Thanksgiving Week 2020 – Duke Heart Updates
Updates from the Week:
Mentz Named Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cardiac Failure
We are happy to share that Rob Mentz has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cardiac Failure, the official journal of the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society.
Mentz is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology and is our Chief of the Heart Failure Section. He assists with the care of patients with heart failure, cardiac transplants, and ventricular assist devices at Duke University Hospital. He is an NIH and industry-funded clinical trialist involved in ongoing trials designed to inform the care of cardiac patients.
Author of more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, Mentz has also authored several book chapters (including Braunwald’s Heart Failure textbook), was a topic editor for the Heart Failure Self-Assessment Program (HF-SAP) and a writer for the ACCSAP on heart failure. He has also served as an Associate Editor for Circulation: Heart Failure.
“I am honored to take on the role of editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cardiac Failure,” said Mentz. “I look forward to serving the HFSA members as well as the broader heart failure community as we work to publish high-quality original research, reviews, scientific statements and position pieces that are interesting and practice changing. I’m eager to collaborate with the talented editorial team and HFSA leadership to elevate the journal to new heights and bring increased awareness to the field.”
Launched in 1994 and a joint endeavor by the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society, the Journal of Cardiac Failure publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts of interest to clinicians and researchers in the field of heart failure and related disciplines. These include original communications of scientific importance and review articles involving clinical research, health services and outcomes research, animal studies, and bench research with potential clinical applications to heart failure. The Journal also publishes manuscripts that report the design of ongoing clinical trials and editorial perspectives that comment on new developments pertinent to the field of heart failure or manuscripts published in other journals.
Mentz will begin his term as Editor-in-Chief on December 1.
In Memoriam: John J. Gallagher, MD
We were saddened this week to learn of the passing of Dr. John J. Gallagher, a pioneer in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and a beloved mentor and former faculty member at Duke.
We are grateful to Drs. David Benditt and Eric Prystowsky for sharing the following tribute with Pulse:
John J. Gallagher, MD was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 3, 1943. He received a B.S. in physics from Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and an MD Cum Laude from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1968. Thereafter, John moved to Duke where he completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine in 1970, after which he joined the US Public Health Service as a research associate in the Cardiopulmonary Laboratory at Staten Island. It was there that he became strongly influenced by the early advances in clinical cardiac electrophysiology taking place in Dr. Anthony Damato’s laboratory.
In 1972, John returned to Duke as a Fellow in Cardiology, and joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in 1974. Under the guidance of then Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Andrew Wallace, John quickly became a principal driving force behind Duke’s rapidly growing reputation as a world leader in basic science and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. In this setting, allied principally with Will Sealy, MD of the Department of Surgery, John pioneered electrophysiological evaluation and surgical cure of patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and related forms of ventricular preexcitation. Working with a talented technical (in particular Jackie Kassel) and surgical team (notably Dr. Sealy, as well as Robert Anderson, MD; Jimmie Cox, MD; and Steve Ring, MD), John devised the ‘sock-map’ technique for computer-based epicardial activation sequence mapping, and was among the first to innovate the use of cryoablation in arrhythmia surgery.
In 1980, John was appointed Edward S. Orgain Professor of Medicine at Duke University attesting to his many accomplishments. In the years leading up to and following this appointment, John’s efforts attracted worldwide attention, and his laboratory became a magnet for post-graduate trainees. We count ourselves fortunate to have been among these; some others in alphabetic order included Gust Bardy, MD; Ronnie Campbell, MD; Larry German, MD; Roosevelt F. Gilliam, MD; Augustus Grant, MD; Stephen Hammill, MD; Charlie Kerr, MD; George Klein, MD; Douglas Packer, MD; Edward L.C. Pritchett, MD, and Andrew Tonkin, MD to name a few. Many of John’s students subsequently became noted teachers, innovators and thought leaders in cardiac electrophysiology around the world.
In 1983, John moved to Charlotte, NC, where he became Director of Electrophysiology at the Carolinas Medical Center and Carolinas Heart Institute. In that position, he continued to be regarded internationally as one of cardiac electrophysiology’s most masterful analysts of complex arrhythmias. Later in life, John became an avid horseman and enjoyed the country life. Despite multiple health issues over the years, John maintained an extensive hospital-based practice until his untimely death this past month.
