One Duke, Many Voices,
Shared Purpose
One Year In.
Forward Together.
Join Duke’s community of writers, strategists, marketers, designers, producers and storytellers for a day of ideas, inspiration and practical learning designed exclusively for the communicators who shape Duke’s voice.
Last year, more than 200 communicators from across Duke University and Duke Health came together to learn from one another, build new connections, and celebrate outstanding work. This year, we’re building on that momentum with fresh perspectives, practical skills and conversations that matter.
Whether you’re developing strategy, writing stories, managing campaigns, creating content or exploring what’s next in communications, INSIGHTS will leave you with new ideas, stronger connections and tools you can put to work immediately.
Join us as we continue building a stronger community of communicators—together.
Wednesday
September 30, 2026
Penn Pavilion
What You’ll Experience
Throughout the day you’ll experience:
- Inspiring conversations with influential leaders
- Practical sessions you can immediately apply to your work
- New ideas on strategy, storytelling, AI and audience engagement
- Opportunities to connect with communicators from across Duke and Duke Health
- Recognition of the outstanding work happening across our community
- Align with 2026-2027 university priorities and communication strategies
9:25 – 10:10 AM
Mary E. Klotman, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Duke University
Dean, Duke University School of Medicine
Chief Academic Officer, Duke Health
David Zaas, M.D., MBA
Chief Executive Officer, Duke University Health System
Opening Conversation
A New Chapter for Duke Health
Join David Zaas, M.D., MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Duke University Health System, and Mary E. Klotman, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Dean of the School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer for Duke Health, for an exclusive conversation about the future of one of the nation’s leading academic health systems.
Together, they’ll discuss the opportunities ahead for Duke Health, the evolving role of academic medicine, innovation, research and patient care, and how effective communications builds trust, advances strategy and strengthens Duke’s reputation. This conversation also offers a unique opportunity to hear from Duke University Health System’s new CEO about his vision for the future, while also gaining insight from Dr. Klotman on the strengths of Duke’s academic missions and the opportunities ahead in research, education, and patient care.
Blueprint Series
Big Ideas. Practical Skills. Immediate Impact.
Blueprints are fast-paced sessions built around one goal: giving Duke communicators practical ideas they can immediately apply to their work.
Led by experts from Duke and beyond, each session delivers actionable strategies, fresh thinking and real-world examples focused on the challenges communicators face every day—from strategy and storytelling to AI, audience engagement and leadership.
10:25 – 11:15 AM
Dan Carlton
Solving a Better Problem
While there is plenty of advice available on how to go about solving problems, there’s relatively little on actually how to identify the right problem to solve in the first place. This session will provide tools and tips for uncovering the deeper, more meaningful communication problems that need to be solved.
11:15 – 11:25 AM
Break & Transition
11:25 AM – 12:10 PM
Scott Rockart
Guiding and Prioritizing Communications Around Strategic Coalitions
Once communicators have identified the right problem, this session explores how to determine where communications can create the greatest strategic value. Through the lens of strategic coalitions, attendees will learn how to prioritize audiences, relationships, and communication efforts to influence the outcomes that matter most. While organizations have many levers to influence other organizations’ choices, one of the key levers is strategic communication. In this session, we will review the Co-Opetition concept and apply it to prioritize and shape communication efforts to have the greatest strategic value for Duke.
1:45 – 2:45 PM
Angus Fletcher
Keynote
Human Intelligence in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is changing how we create, communicate and work. But as machines become more capable, one question becomes increasingly important:
What remains uniquely human?
Angus Fletcher is one of today’s leading voices on human creativity, intelligence and the power of story. His newest book, Primal Intelligence, places him at the center of the conversation about what people can do better than machines.
Drawing on neuroscience, storytelling and human psychology, Fletcher argues that our greatest advantage isn’t processing information faster—it’s the brain’s ancient, narrative-driven abilities: imagination, emotional insight, flexible judgment and creative problem-solving under uncertainty.
3:40 – 4:15 PM
INSIGHTS Awards
Celebrating the Work
—and the People Behind It
The INSIGHTS Awards return to recognize the creativity, collaboration, innovation and impact that elevate Duke’s voice.
These awards celebrate more than exceptional projects. They honor the people, partnerships, and ideas behind the work that informs, inspires and strengthens our institution.
Join us as we celebrate the communicators whose work is helping shape Duke’s story.
Emerging Communicator Award
Recognizes a communicator who has made a quick, meaningful impact through fresh ideas, strategic thinking or early leadership.
Institutional Impact Award
Honors long-standing service characterized by deep commitment, continuity and sustained excellence in advancing Duke’s communications mission.
