Dr. Scarlett Acklin-Wehnert, MD

Dr. Scarlett Acklin-Wehnert is a radiation oncology resident at Duke University Health System, where she focuses on brachytherapy and advanced radiation techniques for the treatment of cancer. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, graduating with honors in research, and completed a transitional year residency at UAMS prior to joining Duke.

Dr. Acklin-Wehnert brings a strong foundation in both clinical practice and translational research. She is skilled in HDR brachytherapy for gynecologic cancers, LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and advanced respiratory motion management techniques. She is experienced with Varian Eclipse and Brainlab iPlan treatment planning systems.

Her research has focused on understanding and overcoming treatment resistance in rectal adenocarcinoma and investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented her work at major national and international meetings, including ASTRO, ASCO, and ESTRO.

Dr. Acklin-Wehnert’s leadership roles include participation in the Duke GME Medical Education and Leadership Track and the Duke Resident Council. She is a founding president of the UAMS Radiation Oncology Interest Group and has served in leadership roles for Alpha Omega Alpha and UAMS Students for Global Health.

Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Duke Radiation Oncology Consummate Clinician Award, ASTRO Resident Recognition Award, and the NCI R38 StARR Scholar Grant.

Fluent in German after a year abroad in Belgium and Germany, Dr. Acklin-Wehnert combines global perspective, scientific rigor, and compassionate patient care to advance the field of radiation oncology.