As a teacher, John Gallagher was unfailingly passionate and uncompromising. He always demanded clear thinking, detailed analysis, precise writing, and the most attentive patient care. He demonstrated to us how one could pursue physiologic research in the clinical electrophysiology laboratory with the same rigor demanded in basic research. He was never easily pleased. These qualities, and a sometimes unpredictable demeanor, combined to incite trepidation even among his most talented trainees. Nevertheless, his students also recognized the quality of education they were receiving, and that their mentor was in fact a warm and thoughtful individual, with a marvelous sense of humor, and a nose for a good time. John’s passing is a great loss to cardiology, and especially to the worldwide EP community that has long admired his skill and intellect.
We offer our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and many friends. May his memory be a blessing.
David G. Benditt, MD
Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Eric N. Prystowsky, MD
Consulting Professor, Duke University Medical School
St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
Duke Heart to Serve as Presenting Sponsor of 2021 NC Walk for Victory
We are pleased to share that Duke Heart, on behalf of the Duke Center for Aortic Disease, will again serve as the Presenting Sponsor for the North Carolina Walk for Victory. The event raises awareness of and funds to support The Marfan Foundation. Dr. Chad Hughes, director of the Duke Center for Aortic Disease will serve as the 2021 Medical Chair of the event, which is scheduled for April 17, 2021 from noon to 3 p.m. at Laurel Hills Park in Raleigh. If it becomes evident that a safe in-person, physically distanced event is not possible at that time, the event will be held virtually on the same date.
COVID-19 Updates:
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
NOTE: Pulse will not be published on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3 so that we may enjoy some time off.
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Nov. 30: Translating Duke Health-CV Symposium. 9-11:15 am. Virtual. To register, please visit: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXSYvFY7Luu2LJ3
Please try to attend – should be a good update on our progress with TDH-CV.
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Dec. 1: Fellow presentation with Vishal Rao. 5 pm, Webex.
Dec. 8: Heart Center Grand Rounds (multi-disciplinary): DCD Heart Transplantation. 5 pm, Webex.
Dec. 10: Cardio-Pulmonary Joint Grand Rounds: Ryan Tedford of MUSC, Assessment of Right Ventricular Function: The Role of RV-PA Coupling and RV Reserve. 12 pm, Webex.
Dec. 22: No Cardiology GR. Happy Holidays!
Dec. 29: No Cardiology GR. Happy Holidays!
Conferences, Symposia & Webinars
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:
November 23 — L. Kristin Newby
Medscape
Many Patients With Type 2 MI Don’t Get Cardiologist Evaluation
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941462
Duke Heart Week Ending November 22nd 2020
Highlights of the week:
Brett Atwater Celebrated During CGR; Headed to Inova
The team celebrated Brett Atwater and his contributions to Duke Electrophysiology (and the overall field) in a special Cardiology Grand Rounds held Nov. 17. Most of you are aware that Atwater has been named Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Electrophysiology Research at the Inova Heart & Vascular Institute in Fairfax, VA; his new position is effective December 14.
During this special CGR virtual event, we heard from an array of presenters, including two of his mentees: Daniel Friedman (Yale) and Zak Loring (Duke EP Fellow), as well as Jon Piccini and Manesh Patel.
We wish you and your family all the best with your move to Fairfax, Brett! You will be missed but we look forward to lots of collaboration.
AHA Scientific Sessions Wraps Up
We want to thank all of our faculty and fellows for the dedication and presentations.
Please find a slide from Dr. Fauci’s presentation at AHA on the vaccines.
Duke Regional Named Among Top 50 CV Hospitals for 2021
IBM Watson Health has released its annual ranking of 50 top hospitals for cardiovascular care in collaboration with Fortune. Duke Regional Hospital has again made their list – a link to the story appears in our news list, below (see Becker’s Hospital Review). This is terrific recognition of the extraordinary care our team provides there every day. Special thanks to Shu Lin for his excellent leadership there – we are proud of the work your team is doing!
