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Christopher Ethan Cox

Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Duke Box 102043, Durham, NC 27710
Dept of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Crit, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


My work is conducted as a clinician, researcher, teacher, and administrator at Duke University.  Currently, I am a Professor of Medicine with Tenure and the Director of the Duke Program to Support People and Enhance Recovery (ProSPER).  My clinical work is based in ICUs at Duke University, though I am also a board-certified palliative medicine specialist.

My research focuses on understanding and improving the experience of critical illness and quality of care for patients, their families and loved ones, clinicians, and society in general.  To do this, my work addresses topics and methodologies including digital technologies, health services research, behavioral and psychological concerns, communication improvement, and decision making support—all in the context of critical care and palliative medicine.  I am very active in clinical trials as well.  Our group is exceedingly, sincerely grateful for having been continuously funded by NIH since 2009.  We cannot thank enough the patients, family members, and clinicians who have been included in our research over the years.

I am very active mentoring others.  Not only is this a true joy, but also how I keep learning from others.

Key interests:  Critical care, healthcare information technology, critical care echocardiography, mobile apps, AI

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Medicine · 2020 - Present Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine

In the News


Published January 29, 2019
A Promising Decision-Making App Falls Short in Aiding Families With Loved Ones on Life Support
Published July 12, 2016
Life Support Decisions: There’s An App for That (almost)
Published June 24, 2014
Dr. Christopher Cox comments: At acute care hospitals, recovery is rare, but comfort is not

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Recent Publications


A Thematic Analysis of Family Perspectives on Traumatic Stress and Critical Illness of a Loved One

Journal Article Chest Critical Care · March 1, 2026 Background: Trauma-informed care is a promising framework for understanding and ultimately mitigating traumatic stress associated with critical care. Specific components of trauma-informed adult critical care have not been defined. Research Question: How d ... Full text Cite

Evaluation of opioid requirements in mechanically ventilated patients taking buprenorphine/naloxone prior to admission.

Journal Article J Crit Care · February 2026 BACKGROUND: With limited data quantifying opioid requirements based on substance use history, including buprenorphine/naloxone use, optimal pain management for mechanically ventilated patients remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare opioid requirements in m ... Full text Link to item Cite

Exploring Racial Differences in Family Expressions of Emotion and Clinician Empathy in ICU Family Meetings

Conference Chest Critical Care · December 1, 2025 Background: Critical care guidelines recommend that clinicians provide emotional support to families of critically ill patients during family meetings. Little is known about how family member race impacts how emotions are expressed and supported in meeting ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Improving needs among older adults: the ICUconnect 2 primary palliative care RCT

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine · 1997 M.D.