Chief’s message:
Today many celebrated mother’s day, even during these trying times. Now more than ever, with increased home isolation, home schooling, and home life, we have been reminded by how important moms are in our lives. The unconditional motherly love the support of moves much of our world forward. Hopefully you all had an opportunity to spend a moment and celebrate mother’s day.
Highlights of the week:
Hernandez Named New Executive Director of DCRI
After a nationwide search for a new leader for the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the Duke University School of Medicine announced today it has named an executive director for the Institute.
Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS, a cardiologist and internationally recognized clinical research expert, will step into the role effective May 15. Hernandez, who has served as the Vice Dean for Clinical Research for the Duke University School of Medicine since 2017, will also maintain some responsibilities of this role as he continues to guide clinical research strategy for the School.
Hernandez has a long history with the DCRI, having joined as a cardiology fellow in 2002. “I learned the power of evidence, the importance of teams, and about the unmet needs of people with everyday health challenges,” Hernandez said while reflecting on the beginnings of his DCRI career. “This early experience continues to shape my vision and thinking today. Simply put, it’s great to be back home.”
Hernandez outlined parts of his vision for the DCRI’s future in creating and implementing new models for conducting clinical research. “Our value will be realized through more efficient studies and in creating new pathways for innovative health solutions and groundbreaking research,” he said. “The future of our work will emphasize programs that are large, leveraged, and embedded within health systems or the daily lives of people. We will practice new methods that enable research at home that is frictionless, flexible, and even fun. To accomplish this, we will continue to leverage the many strengths across Duke and the School of Medicine to innovate locally and scale globally.”
Lesley Curtis, PhD, will transition out of her Interim Executive Director role and resume her full-time work as Chair and Professor of Duke’s Department of Population Health Sciences. She will also remain an active DCRI faculty member through her leadership of the DCRI Think Tanks program and her work with the NIH Collaboratory, PCORnet, and other joint research projects between the DCRI and Population Health.
“Leading the DCRI has been a rewarding journey in so many ways, and together we have made terrific progress,” Curtis said. “I remain committed to the DCRI mission and its ongoing success. I am also delighted to hand over the reins to someone who is a leading clinical researcher, a close colleague, and a substantial contributor to the DCRI for many years.”
Jones Receives DOM Mentoring Award
Congratulations to Schuyler Jones who was honored recently with a 2020 Department of Medicine Research Mentoring
Award. Jones and three other awardees were featured as “master mentors” during a virtual Medicine Grand Rounds (MGR) held Friday, May 1 on Zoom. The DOM included Tracy Wang and Kenneth Schmader (geriatrics), the two 2020 School of Medicine Research Mentoring Award recipients in their panel discussion.
Each awardee served as a panelist during MGR with Leonor Corsino, MD, associate professor of medicine in endocrinology, serving as emcee. Panelists were asked to share insights into the mentoring process and a former mentee of each panelist described the impact that person has had on their career (Ajar Kochar shared thoughts on Schuyler). To learn more or to view the Zoom recording: https://medicine.duke.edu/medicinenews/lessons-master-mentors.
Congratulations, Schuyler!
Fudim Receives DOM Chair’s Research Award
Marat Fudim, a fellow in Advanced Training in Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, is one of two Duke fellows chosen to receive the Department of Medicine Chair’s Research Award. The award, announced May 1 by Kathleen Cooney, chair of the DOM, provides up to $95,000 in protected research time for one year to continue developing data and findings for their applications for NIH K funding. Fudim plans to use his newfound protected time to jumpstart projects related to his NIH K23 application focused on volume management in heart failure and neuromodulation. To read more, visit: https://bit.ly/2LiMw0s.
This is great news – congratulations, Marat!
Davis Named Chief Technologist for DUH CDU, Effective May 4
We are pleased to share that Ashlee Davis, ACS, RDCS, BSMI, FASE has been named chief technologist for the Cardiac 
Diagnostic Unit (CDU) in Duke University Hospital (DUH). Her role became effective May 4. As chief technologist, she will have oversight for the CDU sonographers and work in collaboration with Terri DeMuro, CDU Nurse Manager for management of operations and clinical, educational, and research considerations.
Davis joined the Duke Heart team in 2008 as a cardiac sonographer in the DUH CDU. During her time at Duke, she has advanced to a Cardiac Sonographer, Level III; served as the Continuous Quality Improvement team lead; spearheaded the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission application process; served on both the Dyssynchrony and Congenital teams, and led multiple educational initiatives for staff.
