Hunter Spotts, M.D., has been named the Director of Student Health in the Student Affairs division. With nearly a decade of experience serving Duke’s campus community and a career dedicated to family medicine and college health, Dr. Spotts brings a wealth of clinical expertise, leadership, and a strong commitment to student well-being.
As Director of Student Health, Dr. Spotts will oversee all health services operations, including clinical care, lab services, nutrition, medical and administrative staff, and patient services. He will be responsible for hiring and retaining the staff needed to deliver best-practice medical care to Duke students. Dr. Spotts will also serve as the Student Health liaison with the School of Medicine, overseeing medical residents and academic engagement of physicians with faculty appointments. Additionally, he will develop and administer student health and wellness programs in collaboration with DuWell and other campus departments, will oversee off-campus medical referrals and relationships with providers, and act as a liaison with Athletics for medical care and athletic training.
Dr. Spotts joined Duke in 2015 as a staff physician at Duke Student Health and has since held key leadership roles, including Medical Director. Under his guidance, Duke Student Health has enhanced its quality improvement initiatives and expanded its collaborative efforts to support holistic student health. Notably, Dr. Spotts played a pivotal role in Duke’s COVID-19 response, coordinating case management, isolation procedures, and contact tracing efforts to safeguard the university community.
Beyond these contributions, he served as Chair of the Clinical Medicine Section of the American College Health Association from July 2023 through June 2024. Additionally, since September 2021, Dr. Spotts has assisted with the Medical School admissions process as a Candidate Rater, interviewing applicants in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).
A board-certified family physician, Dr. Spotts earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Maryland. Before joining Duke, he served as a Medical Director for Patient First in Maryland, where he gained extensive experience in clinical leadership and patient care.
In his spare time, Dr. Spotts enjoys traveling with his wife and spending time with their two adult sons. An avid runner and reader, Dr. Spotts also loves watching sports, especially Duke football and basketball.