Remembrance: Joe Greenfield, MD
We received the following note last weekend from David Benditt, MD:
I have been reading the wonderful memories of Joe Greenfield published in Pulse (11-15-20). Several comments focused on his invaluable and so often unanswerable criticisms offered at Rounds. These brought to mind an experience dating to the late 1970s. As a Fellow, I presented a case of Carotid Sinus Syndrome focusing on the mystery of the vasodepressor mechanism in Reflex faints. After what I perceived to be a thoughtful examination of a difficult unknown, Joe simply but politely said (I paraphrase as so many years have passed), “Thank you, David, but I think you will find that ‘beta-adrenergic blockade’ will take care of it.” I was very much taken aback by the certainty of his remark. How could I have missed something so obvious? Of course, that was not Joe’s point at all. The gauntlet had been thrown. The challenge was to dig deeper and ultimately to derive new science and better understanding. Now, more than 40 years later, having made some progress, I am still working on the mystery, and many times a year, I silently thank Joe for the remark that focused a career.
With fond memories,
David G. Benditt, MD,Professor of Medicine, Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Duke Heart Clinics Hold Thanksgiving Food Drive
The Duke Southpoint and South Durham Cardiology Clinics sponsored a Thanksgiving food drive to collect items that will be given to the Durham Rescue Mission. Carolyn Richards, Foretta Davis and Phyllis Upchurch helped organize the drive, which collected three tables worth of donations. Special thanks to Annette Moore for sharing this news with us.
Great job, everyone – and thanks to all who donated!
CICU Move Successful
Our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) moved this weekend from DUH 7700 to DMP 7E. Many thanks to the staff and provider teams for making this a successful move – Greg Flynn and our CICU nurses did an amazing job of facilitating the process. Great job everyone!!!
Duke Heart Leadership Council Holds Fall Meeting
The Duke Heart Leadership Council met virtually on Friday afternoon. Three new members were introduced: Dennis Wicker, Chuck Swoboda and Julian “Brad” Branch were warmly welcomed. The meeting, led by Council chair Bob Keegan, included a tribute to Phil Kohl, a member of the Council who passed away earlier this year. He was recognized as a great advocate with a competitive spirit who will be deeply missed. Peter Smith and Manesh Patel provided an overview of our work and accomplishments over the past year, particularly as we dealt with COVID; Edward Chen, incoming CT Surgery division chief was introduced to the members, and the Council heard an engaging presentation by Eric Richardson of Duke Design Health.
Register Now: TDH-CV Symposium, Nov. 30
Please plan to join us for the Translating Duke Health Cardiovascular Disease symposium on Monday, Nov. 30 from 9 to 11:15 am. This will be a virtual event to update our community on the latest findings among our funded projects. To register, please visit: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXSYvFY7Luu2LJ3
Updated Grief Resources Available
A free half-day virtual symposium called Matters of Grief was held this week and moderated by Anthony Galanos (Geriatrics/Palliative Care); it included a presentation by Jessica Regan, who is the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center’s 2020 Mandel Fellow. New and updated resources were presented for addressing grief not only in our personal lives, but grief arising in the workplace through the loss of colleagues, mentors or patients. All materials can be accessed via: bit.ly/mattersofgrief
Grief is a normal part of the course of human life and each of us will have unique experiences with it. Importantly, grief is not always the result of a death. It can be tied to other types of losses, too. The resources made available at Duke have been enriched over the past year in light of the pandemic. There are materials that address ways to support others or to help yourself through the very real grief we will all, at some point, endure.
The Matters of Grief website is well put together and easy to navigate. We highly recommend acquainting yourself with the resources available there – which, by the way — are available to anyone, anywhere – please share them inside and outside of Duke.
As you navigate the upcoming holidays, stay safe and please take care of yourselves!
COVID-19 Updates:
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
NOTE: Pulse will not be published on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3 so that we may enjoy some time off.
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Nov. 24: Overview of 2020 AHA Scientific Sessions with Kristin Newby. 5 pm. Webex.
Dec. 1: Fellow presentation with Vishal Rao. 5 pm, Webex.
Dec. 8: Heart Center Grand Rounds (multi-disciplinary): DCD Heart Transplantation. 5 pm, Webex.
Dec. 10: Cardio-Pulmonary Joint Grand Rounds: Ryan Tedford of MUSC, Assessment of Right Ventricular Function: The Role of RV-PA Coupling and RV Reserve. 12 pm, Webex.
Dec. 22: No Cardiology GR. Happy Holidays!
Dec. 29: No Cardiology GR. Happy Holidays!
