Duke Science & Society Hires Waitzkin as Deputy Director

Biomedical research scholar Michael “Buz” Waitzkin has been named deputy director of the Duke Science & Society program.

Waitzkin has worked in biomedical technologies in academia, the private sector and the government for more than three decades. He co-founded a genomic diagnostic startup, practiced law in the District of Columbia for 35 years, has extensive experience in advising the biomedical research community and served as special counsel to the president in the White House Counsel’s Office. 

For the past 15 years, he has taught as an adjunct at Duke, with a focus on developing biomedical technologies.

“We are delighted that someone with Buz’s breadth of experience and perspective is joining Science & Society,” said Nita Farahany, director of Science & Society, who met Waitzkin when he hired her as a summer clerk after her first year in law school.

Waitzkin will oversee many of Science & Society’s programs, implement new science-related legislative tracking and amicus brief programs, teach graduate level courses in science policy, law and ethics, mentor students in the MA in bioethics and science policy and work with the corporate and non-profit communities.