We are delighted to announce that Dr. Brett Rocos, MD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke, has been appointed the new Access Champion for Duke Orthopaedics.
Access to timely and high-quality orthopaedic care is foundational to our department’s mission. It is crucial in improving clinical outcomes, reducing emergency visits, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and advancing health equity. In this new role, Dr. Rocos will lead efforts to streamline patient access, ensuring Duke Orthopaedics remains at the forefront of excellence in healthcare delivery.
He will work closely with DHIP, DHAS, and DUHS to evaluate access metrics, identify and remove barriers to care, and lead initiatives that streamline scheduling while enhancing clinical outcomes.
Dr. Rocos will also work alongside the clinical leadership team, which includes Dr. Alison Toth, MD, Clinical Vice Chair; Ray Malaguti, PA-C, MPAS, Clinical Operations Lead; Dr. Tyler Pidgeon, MD, Associate Vice Chair, Clinical; and Alice Cooper, OGNP, RNC, Medical Director for Access at Duke. Together, they will ensure patients receive timely, equitable, high-quality care across the department.
Additionally, the newly established Access Committee will assist Dr. Rocos in devising innovative strategies to enhance patient access.
“Patients are at the heart of what we do at Duke Health,” shared Dr. Rocos. “We strive to make access to vital care as seamless as possible, ensuring our patients receive the support they need to lead full, healthy lives. I am honored to contribute to this mission, not only for the benefit of our patients but also to empower my colleagues to excel in their roles. Since joining Duke in 2022, I have experienced a deeply welcoming environment and am passionate about giving back. I invite everyone, regardless of their role, to share any ideas that might further improve access to our services. My door is always open.”
Dr. Rocos comes to us with an impressive background. Before joining Duke University Health, he served as a Consultant Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust in London. He held an Honorary Consultant Senior Lecturer position at Queen Mary University of London. His training spans the UK and the University of Toronto, where he completed fellowships in adult spine surgery, pediatric spine surgery, orthopaedic trauma surgery, research, and healthcare management. His research on spinal deformity and innovative treatment development has earned him leadership roles in global initiatives, including the AO Knowledge Forum for Deformity and the Scoliosis Research Society’s Research Grants Committee.
We would also like to sincerely thank Dr. Marc Richard for his dedicated service as Access Champion. His leadership laid a robust foundation, and we look forward to building upon his achievements under Dr. Rocos’s guidance.
Finally, we are grateful to the search committee members—Alice Cooper, Ray Malaguti, Dr. Tyler Pidgeon, Dara Purvis, and Dr. Alison Toth—for their diligent efforts in selecting our next Access Champion.