Conferences, Symposia & Webinars
Nov. 30: Translating Duke Health-CV Symposium. 9-11:15 am. Virtual. To register, please visit: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXSYvFY7Luu2LJ3
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:
November 12 — Yuichiro Yano (Family Medicine & Community Health)
Medscape
Masked Asleep Hypertension Common in US Adults
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/940875
November 13 — Pamela Douglas
tctMD/the heart beat
SCAPIS: CTA Finds Silent CAD in 42% of Middle-aged Adults
https://bit.ly/33k5gpV
November 13 — Pamela Douglas
Medscape
SCAPIS: Simple Questionnaire Can Identify Silent Atherosclerosis
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941000
November 13 — Manesh Patel
tctMD/the heart beat
As US Cardiologists Mull a Biden Presidency, COVID-19 Trumps All
https://www.tctmd.com/news/us-cardiologists-mull-biden-presidency-covid-19-trumps-all
November 13 — Jonathan Piccini
Medscape
Omega-3 Caps, Vitamin-D Both Fail for Atrial Fib Primary Prevention: VITAL-Rhythm
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941002
November 14 — Eric Peterson
Healio.com/Cardiology Today
BP control, frequency of measurements minimally impacted during COVID-19
https://bit.ly/2ULwTU0
November 15 — L. Kristin Newby
Medpage Today
Omega-3s Humbled by Corn Oil Placebo in Two Trials
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aha/89683
November 17 – Duke Regional Hospital
Becker’s Hospital Review
50 top cardiovascular hospitals for 2021, ranked by IBM Watson Health
https://bit.ly/2UKCzgT
November 18 — Manesh Patel
Medscape
No Extra Cardiopulmonary Event Reduction With High-Dose Flu Vaccine
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941188
November 20 — Pamela Douglas
Physician’s Weekly
AHA: Silent CVD Common in ’Healthy’ People
https://bit.ly/3pHpCTv
Duke Heart Week ending November 15th 2020
American Heart Association Scientific Sessions are Underway
The virtual AHA Annual Scientific Sessions is underway, filled with great science and lots of interaction despite the pandemic. Some of the Highlighted Duke presentations can be found on the DCRI webpage: https://dcri.org/dcri-aha, including news briefs on RIVER (with Renato Lopes and John Alexander) and GALACTIC-HF (with Mike Felker). Of note, Pamela Douglas is presenting the annual Laennec Clinician/Educator Lecture. Her presentation is titled, “Imaging, Imaging Quality and Chest Pain Evaluation” We also had several faculty involved in moderating and discussing late breaking clinical trials. The AHA also had an vitally important opening session on Structural Racism and mechanisms to change. The sessions with several faculty and fellow presentations will be on-demand until January.
ACC Clinical Trials Research: Upping Your Game
Pam Douglas, Tracy Wang and Minnow Walsh (St. Vincent Heart Center), are planning committee co-chairs for the ACC Clinical Trials Research: Upping Your Game program this year. The course is part of the ACC’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and seeks to support cardiologists and PhD researchers who are seeking to succeed in clinical research. The course kicked off this month with a virtual two-day session. Larry Jackson was in attendance as well as some former Duke fellows/faculty, including Melvin Echols and Gwen Bernacki. To learn more, please visit: https://bit.ly/35ur1EO
Save the Date: TDH-CV Symposium, Nov. 30
Please plan to join us for the Translating Duke Health Cardiovascular Disease symposium on Monday, Nov. 30 from 9 to 11:15 am. This will be a virtual event to update our community on the latest findings among our funded projects. Agenda:
9:00-9:05 am Welcome, Overall TDH Updates – Manesh Patel
Session I
9:05-9:30 am Translating Duke Health Scholar Highlight, Aravind Asokan
9:30-9:55 am Pilot Project Awardee, Hope Weissler and Ricardo Henao
9:55-10:05 am Moderated Q&A Session I
10:05-10:15 am BREAK
Session II
10:15-10:40 am Translating Duke Scholar Highlight, Mei Liu
10:40-11:05 am Pilot Project Awardee, Conrad Hodgkinson
11:05-11:15 am Moderated Q&A Session II
11:15 am Closing and Thank You
To register, please visit: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXSYvFY7Luu2LJ3
Celebrating Duke Heart NPs
We’ve just wrapped up celebrating National Nurse Practitioners Week, which runs November 8-14, in recognition of the NP 
profession and its contributions to the nation’s health. In the midst of this challenging year, we are deeply grateful for the efforts and contributions of these vital members of the Duke Heart team.
