Brief Bio Sketch
David T Durack, MD, D Phil
David Durack was born in 1944 and brought up on his father’s cattle ranch in outback Australia. After schooling by mail, he attended Scotch College in Perth and the University of West Australia, graduating in Medicine. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, where he wrote a research thesis for Doctor of Philosophy, then completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Oxford and London hospitals. He married Carmen Prosser in Oxford in 1970; they have four children. The family moved to the US in 1974 for a junior faculty position at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1977 they moved to Durham to take up a position at Duke as Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases. During 17 years at Duke he practiced medicine, taught medical students, residents and fellows, and published extensively on causes and treatment of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Dr Durack has a special interest in International Health, and has traveled widely in Africa, Latin America and Europe as a speaker, researcher and volunteer.
In 1995 he joined Becton Dickinson, a leading global provider of medical equipment, devices and diagnostic tests, becoming Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. After retiring from BD and clinical practice, he provides consultation to medical technology companies and has taken up investing in commercial real estate.
Currently he is Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Duke University. He has been a member of the Durham Rotary Club since 2015 and is President of the Durham Chapel Hill Torch Club for 2026-7.