Excellence in Digital Storytelling
Recognizes outstanding use of social media or digital platforms to engage, inform or inspire audiences in innovative and effective ways.
Strategic Ingenuity Award
Recognizes a creative campaign or communications project that achieved outsized results through smart strategy, clever execution and adaptability.
Cross-Campus Catalyst Award
Recognizes an individual or team that exemplifies collaboration across departments, units or teams to advance integrated communications and shared institutional goals.
INSIGHTS Vanguard Award
Presented to a standout communicator whose work and leadership exemplify the spirit of the Duke INSIGHTS community.
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Networking Reception
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00-8:50 a.m. | Registration & Networking Breakfast |
| 9:00-9:20 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks – Frank Tramble and President Vincent Price |
| 9:25-10:10 a.m. | Fireside Chat with Duke Health |
| 10:10-10:25 a.m. | Stretch Break |
| 10:25-11:15 a.m. | Blueprints — sponsored by Duke Health Solving a Better Problem |
| 11:15–11:25 a.m. | Break & Transition |
| 11:25 a.m.–12:10 p.m. | Blueprints — sponsored by Duke Health Guiding and Prioritizing Communications Around Strategic Coalitions |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Lunch & Announcements |
| 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Keynote Address – Angus Fletcher |
| 2:50-3:30 p.m. | The Communicator’s Guide to New Technology at Duke |
| 3:30-3:40 p.m. | Stretch Break |
| 3:40-4:15 p.m. | Presentation of Awards – Pamela Gibbs-Smith and Frank Tramble |
| 4:15-4:30 p.m. | Closing Messaging – Pamela Gibbs-Smith and Frank Tramble |
| 4:30-6:00 p.m. | Networking Reception — Penn Pavilion (Indoors) |
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Why Attend?
Because great communication doesn’t happen in isolation.
Whether you’re a writer, strategist, marketer, designer, producer or storyteller, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, new connections and renewed inspiration for the work ahead.
Space is limited, reserve your spot today!
Questions? Contact Pamela Gibbs-Smith
A Look Back at INSIGHTS 2025
Opening Fireside Chat: President Vince Price and VP Frank Tramble launched the summit with a candid conversation about the evolving role of communications and the power of telling Duke’s story with clarity and trust.
Blueprint Series: We heard rapid-fire talks from leaders and communicators across Duke, each offering fresh perspectives on strategy, leadership, and innovation:
- Antwan Lofton, Duke Human Resources
- Fedor Kossakovski, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs
- Kirsten Khire, Director, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs
- Beth Berg, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs
- Dave Hart, School of Medicine
- Stephanie Lopez, Duke Health
- Julie Schoonmaker, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs
- Stephanie Worrell, Duke Health
Keynote Address: Dr. Aaron Dinin delivered an electric session on social media strategy—challenging us to think differently about how we build audiences, spark authentic engagement, and push Duke’s storytelling into new spaces.
We closed the day by celebrating excellence across our community, with peers lifting up peers in recognition of extraordinary work.
Meet the winners of the first-ever INSIGHTS Awards, honoring excellence, ingenuity, and collaboration in communications across Duke.
The Emerging Communicator Award recognizes someone who has made a quick, meaningful impact through fresh ideas, strategic thinking, or early leadership.
Winner:
Alainna Liloia
AI Communications Manager, Learning Innovation & Lifetime Education
The Institutional Impact Award honors long-standing service with deep commitment, continuity, and sustained excellence in advancing Duke’s communications mission.
Winner:
Andrea Martin
Associate Dean for Digital and Brand Communications for the School of Medicine Strategic Communications Office
The Excellence in Digital Storytelling Award honors outstanding use of social media or digital platforms to engage, inform, or inspire audiences in innovative and effective ways.
Winners:
Connor Dunlap, Jeannie Naujeck, Maria Muniz, Valerie Marino
Duke Law Communications and Marketing
The Strategic Ingenuity Award recognizes a creative campaign or communications project that achieved outsized results with limited resources. It celebrates smart strategy, clever execution, and adaptability.
Winner:
Jennifer Carpenter
Associate Director, Marketing, School of Medicine
The Cross-Campus Catalyst Award goes to someone who exemplifies collaboration across departments, units, or teams to drive forward integrated communications efforts and shared institutional goals.
Winner:
Denise Miner
Sr. Digital Analyst, Duke Health Marketing and Communications
The INSIGHTS Vanguard Award is given to a standout communicator whose work best exemplifies the spirit of the Duke INSIGHTS community.
Winner:
Stephanie Lopez
Director, Communications and Marketing, Duke Health