In addition to her contributions at Duke, Davis is involved in the American Society of Echocardiography where she has served on the Bylaws and Ethics Committee, the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Leadership Academy. When not at Duke, she is often giving presentations in her field of expertise – strain and contrast, or volunteering with Team Heart doing surgical missions in Rwanda. Her work can be found in multiple book chapters and professional journal articles.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging from the University of Oklahoma in 2008. Her credentials include Advanced Cardiac Sonographer and Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Ashlee to her new role.
DIHI awards announced
The Duke Institute for Health Innovation announced their 2020 Innovation Projects and Principal Investigators in an email 
announcement issued May 7. A total of 11 projects were selected, two of which include members of the Duke Heart team. We are very pleased to congratulate the following projects and their investigators:
Machine Learning for Early Identification and Management of Pulmonary Embolism
Schuyler Jones, MD; Hope Weissler, MD; Alexander Sullivan, MD; Talal Dahhan, MD; Kishan Parikh, MD; Terry Fortin, MD; Alexander Limkakeng, MD; Samuel Francis, MD; Jason Katz, MD; Timothy Amrhein, MD; William Ratliff, MBA; William Knechtle, MHA, MBS; Michael Gao; Armando Bedoya, MD, MMCI; and Manesh Patel, MD
A Unified Framework for Predicting Bacteremia and Interpreting Blood Culture Results
Christopher R. Polage, MD, MAS; Deverick Anderson, MD; Cara O’Brien, MD; Raquel R. Bartz, MD, MMCi; Brian Griffith, MD; Jill Engle, DNP; Daniel Gilstrap, MD; Justin Silverman, PhD; Mark Sendak, MD, MPP; Sarah Lewis, MD, MPH; Becky Smith, MD; Jennifer Saullo, MD, PharmD; and Rebekah Moehring, MD, MPH
We’re very excited for all of you. Way to go!
Life Is Why Updates
Our Life Is Why sponsorship with the American Heart Association (AHA) continues to thrive, despite having to make modifications due to the pandemic. We are very appreciative of the efforts our AHA partners are making to continue helping people in our community.
Many of you will (hopefully) recall our successful cooking class pilot program from the fall. We are hoping to host a second round of cooking classes as soon as we can, again in partnership with the YMCA. In light of Covid-19 restrictions, we are hoping these can be taught via Zoom with participants cooking from their homes. If so, our participants will be centrally located in one of our Durham communities, which would make pre-order grocery delivery easier for our AHA cooking-class team as well as provide an added level of safety for our participants.
Our team hosted a very successful “virtual” blood pressure training via Zoom in late March for the Durham Interdenominational Ushers Union. This was also something of a “pilot” to see if this could be done online in a meaningful way. We are pleased to report that this was so successful that we will continue trainings via Zoom until hands-on training can safely occur in person. The goal is to train “trainers” who can demonstrate how to correctly use blood pressure cuffs that have been made available to parishioners in several Durham churches thanks to our Life Is Why partnership.
We will continue to share our progress with you!
COVID-19 Updates:
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Cardiology Grand Rounds are cancelled through May, with the exception of internal faculty gatherings to discuss information related to COVID-19. Invitations to those will come via Outlook.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.
Duke Heart in the News:
May 3 — Michael Dee Gunn
Medicine Net
There Aren’t Enough Coronavirus Test Kits to Safely Reopen America, Experts Warn
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=230814
May 4 — Michael Dee Gunn
MSN.com
California isn’t ready to safely reopen. Coronavirus testing levels are inadequate, analysis shows
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/california-isnt-ready-to-safely-reopen-coronavirus-testing-levels-are-inadequate-analysis-shows/ar-BB13xKaz
May 4 — Ann Marie Navar
Eatthis.com
75 Things You Should Never Do For Your Health
May 5 — John Haney
ABC11.com (WTVD)
Outer Banks woman undergoes rare 3rd double-lung transplant at Duke Hospital despite pandemic
https://abc11.com/health/obx-woman-undergoes-rare-3rd-double-lung-transplant-at-duke/6149837/
May 6 — Sean Pokorney
Medpage Today
Reusing Cardiac Devices in Developing Countries Shown to Be Safe
https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/chf/86345
May 6 — Jonathan Piccini
EP Lab Digest
Heart Rhythm Society Releases New White Paper on Atrial Fibrillation Centers of Excellence
https://www.eplabdigest.com/heart-rhythm-society-releases-new-white-paper-atrial-fibrillation-centers-excellence
May 6 — Jonathan Piccini
Cardiac Rhythm News
Heart Rhythm Society launches white paper on AF centres of excellence
Heart Rhythm Society launches white paper on AF centres of excellence
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