duke’s Supplemental Life Insurance Plan will be reduced beginning Jan. 1, 2014. The new rates will save employees about 20 percent. For example, a 40-year-old non-smoker can purchase $100,000 of insurance for $4.60 a month, instead of $5.90. To take advantage of the rate, employees can apply for coverage or increase their coverage during a special enrollment period Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. If health questions on the application are answered favorably, no medical exam is needed. “Financial experts recommend having life insurance worth five to eight times your annual salary to provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your death,” said Saundra Daniels, benefits plan manager for Duke. Employees can purchase coverage for themselves, spouses, same-sex partners, and dependent children. For more information, visit hr.duke.edu/supplemental.
How to beat holiday weight gain With the fast-approaching winter holidays, let Duke help you resist packing on pounds. Beginning Oct. 1, faculty and staff can sign up for LIVE FOR LIFE’s “Maintain Don’t Gain” at hr.duke.edu/ maintain. This eight week, self-directed program provides weekly emails with strategies for coping with holiday food temptations and maintaining healthy habits. The program runs Nov. 11 to Jan. 3. “Many Americans gain between one to three pounds over the winter months,” said Julie Joyner, manager for LIVE FOR LIFE. “We’ve found that a weekly reminder with positive reinforcement for maintaining good habits is a powerful way to combat this problem.” DukeWell, Duke’s care management program, is also tackling holiday health concerns with two free seminars. On Nov. 14, Cate Smith, executive chef at Duke Integrative Medicine, will bring her culinary skills to the table during “Healthy Holiday Foods That Taste Great.” Beth Reardon, a Duke nutritionist, will host “Survival Guide to Holiday Eating” on Dec. 12. Both seminars are at the Center for Living Campus. More information is at dukewell.org.
Staying healthy from sunrise to sunset
Fight the flu for your friends
Staff and faculty are invited to learn how to improve health throughout the day during this year’s Wellness Expo, sponsored by LIVE FOR LIFE. The Wellness Expo is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Searle Center on Duke’s West Campus. Interactive activities include exploring the value of eating breakfast, stretching, practicing stress reduction techniques and other healthy daily decisions. “We want people to experience what it feels like to be healthy from sunup to sundown and to realize how small steps can add up to big changes,” said Lauren Updyke, fitness education specialist for LIVE FOR LIFE. The Wellness Expo will also include free seasonal flu shots, health check screenings, vision screenings, chair massages and information from other campus and community groups with health resources for Duke employees. For more information, visit hr.duke.edu/healthexpo.
The Centers for Disease Control has reported that approximately 12,340 people were hospitalized with influenza during the past flu season. This season, protect yourself — and those around you — by getting a flu vaccine. Employee Occupational Health and Wellness will offer free flu shots to all faculty and staff at Duke throughout flu season, which runs to March. Cameron Wolfe, a physician from Duke’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said vaccinations are an important tool in stopping the spread of flu. “If you get the flu, you put yourself and others at risk,” he said. “Unfortunately, some people can spread influenza a day before they feel sick.” A vaccination schedule with campus sites is available at duke.edu/flu.
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SPECiaL rEPorT
The Pulse of Duke’s Workforce Arthritis, diabetes and hypertension are among the top health issues for employees
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ast year, Duke’s health insurance plans covered about 62,000 staff, faculty, dependents and retirees. Together, costs ranged from $2.9 million for mental health assistance to $12.6 million for preventative care. That’s part of $163.2 million in total payments Duke provided last year to cover everything from annual check-ups to $6,000-a-month cancer drugs. “I’m so impressed by all the health resources Duke provides employees,” said Pamela Edwards, associate chief nursing officer at Duke. She uses Duke’s health benefits to treat her hypertension. “It provides tremendous support toward achieving our health goals.” According to the Society for Human Resource Management, workers in the U.S. will face higher insurance premium costs in coming years. Annual prices rose an average $114 from 2011 to 2012. At Duke, however, costs have increased at a slower pace and are met with increased effort to offer employees ways to stay healthy. In 2014, Duke health plan premiums for employees will increase between $1 to $7 per month for individual coverage and $7 to $26 per month for family coverage. Faculty and staff can evaluate health care needs and sign up or make changes to their benefits during Open Enrollment from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. It’s also a good time to identify Duke’s preventive health programs like DukeWell and LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program. “We want employees and their families to achieve wellness goals, from diet and fitness to managing chronic illness in order to lead enriching lives,” said Joyce Williams, assistant vice president for Benefits. “Duke’s investment in wellness also assists in containing health care costs, benefiting individuals and Duke by moderating premiums and contributing to workplace productivity.” Not everyone can stay in perfect health, however. Several of the most expensive health issues among employees included medicine and treatment for arthritis, diabetes and hypertension. As faculty and staff consider options for health care coverage in 2014, several Duke employees share how they successfully manage their health with Duke’s help.