NP Week is the ideal time to celebrate the high-quality health care NPs provide through more than 1 billion patient visits each year. This year is particularly special as 2020 marks the 100th birthday of Dr. Loretta C. Ford, the co-founder of the first NP program at the University of Colorado and the first champion of the NP role.
As highly skilled multidisciplinary care team members, NPs provide exceptional patient care in virtually all medical specialties and settings. NPs are pivotal in the nation’s health care deliver and serve in critical roles throughout patient care, medical education, health administration, leadership, and research.
A very special thank you to all NPs throughout Duke Heart for the great work you’re doing!
Shout-Out to Kesler!
Many thanks to Autumn Kesler, one of our amazing cardiology nurses, for going above and beyond for our patients! Jen Rymer shared the following with Pulse:
“We had a patient scheduled to see me who was coming from Virginia, had limited access/resources, and had a special van bringing him. Autumn had already put in a lot of effort to get him to the appointment. The patient got lost for the appointment in the parking lot after checking in, and Autumn went out to look for the patient and retrieve him. She brought him upstairs, made sure to walk him to get labs, and escorted him to his van so he wouldn’t get lost again. In addition to this example, she brought stickers for an appointment I had with a patient who has developmental delays and loves Paw Patrol characters.
During these tough times, when so many of our patients are struggling, I think we can all learn a lesson from Autumn. Patient care is not just about the clinical decisions that are made, but making sure the experience is hopefully a good one too!”
We completely agree! Way to go, Autumn!
Moments to Movement Features Kevin Thomas
Held on Nov. 12, the Duke’s Moments to Movement series continued with the panel discussion Clinicians on Racism and Health Inequities featuring Duke Heart’s Kevin Thomas as one of the panel participants. Additional panelists included Theresa Williamson (NSU resident); Vicky Ortho of Duke Regional; and Rick Shannon, Chief Quality Officer, Duke Health. Thanks to all who were able to join the discussion.
Publication Lands Among Top 10 in JAMIA
We learned this week that a manuscript co-authored by Jedrek Wosik, Marat Fudim, Blake Cameron, Ziad Gellad, Alex Cho, Donna Phinney, Simon Curtis, Matthew Roman, Eric Poon, Jeff Ferranti, Jason Katz, and Jimmy Tcheng is listed at #2 among the Top 10 articles in Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (#1 journal in the informatics space) for the past 12 months. Congrats to the full team! To see their publication, Telehealth transformation: COVID-19 and the rise of virtual care, please visit: https://academic.oup.com/jamia/article/27/6/957/5822868
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
Nov. 17: Special CGR: Celebrating Dr. Brett Atwater’s Contributions to EP. 5 pm, Webex.
Our speakers will include:
- Jonathan Piccini – Introduction
- Daniel Friedman (Yale) – Physiology, Pathophysiology, & Epidemiology of LBBB in HFpEF and HFmrEF: Opportunities for Resynchronization
- Zak Loring – Use of Electrocardiographic Patterns to Improve Patient Selection for Device Therapies
- Brett Atwater – The Future of Innovation in EP
Nov. 24: Kristin Newby, Overview of the 2020 AHA. 5 pm. Webex.
Conferences, Symposia & Webinars
Nov. 19: Matters of Grief: The Duke Response. 1-5 p.m.
A free half-day symposium where we will learn about ways that we can support each other through both personal and professional grief, share stories of support, and identify resources available at Duke.
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response will feature diverse and multidisciplinary panels, engaging didactic sessions, and surprise guests from across the university. Just some of the highlights include:
- Coach K delivers a special message
- Duke medical students will discuss the research behind grief and finding support through peers
- Well-Being experts and Duke Health leadership discuss normalizing discussions about grief
The virtual event runs from 1-5PM on November 19th, 2020. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live event. Reserve your space today at bit.ly/mattersofgrief
Nov. 30: Translating Duke Health-CV Symposium. 9-11:15 am. Virtual. To register, please visit: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXSYvFY7Luu2LJ3
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:
November 10 — Manesh Patel
Medpage Today
AHA Meeting Spotlights HF Management, Statin Acceptance
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aha/89594
November 10 — Thomas Price (endocrinology)
US News & World Report
AHA News: Early Menopause Predicts Early Heart Trouble for White Women
https://bit.ly/3ndnsIY
(*also carried by 8 additional outlets including in Little Rock, Colorado Springs & West Palm Beach)
November 10 — Jay Shavadia
Healio/Cardiology
Statin use may not meaningfully reduce CV events in patients on dialysis
https://bit.ly/35xQYTR
November 11 – Joseph Rogers
WRAL
NC’s COVID hospitalizations at an all-time high. Here’s who is the sickest
https://bit.ly/2Ulswie
November 11 — Chetan Patel
News & Observer
Duke Hospital expands pool of heart donors. Now it has reached a transplant milestone.
