Maurice’s personal connection to Duke Regional Hospital runs deep. He was born here in 1977, one year after the initial construction, and he grew up listening to his father’s stories of the brand-new hospital.
When Maurice enters the hospital in his role as the Service Access Manager for Outpatient Services & Admissions, he is walking into his community. He’s proud that DRH has been such a fixture in the Durham community for the past 50 years, and of the legacy that lives on today. “When I talk to people about the hospital, they always have a lot of positive things to say,” Maurice shares. “It shows how much it means to so many people.”
The Importance of Family Legacy
Rooted In Regional
For half a century, Duke Regional Hospital has served as a cornerstone of local healthcare -- a legacy defined not just by its medical advancements, but by the deeply personal, generational ties of the people within its walls. As the hospital celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary, the stories of three long-serving leaders illustrate what it truly means to be “Rooted in Regional.”
Here, meet Maurice Chambers, Service Access Manager for Outpatient Services and Admission at Duke Regional Hospital.
The Importance of Legacy: Maurice Chambers
Deep Family Ties
Maurice credits his mother, Annie, for starting him on a path to healthcare. She trained at Watts School of Nursing and later took advantage of her business degree from Fayetteville State University to transition to the administrative and patient accounts side of Duke care at the Patient Revenue Management Organization (PRMO), giving her the flexibility and balance she needed to raise her two growing sons, who were active in both academics and athletics.
Maurice’s own 25-year healthcare career began at Duke during his high school summers. His job mailing out insurance documents to patients provided his first industry experience. After these early years, Maurice progressed in his career steadily, working in a management role at Blue Cross Blue Shield for a time. He later returned “home” to Duke Regional – the place where he was born; the place that is right in the middle of the heart of his community. “I was happy to come back,” Maurice says. “It feels like I’ve come full circle.” After spending some time working in the Health Information Management (HIMS) department, Maurice stepped into his leadership role as Service Access Manager last November.
Like so many other team members, Maurice has family members who work in the health system. His cousin, Denise Williams, is a nurse manager of operations with Behavioral Health. Maurice recently facilitated a "Lunch and Learn" event where Denise served as the keynote speaker for one of Duke’s affinity groups. Maurice's sister-in-law, Sabrina Chambers, worked with Duke for more than 25 years as part of the PRMO.
What makes Maurice most proud is having his son, Amauri, working as a patient transporter at Duke Regional. “When he told me he was applying for a position here, I was really glad that he wanted to be part of this wonderful organization,” Maurice says. “Every day is exciting as I watch him learn and develop his own path. He’s turning into a real pro.”
Maurice (right) with his mom, Annie (left).
The "Secret Sauce"
Maurice manages one of the hospital’s busiest clinical areas, often seeing as many as 400 patients each day. He coaches his team to focus on educating patients and making sure they feel respected, calm, and valued. He reminds them that Duke Regional's priority is to care for patients. “Our job is to make sure our patients are healthy. We should never let someone feel like a number or a dollar sign." What makes Duke Regional so special to Maurice is the culture. Every day, he sees the deep relationships that are built on respect and caring.
Maurice (right) and his son, Amauri (left).
Buildling Careers and Futures
Maurice sees Duke Regional as a rare place where team members frequently choose to stay for decades, often working long past their retirement eligibility. “That shows the culture that’s been developed here,” Maurice explains. “It’s a great environment for someone who wants to be part of something bigger than themselves. They see the results of their work and what it means to the community we serve.”
Maurice (left) high-fives his coworker.
Back to the Beginning and Looking Ahead
For Maurice, it all comes back to his mom and the legacy she left for her family and for Duke. During her 30-plus years of dedicated service to the health system, she had a profound impact on those around her. That impact was obvious in the outpouring of love from her colleagues at her retirement celebration and at her funeral in 2015.
“I'm carrying on my mom’s legacy at Duke, and I know it would make her smile. She loved Duke, and she would be so proud of the fact that her grandson and other family members are building their careers here, just like she did.”
Maurice is looking forward to his future at Duke. As he puts it, “I've been in health care for a long time. I've been everywhere. And this actually feels like home for me. And this is where I want to stay.”
Maurice's cousin, Denise Williams (right).