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Peggy Lyde, right, talks about proper health practices to lose weight and avoid knee pain with Katie MacEachern, fitness specialist with LIVE FOR LIFE.
‘Duke’s help is what got me through’ One of the costliest annual health conditions for Duke coverage is arthritis. Last year, Duke provided $6.2 million in payments to cover chronic joint disease for employees and their covered family members. It’s something Peggy Lyde understands since she deals with arthritis pain in her knees. At its worst, her pain prevented her from climbing stairs or walking far from her work desk. She started treatment for arthritis in 2011 and received discounted medication through DukeWell, a care management program offered to employees covered by Duke Select and Duke Basic, Duke’s most popular health plans.
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What’s Sending You To The Doctor? Prevention
32,878
Ear, Nose and Throat Infections
9,739
Joint Disorders
6,116
Hypertension
4,604
Spinal/Back Disorders
2,983
Mental Health - Depression
2,875
Diabetes
2,608
Osteoarthritis
1,951
Breast Cancer
432
Pregnancy with Vaginal Delivery
429 0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
number of Employees and Covered Family Members Treated for Top Health Conditions in 2012 Source: Duke Human Resources
Prevention accounted for the most doctor encounters among employees and their covered family members in 2012.
“Duke covered 80 percent of the cost for cortisone shots, about $30 for each medication purchase, and I started walking every day and changed my diet,” said Lyde, a nursing care assistant. “If all my costs had to come out of my pocket, I never would’ve gotten the treatment I needed. Duke’s help is what got me through.” Jane Walbrun, associate director of Benefits at Duke, said Lyde’s case has become common in recent years. Instead of taking aspirin, employees with arthritis now receive prescriptions for cortisone or anti-inflammatory drugs for joint pain, she said. “New drugs or treatments make dealing with these issues easier, but Duke also offers ways for employees to change their lifestyle,” Walbrun said. “We have a lot of resources for chronic illnesses beyond medicine.” With LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, Lyde received a free, hour-long fitness consultation about weight loss tips. She partnered with a care manager from DukeWell to plan a low-carb diet. Instead of cereal or bread each morning, she eats eggs and turkey bacon. She also walks about 45 minutes each day. Lyde has dropped 50 pounds since the start of 2011, and her knees are feeling better than ever. “I know there are a lot of folks in my condition, and they should take advantage of what Duke has to offer,” she said. “You just have to get motivated enough to help yourself.”
Hidden Dangers of Diabetes Loretta Alford unzipped a small cloth wallet and pulled out a KwikPen, a device that looks like a pen but is loaded with insulin. She snapped on a disposable needle and pressed it through her pants and into her abdomen. Like some diabetics, Alford injects herself with insulin four times daily to help her body turn sugar into energy.
Loretta Alford, medical assistant in Duke’s OB-GYN clinic, learned how to manage her diabetes with assistance from DukeWell and other Duke resources.
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SPECiaL rEPorT “My doctor told me I had Edwards was among 4,604 to give myself injections or I’d Duke health plan participants How Our Conditions Add Up die,” said Alford, 62, a medical treated for high blood pressure, assistant in Duke’s OB-GYN the fifth most costly condition clinic. last year. Treatments cost $3.9 When Alford was diagnosed million, but helped prevent Ear, Nose and Mental Health – with diabetes in 1996, she other health problems. Throat Infections Depression hated needles so much she “We call hypertension the $2.9 million $2.9 million skipped shots or asked her nurse silent killer, because it has no Hypertension Prevention colleagues to administer them symptoms, but increases the $3.9 million $12.6 million for her. She didn’t understand risk of heart attack, stroke and Breast Cancer Spinal/Back the hidden danger diabetes other cardiovascular problems,” $4.0 million Disorders posed for her body. said Laura Svetkey, director of $3.1 million “When glucose builds the Duke Hypertension Center. Osteoarthritis up in the blood, it can cause “Lowering blood pressure, even $6.2 million Joint Disorders $3.6 million devastating complications, slightly, reduces those risks.” Diabetes including kidney failure, A busy family schedule $6.1 million Pregnancy with amputation, blindness and heart and 45-minute commute often Vaginal Delivery $3.1 million disease,” said Susan Spratt, a derailed Edwards’ efforts to eat Duke physician specializing in well and exercise. This year, Source: Duke Human Resources diabetes. “The good news is we though, she connected with can prevent these complications a mix of Duke resources to by controlling glucose levels, get on track. In 2012, Duke spent $163.2 million to help cover a variety of medical treatments for blood pressure and cholesterol.” Duke employees and covered family members. These were the top-10 costs last year. Edwards joined the Duke Last year, Duke’s health Health & Fitness Center for plans paid $6.1 million for insulin and other diabetes treatments. $37 a month with a Duke Fitness Club discount. Through her Diabetes was the third costliest health condition among Duke’s Duke health plan, she consulted with a nutritionist. And she workforce and dependents. enrolled in DukeWell. After her diagnosis, Alford started insulin injections, but she didn’t take other steps to improve her health. She ate out frequently and resisted pricking her finger to check blood sugar levels. By 2010, she weighed nearly 200 pounds. Then in 2011 and 2012, tragedy struck. Her two brothers died from diabetes complications. “That got me thinking I needed to change my ways,” Alford said. Last year, she enrolled in DukeWell, Duke’s care management program, which provides a care manager for monthly phone calls to set health goals. Armed with information and support, Alford stopped eating fast food and tested her blood three times daily. This summer, her doctor had good news: she had lost 21 pounds and her blood sugar levels were dropping. “I’m feeling more energetic now,” Alford said. “It just took having someone check up on me who sounded like they cared.”
