During flu season, Dr. George Jackson regularly advocated for good hygiene among faculty and staff, including washing hands. Jackson, who served as director and co-director of Employee Occupational Health and Wellness for 30 years, will step down July 1. Photo by Bryan Roth.

Durham, NC - After nearly 30 years, Dr. George Jackson will be stepping down as director of Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) at Duke.

Dr. Carol Epling, who has served as co-director for the department for the last five years, will take over sole leadership of the department beginning July 1.

Jackson will continue to serve part time as a physician for EOHW as Epling assumes responsibility for the daily activities of the department, which includes oversight for clinical occupational services, Personal Assistance Service, and LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program.

"Duke is fortunate to have had the leadership of Dr. Jackson for nearly 30 years," said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration. "He has helped build and lead one of the most effective employee health programs in the country - a program that has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of the workforce during his tenure."

Epling, who earned a medical degree from the University of Virginia and spent her residency and a fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, has worked at Duke since 1995, serving as a faculty member in the Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. Since 1998, she has served as associate Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency director and director of Durham Regional Hospital's Employee Occupational Health and Wellness office since 2005.

"George has made my transition very easy having built such an excellent staff," Epling said. "The time I've worked with him has been invaluable, allowing me the time to learn and collaborate with someone who is so experienced, thoughtful and wise in his approach to health and wellness."

Jackson came to Duke in August 1982 to run Employee Occupational Health and Wellness. He helped to form the Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine in 1985 and also led that department for 10 years before stepping back in 1995 to focus his efforts solely on EOHW.

During his tenure as director of Employee Occupational Health and Wellness, Jackson helped to establish programs like Personal Assistance Service and LIVE FOR LIFE.

"We've had an immensely productive group of people that have helped to grow so many programs over the years to benefit the Duke workforce," Jackson said. "I've had the great privilege to work with lots of wonderful people in my 30 years as director. There's great opportunity for growth and new ideas ahead of us, and Carol has the skills to bring it all forward."