Leah Acker, Phd, Md Email & Phone Number

I am a physician-scientist on the faculty at Duke University School of Medicine. I practice as an anesthesiologist in the Duke Health System and am a member of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke's Faculty Physician Practice Group. My research focuses on using novel neuro-modulatory technologies to improve perioperative outcomes, particularly among older adults. Before this, I completed a PhD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, in which optogenetics technologies were adapted to non-human primates to modulate behavior, working memory, and visual attention. This work advances the viability of these tools for modulation of neural circuits clinically and required expertise and innovation in gene therapy, molecular biology, medical devices, neurosurgery, and optics. I am also a proud Blue Devil, who graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine and completed graduate medical education at Duke University in Anesthesiology, where I was the ACES chief resident.

Listed skills include Molecular Biology, Microscopy, Biochemistry, Auditory Processing, and 18 others.