Taking Control of a Silent Killer Three days a week, Pamela Edwards walks on a treadmill for 45 minutes to keep her weight and blood pressure in check. For 25 years, she has cycled on-and-off medications to control her blood pressure as her weight fluctuated by as much as 25 pounds. “I have a family history of hypertension,” said Edwards, 57, associate chief nursing officer for Duke. “Last year, I decided to take control of my health to reduce that risk.”
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Pamela Edwards, associate chief nursing officer for Duke, exercises three days a week at Duke Health & Fitness Center to keep her weight and blood pressure in check.
SPECiaL rEPorT Claudia LeBarron, a DukeWell care manager, coached Edwards each month. She encouraged Edwards to exercise, reduce her daily soda intake from four sodas to one and monitor blood pressure each day to stay motivated. “My job is to help people figure out what their barriers are to good health and share ideas on how to tackle them, one small step at a time,” LeBarron said. Edwards has lost 15 pounds since January, and she’s kept her blood pressure below the danger zone of 140/90. “I’m so impressed by all the health resources Duke provides employees,” Edwards said. “It provides tremendous support toward achieving our health goals.”
Koinis now eases pain by lying on his stomach and pushing his torso upward – a McKenzie stretch also known as a “cobra pose” in yoga. However, most relief has come from standing up. “I could tell my posture was really poor when I sat down at my computer,” said Koinis, 60, a physician at Duke Primary Care in Oxford. “When I stand up, things aren’t too bad.” For help, Koinis enlisted Duke’s Ergonomics Division to get a stand-up desk. Instead of awkwardly sitting on a stool for two or three hours a day, Koinis now stands at a hallway workstation where he inputs patient information. He has a chair with adjustable height and back support, which keeps his posture ideal. Koinis’ problems aren’t uncommon among faculty, staff and their covered family members. In 2012, Duke paid $3.1 million in health costs for spinal or lower back issues, spending $1,039 per patient. Tamara James, director of the Ergonomics Division, said something Duke employees can do to avoid back pain is simply not sit too much. “Think about how much we sit – in the car, at work and then after we get home at night,” James said. “Easy ways to avoid pain include stretching, making sure your chair has good lower back support and getting up and moving.” With alleviated back pain, Koinis returned to running 12 to 15 miles a week in addition to biking and swimming. He also accesses tips and diagrams for back health on the Ergonomics Division website at www.safety.duke.edu/ergonomics. “I’m appreciative of the fact Duke listens to my problem, and I can use resources to fix it,” Koinis said. “It’s a good feeling to see action being taken so I can get back to normal.” ■ By Bryan roth and Marsha a. Green
Be An Informed Health Consumer If you’re covered by Duke Select or Duke Basic, register for DukeWell at dukewell.org to see if you qualify for free health coaching and pharmacy incentives to improve your health and to save money. Ask your physician to prescribe generic medications when appropriate. On average, generic medicines cost 80 percent less than brand medications
After dealing with back pain this summer, Thomas Koinis met with staff from Duke’s Ergonomics Division to get a stand-up desk.
Getting ‘Back’ in Shape It was early June when Thomas Koinis’ lower back started feeling sore and stiff, making weekly runs and prolonged sitting difficult during the workday. After a month dealing with pain and a decreasing range of motion, he got proactive.
