Ellen Medearis

Ellen Medearis has been Vice President of Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs since 2011. She has worked at Duke for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs, Medearis served in positions of leadership within Duke University Development. In her previous role, she managed a team of 130 and was responsible for fostering partnerships with development offices throughout the campus.

The Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs team works with Duke Health leaders to identify priorities and encourage philanthropic support for them. Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs programs include alumni relations and reunions, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, faculty engagement, major, leadership and principal gifts, and planned giving. The team includes experts in communications, donor relations and stewardship, research and analytics. Fundraising responsibilities span the spectrum of Duke Health, pursuing the goals of the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, the hospitals, clinical and basic sciences departments; as well as hallmark programs such as the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Children’s, the Duke Eye Center and the Duke Heart Center.