Inside Duke Medicine

Paul Killenberg: GI giant

Paul Killenberg, M.D., professor emeritus of medicine, 70, died on Wednesday, July 23 at Duke University Hospital. He was a distinguished and highly respected giant in the Division of Gastroenterology and at Duke University Medical Center.

During his 36 years on the Duke medical faculty, Dr. Killenberg established himself as a national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. In 1985 Dr. Killenberg helped create Duke’s Liver Transplant Program - the first in North Carolina.

While his contributions in the field of liver disease were many, his proudest professional accomplishment was the training of hundreds of medical students, residents, and fellows. In 2002, the Division of Gastroenterology created the Paul G. Killenberg Medical Teaching Award and named him the first recipient.

“He was a gifted teacher, someone we didn’t want to disappoint,” said Andrew Muir, M.D., who trained under Killenberg. “Rounding with him was a wonderful experience because he enjoyed patient care so very much.”

Killenberg was named Professor Emeritus of Medicine by the Duke University Medical Center and served as Ombudsman for the University. In 2006, he was honored with the Duke Medical Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award.

He earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1959 and a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1963. He interned and was chief medical resident at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, earning the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam. His volunteer service to the Durham community included Durham System of Care, Housing for New Hope, and Boy Scout Troop 458. For his leadership of the Emergency Energy Fund, he received a Volunteer of the Year award.

“Paul was a physician’s physician,” said William Fulkerson, Jr., M.D., senior vice president for clinical affairs and long-time friend of Killenberg. (Listen to an audio clip of Fulkerson talking about his friend by clicking on the blue arrow below.)

[audio:http://insidedukemedicine.org/home/wp-content/uploads/killenberg_tribute.mp3]

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