Order long-term prescriptions (medicine for more than 30 days) through Express Scripts mail order or from participating Duke Pharmacies. Duke’s health plans negotiate better pricing through mail order and Duke Pharmacies, which saves money for Duke and its employees. Only use an emergency room for life-threatening illness or injury. You could make 12 visits to your primary care physician or seven visits to urgent care for the less than the cost of one visit to the emergency room.
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Enroll in or Change Health Benefits Oct. 28-Nov. 8
Modest medical plan premium increases in 2014; vision, dental premiums, and co-pays unchanged
W
hile the federal government’s Health Insurance Marketplace opens Oct. 1, Duke will continue to offer its comprehensive health insurance package to about 62,000 staff, faculty and dependents. For 2014, most Duke staff and faculty will see a health insurance premium increase below the national average, with co-pays and deductibles remaining the same. Depending on an employee’s medical plan, premiums will increase between $1 to $7 per month for individual coverage and $7 to $26 per month for family coverage. There will be no premium increases for vision and dental insurance. The surcharge for employees who smoke or use tobacco will increase from $10 to $20. During Duke’s annual Open Enrollment from Oct. 28 to Nov. Duke Basic 8, employees have the opportunity to sign up for or make changes to Duke Select their Duke health, dental and vision coverage. Employees can also sign up Blue Care or re-enroll in health and dependent Duke Options care reimbursement accounts. “Under health care reform, we are observing some organizations moving away from managing their own plans,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration. “With the success we have had over the past several years, we believe it makes the most sense to continue our plans for the immediate future.” Enhancements to Duke’s health benefit include: ■ Elimination of annual limit for prosthetics and durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs. ■ Reduction in co-insurance for bariatric surgery from $4,000 to $2,500. ■ Increase in reimbursement for treatment of traumatic injury to teeth for Duke Select and Duke Basic. ■ Coverage for gender reassignment surgery through the Duke Options plan. Cavanaugh said Duke has kept health insurance premium increases low through vigorous efforts. For example, 84.3 percent of prescriptions for plan participants are now written for generic medications. This saves Duke several million dollars each year in pharmacy costs. Increased participation in DukeWell, a care
management program for employees with chronic disease, has also constrained costs. “These efforts reflect our understanding that individual behavior has a significant impact not only on that person’s well-being, but on the cost of their care and the overall cost of insurance,” Cavanaugh said. “We are all in this together.” ■ By Marsha a. Green
2014 Monthly Health Care Premiums
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Individual
Family
2013 3
2014
2013
20 2014
$28
$29
$262
$269
$70
$72
$414
$425
$122
$128
$543
$569
$117
$123
$537
$563
Other Decisions to Make Not making changes to health insurance plans? Here are other optional benefits to consider during Open Enrollment. ■ Keep money in your pocket by enrolling in Duke’s reimbursement accounts – one for health care costs, the other for dependent care expenses. These accounts allow participants to put money aside before taxes to pay for health care or dependent care costs. Learn more at hr.duke.edu/reimbursement. ■ Purchase Supplemental Life Insurance during a special enrollment period during Open Enrollment. Employees can purchase new or additional coverage at special rates by favorably answering a few basic health questions. For more information about supplemental life insurance, visit hr.duke.edu/supplemental.
For Open Enrollment information, visit hr.duke.edu/enrollment2014
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What Does Health Care Reform Mean for You? I I nter view wi t h Ky l e Cavanau gh , v ice pres ide n t fo r Adm in istra t i o n
n January 2014, many major components of the Affordable Care Act go into effect. Working@Duke sat down with Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration, to discuss how those changes might affect health care for faculty, staff and their families.
What changes can Duke employees expect in 2014 as a result of national health care reform? We have been incredibly fortunate through a combination of proactive plan designs, modifications in our network, and expansion of preventive options such as LIVE FOR LIFE and DukeWell that our health care expenses have been running below the national trends. Based upon these positive outcomes, we will only be making modest changes to our plans for 2014. The big change for everyone is the federal mandate for individual coverage, which means that all U.S. citizens will be required to carry health insurance beginning in January 2014. Since we currently offer four health plans and cover more than 90 percent of eligible faculty and staff, there will not be a significant impact for most people at Duke in 2014. Beginning in October of this year, there will be a new option to purchase
insurance for 2014 through the federal government called the Health Insurance Marketplace, which is also called the Exchange. Most employees who Kyle Cavanaugh are offered insurance through work are not eligible for subsidized coverage through the Marketplace, so this option may make the most sense for part-time employees who are not eligible to participate in our plans and a few others who may qualify for a subsidy.
