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Ten years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis, Assistant Vice President for Duke University Student Affairs Clay Adams is still grateful. 💙

At 37, Clay was training for races and feeling strong. Then came the call: cancer. What followed was a six-hour surgery at Duke University Health System, months of uncertainty, and a decision that would shape his life.

As National Cancer Survivors Day approaches June 7, Clay’s story is a reminder of what’s possible with early care, medical research and the people like family members and colleagues who stand with you along the way.

“This place may be my employer, but the mission and focus of this place is personal,” Clay said. “To put it simply, I owe my life to this place.”



Duke Cancer Institute | Duke Health | Duke Divinity School

A Decade After Cancer, A Duke Employee Thrives | Duke Today A Decade After Cancer, A Duke Employee Thrives As National Cancer Survivors Day approaches on June 7, Clay Adams’ story shows what rising cancer survival rates can mean for patients and families Image Clay Adams, Assistant Vice President for Duke Student Affairs, says he owes a chance at life with...

A lobster trap, a boat off the coast of Maine, and a little went a long way for Lydia Cato.

The Duke University Hospital case manager spent Memorial Day weekend in Portland, learning from local fishers and pulling up lobster traps herself.

“It was really cool … I learned so much and got to experience some fun new things,” she said. “That’s why I love my PTO at Duke.”

Her snapshot is the first winning entry in this summer’s Duke Time Off campaign. For her photo, Cato will receive a cooler, courtesy of Duke University Stores.

Show us how you’re making the most of your Duke time off benefit by tagging Working or submitting a photo through our form.

You’ll be in the running for amazing prizes from the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, the Duke Lemur Center, Duke Arts Presents, Duke University Stores or Duke Dining. To be eligible for prizes, your photos must be taken and shared between May 20 and Aug. 3, 2026.

Learn more about Cato’s photo and how to enter!

A Lobster Boat Adventure Nets First Duke Time Off Photo Prize | Duke Today A Lobster Boat Adventure Nets First Duke Time Off Photo Prize All eligible staff and faculty photos taken and shared between May 20 and Aug. 3, 2026, will be entered to win grand prizes Image Lydia Cato holds up a lobster while on a visit to Portland, Maine. Photo courtesy of Lydia Cato. Caption Clo...

In between interviews with promising job applicants, Barbara Stokes, Director of Dining Services with Duke, celebrated something exciting during a job fair in Durham on May 20: adding a few new team members to Duke University.

More than 125 people attended the job fair at the NCWorks Career Center- Durham on Briggs Avenue, where recruiters and hiring managers worked side by side to fill about 10 openings.

“We have never done something like this at this scale, so we are really excited about it,” Stokes said. “Being able to do interviews and give offers on the same day is huge for us.”

For many candidates, Duke’s strong benefits, flexible schedules, career growth opportunities and upcoming $20 minimum wage beginning July 1 made the organization stand out.

“This is a great opportunity to hire local,” said Roberta Maldonado Franzen, Director of Talent Acquisition and Recruitment for Duke Human Resources. “We have a lot of great talent right here in the area and we recognize that.”

The event also reflected Duke’s continued investment in Durham and the people who call this community home.

Explore opportunities and grow your career at Duke: https://careers.duke.edu.

| Duke Dining | Duke Community Affairs