How will Duke’s plans compare with the Health insurance Marketplace? We will continue to offer four different plans to meet the diverse needs of our faculty, staff and their family members, and premium increases for 2014 continue to be below the average increases projected nationally. The Health Insurance Marketplace will also offer different levels for its plans. These plans will cover the same set of benefits as
Health Insurance Marketplace Notice At the end of September, Duke sent a notice by mail or email about the Health Insurance Marketplace to staff and faculty. As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all employers like Duke are required to send employees the notice
about the availability of coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Additional information regarding the external Health Insurance Marketplace can be found at healthcare.gov.
defined by the federal government but will differ in monthly premiums and out-ofpocket costs for care. At Duke, we pay most of the premium cost for individual coverage and about half the premium for family coverage. But in the Health Insurance Market, individuals will be responsible for paying the entire premium, unless they qualify for a subsidy from the federal government. Consumers will need to compare costs and coverage of federal plans with what is available through Duke to make the best decisions for themselves and their family.
What can we expect in the future? While we are just beginning to communicate about our health plans for 2014, we are already starting to think about plans for 2015. The national health care environment is continuing to evolve, so it is difficult to predict how things may change in the coming years. Health care reform is changing the dynamics for what has been largely an employer-provided benefit since World War II, and we are just beginning to see some of those effects. For example, in the last few months, we’ve seen some major employers announce that they will drop coverage for spouses as a way to manage increasing costs. Others have turned to private exchanges for their retiree health insurance. It is too early for us to determine how these changing dynamics will impact us, but we will continue to monitor the trends closely and assess how best to meet the health care needs of our faculty, staff and dependents. ■
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Veterans Reflect on Service to Country and Duke
D
uke has long had strong connections with the military. In 1922, students nicknamed the athletic teams “Blue Devils,” the name of a regiment of French alpine troops widely known for their exploits in World War I. During World War II, the Navy began Duke’s first Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) on campus. And currently, there are about 122 veterans enrolled as students at Duke and 700 self-identified military veterans in Duke’s workforce. On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, Duke will host its annual ceremony on the Chapel Quad to thank and honor all those who served in peacetime and wartime. The event will include the presentation of the American flag by ROTC students and remarks from senior administrators and veterans now working at Duke. As part of this year’s Veterans Day recognition, three Duke employees share how military service has affected their lives. ■
Karen Jean Hunt, African and African-American Studies Librarian U.S. Air Force, 1975 to 1980 • Sergeant
How did military service affect your career? I was the first woman at Norton Air Force Base to work in my warehouse. My job was tracking inventory and supplies and getting them where they needed to be. Now I’m a librarian, and I still track and deliver things, only it is books and information rather than aircraft parts. If I hadn’t joined the Air Force, I never would have made it to college.
How will you celebrate Veterans Day? I have a T-shirt that says “Women are Veterans... and I’m one” that I always wear on Veterans Day.
Bernie Hall, Associate in Research, Marine Lab U.S. Marine Corps, 1978 to 1998 • Staff Sergeant
What skills learned in the military do you use now at Duke? Time management. As a recruit, there is always something to work on. You don’t sit around. You look at what has to be done to advance the team, and you do it. At Duke’s Marine Lab, I often find myself showing new students how to optimize their time in the lab.
How will you celebrate Veterans Day? I will have a long phone conversation with several of my retired Marine buddies.
Abdur Akbar, Research Coordinator, Genito Urinary Oncology Clinic U.S. Army, 1998 to 2003 • Sergeant
How do you compare Duke and the Army?
Veterans Day Ceremony Nov. 11, 11 a.m. Chapel Quad
At Duke there is a team culture, so the collective effort of the military transfers well. I also discovered that the Army prepared me well for the intense learning atmosphere I encountered when I enrolled in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Duke.
How will you celebrate Veterans Day? I’ll call my grandfather, who was a Tuskegee bugle boy, and my father, who was a U.S. Marine. Then I’ll have dinner with my family at an establishment recognizing military veterans. interviews by Marsha a. Green
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Saving Duke’s History University Archivist Valerie Gillispie, right, assists Katharine Adkins, assistant curator of exhibitions at the Nasher Museum of Art, in preparing materials for the university’s archives.
University Archives assists departments in preserving Duke’s past
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hen Katharine Adkins started work at the Nasher Museum of Art three years ago, she discovered three file boxes in her office. Inside, she found art history: the Duke University Museum of Art magazine from 1995, letters about exhibits in 1993, and posters advertising the 1971 exhibit, “From Slave to Siren: The Victorian Woman and her Jewelry.” “I knew these documents should be kept, so I contacted University Archives and asked ‘what should I do?’ ” said Adkins, assistant curator of exhibitions at the Nasher. Since its creation in 1972, the University Archives has collected more than 10,000 linear feet of items – enough to stretch from Duke Chapel to East Campus. Dating from 1838, the reports, budgets, newspaper clippings, newsletters, posters, videos, email and other materials in Duke’s official repository are a resource for researching and telling Duke’s story. Part of the job of University Archives is to help faculty and staff preserve the pieces of the present that will become the record of the past.
go online
What Will Archives Accept?
Departmental publications Budget reports Photographs and videos Policy handbooks Meeting minutes Letters/emails by topic
For more information, contact University Archives at (919) 660-5822.
“Offices often have meeting minutes, correspondence or reports that are referenced for a year or so and then get buried in a file somewhere,” University Archivist Valerie Gillispie said. “We encourage departments and administrative offices to archive inactive files of this sort. They are the materials future scholars will use to understand how the university evolved.” In Nasher’s case, Gillispie asked Adkins to send an inventory of the folders in the boxes to help University Archives prepare for the material. “If you aren’t sure whether something should be archived, ask yourself if someone writing the history of art museums at Duke would find it useful,” Gillispie said.
Find out more at library.duke.edu/uarchives
After reviewing the six-page inventory, Gillispie visited Adkins’ office with acidneutral, crush-proof cardboard boxes designed for archival purposes. Gillispie and Adkins transferred the files into the boxes for processing and safekeeping at the off-site Library Service Center. Most archived materials in University Archives can be viewed in the Rubenstein Library Reading Room on request. However, certain restrictions apply. Gillispie is working with dean’s offices and departments such as Duke Athletics to set up annual or bi-annual schedules for archiving materials. Sometimes what is important isn’t one particular record, she said, but the mass of material over time that allows researchers to see changes. “Institutional memory is fleeting,” Gillispie said. “Having good archives ensures that five, 50 or 100 years from now, someone can recreate the story of what was happening and how Duke responded.” ■ By Marsha a. Green
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John Owens, an analyst with Duke’s Office of Information Technology, is one of about 200 Duke employees piloting a new two-step verification system.
Extra Login Step Provides Online Protection
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ohn Owens doesn’t worry as much anymore. Owens, an analyst with Duke’s Office of Information Technology (OIT), is one of about 200 Duke employees piloting a new two-step verification system designed to reduce the risk of Duke users having their online accounts hacked. “With multi-factor authentication, there’s less worry that the information you deal with can be compromised,” said Owens, who supports Duke’s student-information systems. Multi-factor authentication, also known as two-step verification, is part of Duke’s ongoing efforts to protect its users and data as phishing schemes and password breaches become increasingly common, said Richard Biever, the university’s chief information security officer. Google and Twitter have implemented similar systems, which are designed to prevent hackers from gaining access to an account far more effectively than a password alone. “We want to make sure the identities of the people with higher-level access are protected from a bad guy getting hold of them,” Biever said. Here’s how it works: When logging in, a user is required to enter both a password and a randomly generated code. The codes
How to Enroll Duke students and employees can enroll in multi-factor authentication for their NetID and can select which of about 1,100 Duke-managed applications or websites will use it. Register at idms-mfa.oit.duke.edu.
can be generated by a special device or token or can be sent via a text message or a smartphone application. In other words, accessing an account requires two things: something you know (the password) and something you have (a previously registered device). At Duke, OIT requires that system, network and application administrators who have higher-level access to systems use multifactor authentication. The service has been in development for a year, while OIT collected feedback from a group of pilot users, and is now open to any Duke user interested in helping to test and refine it. Any Duke faculty, staff or student can set up multi-factor authentication for their NetID and can select which of about 1,100 Duke-managed applications or websites, including the Duke@Work self-service site, will use it. Register online at idms-mfa.oit.duke.edu. Password strength and complexity needs to constantly improve to keep up with increasingly sophisticated password-cracking algorithms and techniques, said Chris Meyer, OIT’s senior director of Enterprise Systems & Support. This system introduces an extra step – and more protection – into the authentication process, Meyer said. “It can be inconvenient to have to be responsible for and have a second device with you at all times, but it adds another layer of security for users with access to sensitive and restricted institutional data,” Meyer said. “And that extra step raises awareness: Now I’m in an application with access to restricted data. It’s a reminder that now I need to be very careful what I do.” ■ By Cara Bonnett
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October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Find out more about events related to IT security at Duke online at security.duke.edu
Police Put Pedestrian, Bike Safety in High Gear ‘Watch for Me NC’ campaign highlights pedestrian, bicyclist safety
With hundreds of bike commuters on and around campus, Duke Police will be paying close attention to how motorists share the road this fall during the Watch for Me NC campaign.
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or the second year, members of the Duke University Police Department will be extra vigilant watching motorists around campus this fall as part of the Watch for Me NC campaign, a program aimed at reducing the number of pedestrians hit and injured in crashes with vehicles. Officers will spend extra time in October and November stationed at crosswalks across Duke where they’ll watch for violations of pedestrian laws. Sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Watch for Me NC’s goal is to reduce the number of motor vehicle and pedestrian crashes in the Triangle through education and enforcement of pedestrian safety laws. During last year’s efforts, Duke officers monitored traffic unannounced at key crosswalk points around campus, noting that only 112 of 426 vehicles yielded to pedestrians. Yield percentages at crosswalks ranged from 15 percent to 49 percent. “If we had a motorist that was disregarding pedestrians, we’d try to stop them and just talk about the importance of recognizing an opportunity to make campus safer,” said Eric Hester, crime prevention officer with Duke Police. “We see this as a good chance to highlight how campus safety becomes a shared responsibility.” This year’s program will watch for driver behavior around pedestrians, but Duke Police will also focus on how motorists interact with bicyclists. According to the Highway Safety Research Center, about 2,400 pedestrians and nearly 1,000 bicyclists are hit by vehicles in North Carolina each year. About 56 percent of all vehicle-bicyclist crashes occur at intersections.
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Learn more about biking at parking.duke.edu/bike
That’s where Randy Best was hit while riding his bike home from work in June 2008. Best, administrative manager for Duke’s Physics Department, suffered internal injuries, seven broken ribs and more. He resumed bike commuting after recovering, but knows that riding still comes with potential danger. “It’s pretty scary when a driver clears you by a few inches, which is why drivers should always leave at least three feet to the side of the bicyclist when they’re passing,” Best said. “Even a compact car slipping by you can be threatening.” Best noted that bicyclists are also responsible for road safety, which means not wearing headphones, using a rearview mirror and always wearing a helmet. Last year, the League of American Bicyclists named Duke a “Bicycle Friendly University.” Duke has worked to add bike lanes on and around campus, widening road shoulders and painting “sharrows” on Duke roads to indicate that bicyclists also use the road. “Duke recognizes the value of bike commuting as a simple, healthy way to access campus,” said Alison Carpenter, manager of Duke’s transportation demand management program. “A continued investment in biking infrastructure, programs and education will help to create an even more bike friendly campus.” ■ By Bryan roth
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Picture Perfect PERQS employee discounts
Bull City Art & Frame Company 905 W. Main St., Suite 20F Durham
Durham company offers discount on custom framing
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ager to pick up her newly framed martial arts black belt certificate, Clare Matti stepped into Bull City Art & Frame Company. The co-owner of the shop, Lewis Bowles, met her at the counter with a look of concern on his face. He explained that when packaging the artwork for delivery, he found a small defect in the red bamboo frame. “The flaw was so small I could hardly see it, so I told him not to worry,” said Matti, assistant director for regulatory services at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. “But he insisted. He knew I treasured that certificate, and he wanted it to be perfect.” Two days later, Matti walked out of the store with the certificate redone at no charge in a new bamboo frame carefully sealed to protect the Japanese script. Bull City Art & Frame Company, which specializes in museum quality custom framing of fine art, certificates and family treasures, offers a 10 percent discount to Duke staff and faculty. The store in Brightleaf Square stocks more than 2,000 frames made of metal, reclaimed wood and sustainably harvested wood. Prices start at about $50 for a simple framing job. Clare Matti, left, and Bull City Art & Frame co-owners Lewis and Tiffany Since Matti’s first Bowles and their dog, Polo, display two of Matti’s martial arts certificates experience with Bull framed at the shop. City Art & Frame in 2009, she has often returned to the store to have other certificates framed. She also regularly peruses art and jewelry created by local artists and recently commissioned a metal sculpture of a bass guitar by local artist Jose Pereira. When she shops at Bull City Art & Frame, she takes advantage of PERQS, the employee discount program. Last year, Matti returned to the store to frame her second-degree black belt certificate. This time, the owners helped her select a carved frame with a vintage Asian look and a red mat that harmonized with her original black belt certificate. “Over the years, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars with the discount at Bull City Art & Frame,” she said. “But what really keeps me coming back is the incredible service.” ■ By Marsha a. Green
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For a full list of PERQS discounts, visit hr.duke.edu/discounts
Sustainable uke YO U R S O U RC E FO R G R E E N N E W S AT D U K E
New Pavilion for Events at Campus Farm
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Duke community members can schedule group outings
ots of growth took funding provided by The Duke place at the Duke Endowment. Additional money Campus Farm this was donated by Keith and Brenda summer, but it wasn’t Brodie – Keith Brodie served as necessarily sweet potatoes Duke’s president from 1985 to or corn sprouting up. 1993. Brenda Brodie said that Construction crews worked supporting the Campus Farm is weekdays at the one-acre farm important, as it serves as a place from July through September where volunteers are able to learn to build two new structures to about agriculture and become improve the agricultural venture more mindful eaters. – a tool shed and pavilion “You can never fully design to host events. As the Duke a sustainable human world, but Campus Farm continues to get with work and determination more involved in providing you can create something produce to sell at local farmers meaningful and lasting,” she The Duke Campus Farm celebrated the unveiling of its 1,700-square feet pavilion markets and on campus, the new in September. The space is open to use by the Duke Community. said. “The spirit of the Duke buildings help create a greater Campus Farm will be part of faculty and staff to use for retreats, team sense of community, said Emily the participants for a lifetime.” building or other events at the farm at 4910 Sloss, the farm’s manager. The new spaces will allow the Friends School Road in Durham. It’s now “We started the farm three years ago Campus Farm to upgrade other facilities. available for use and Duke community under this idea of ‘one year, one acre’ to A greenhouse that’s partially used as members can schedule the pavilion by see what we could provide to Duke and storage space will be rebuilt after items are contacting Sloss at emily.sloss@duke.edu. its students and employees,” Sloss said. moved into the new shed, and an older, The roughly 1,700-square-foot “It’s exciting to see that we’re cementing smaller storage shed is being converted pavilion and 144-square-foot shed cost ourselves in the Duke community and into a “coolbot,” an enclosed space kept at about $75,000 to build, with some investing in what we do to make temperatures around 50 degrees to the farm run better.” store produce. While the shed will provide “When we harvest produce, Get Involved ample space to store equipment we have to deliver it immediately, All Duke community members can volunteer with the Duke Campus Farm. Workdays are 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays and like tillers, hoes, rakes and other so having flexibility with storing Thursdays at the farm, 4910 Friends School Road in Durham. materials, the pavilion is something items would be wonderful,” Sloss Typical work includes planting, harvesting, weeding and work all Duke community members said. “It’s great to be able to make on small construction projects. No farming experience is will be able to enjoy. Sloss said the these changes.” ■ necessary. pavilion will be free for students, By Bryan roth
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Find out more at sites.duke.edu/farm 15online Working@ Duke
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WORKING@DUKE How To Reach Us Editor: Leanora Minai (919) 681-4533 leanora.minai@duke.edu Assistant Vice President: Paul S. Grantham (919) 681-4534 paul.grantham@duke.edu Graphic Design & Layout: Paul Figuerado (919) 684-2107 paul.figuerado@duke.edu Senior Writer: Marsha A. Green (919) 684-4639 marsha.green@duke.edu Senior Writer/Videographer: Bryan Roth (919) 681-9965 bryan.roth@duke.edu Photography: Duke University Photography and Marsha Green and Bryan Roth of Communication Services.
Working@Duke is published every other month by Duke’s Office of Communication Services. We invite your feedback and story ideas. Send email to working@duke.edu or call (919) 684-4345. Visit“Working@Duke” daily on Duke Today:
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dialogue@Duke “How have Duke’s health benefits helped you or a loved one?”
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I used to work in the restaurant business, and I didn’t have any health insurance even though I was a manager. Now I have insurance and a reimbursement card to set money aside for things like dental visits. I’ve gone to a chiropractor for the last 18 years because of a car accident and if I didn’t have my reimbursement account, it’d be very expensive for me.” Sarah Revels Administrative assistant, Office of the Provost 12 years at Duke
It’s good to know I’m paying less than what I’d be paying elsewhere. I appreciate having a cost-efficient option with Duke Basic because it’s affordable along with dental and vision coverage, too. I have two kids so I like knowing they’re covered. Duke has a good medical coverage system to be in, too.” Chris Flaherty Document delivery assistant, Duke Libraries’ Access and Delivery Services 3 months at Duke
I have a peace of mind knowing I have my health benefit any time me or my family has issues. The yearly check-ups for my son are great. He’s 16. It’s good to know I can call and make an appointment for us whatever the reason.” Laura Tran Financial analyst II, Finance and Administration 13 years at Duke
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