https://bit.ly/2IAjX0b
(This story was carried by 7 additional outlets including in Charlotte, Durham & Myrtle Beach)
November 11 — Schuyler Jones
tctMD/the heart beat
PCI at Ambulatory Centers: More Bleeding but No Penalty in Overall Outcomes
https://bit.ly/2GTnrdN
November 11 — Jason Katz
Medpage Today
Patient’s Ventricles Removed as Bridge to Heart Transplant
https://www.medpagetoday.com/surgery/thoracicsurgery/89615
November 12 — David Pisetsky (rheumatology & immunology)
Healthcentral.com
Here’s Why Having RA Increases Your Heart-Disease Risk
https://bit.ly/35Cnu7D
November 12 — Michael Nanna
tctMD/the heart beat
Statin Benefits Confirmed in Elderly, Along With Harmful Effects of High Cholesterol
https://bit.ly/3f2yHBe
Duke Heart Week Ending November 8th 2020
Chief’s message:
Duke Heart Center is pleased to announce the Hearts of Athletes Program with philanthropic support from the Joel Cornette Foundation.
During development the cardiovascular system forms in a uniform way. A young person’s environment, exposure to sports, nutrition, other elements then affect the development of the heart and the cardiovascular system. Along this spectrum some individuals become world-class athletes. As they do so, the ability to determine variation on normal compared to disease anatomy, function can be difficult. To date the scientific community has lacked a large “library” with information/data on the spectrum on hearts of people who have performed at the highest levels of athletic competition. Additionally, once done competing in high level sports there is little guidance on the management and medical care of the cardiovascular system. This problem has only been exacerbated with COVID-19, an infectious disease that has posed an unprecedented public health challenge and has been reported to involve the heart. Recent reports have identified inflammation of the heart – termed myocarditis.
For young adults, student athletes, and others without known cardiovascular disease, the true incidence of myocardial involvement after COVID-19 infection and the rate of detection via different testing modalities is not known. This has led to differential testing programs and return to athletics around the United States.
It is with this background and the generous support from the Joel Cornette Foundation, that the Duke Heart Center lead by Dr. Manesh Patel will be launching the Hearts of Athletes Program, aimed at recruiting college athletes both with and without COVID-19 to help identifying the rate of myocardial involvement and effects on their ability to return to athletic activity. The study will capture cardiovascular imaging including cardiac MRI studies on these athletes.
Dr. Patel noted, “We will leverage our expertise in Sports Cardiology with Bill Kraus, electrophysiology expertise with Jim Daubert, and Cardiac MRI imaging from our group including Han Kim and Igor Klem. This study will provide critical information linking symptoms, physical activity, and cardiac imaging in athletes with and without COVID-19 – allowing us to start to understand both the disease and the athletic heart. We are honored to gain the support of the Christi Cornette and the Joel Cornette Foundation, without whom we wouldn’t have been able to quickly start this study. Having met Christi Cornette and understanding her vision to improve the lives of athletes in honor of Joel, we are humbled to partner with the foundation.” The study will shortly be recruiting via a novel Hearts of Athlete’s Study APP that will allow athletes to capture their symptoms and cardiovascular images.
Christi Cornette stated “We are excited to work with the Cardiology group at Duke and Dr. Patel to identify ways to help better understand COVID-19 and support athletes during this time. We are confident that research like this will improve our understanding of athlete’s heart so that we may prevent and improve their lives.
Dr. Patel noted that the Duke group is also working with several sports medicine colleagues to coordinate the efforts of the Hearts of Athlete’s study with ongoing registry work around COVID-19 involvement in NCAA athletes. The group envisions that this program will provide more in depth information needed for both athletes and non-athletes recovering from COVID-19.
Updates from the week:
Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH gives Eugene Stead Medical Grand Rounds on “PCORI 2.0”
Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH, is Executive Director at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). She is a cardiologist and health services researcher with a distinguished career leading key scientific initiatives engaging patients, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders at one of the nation’s largest public health research funders.
She provided a fantastic wide ranging talk aimed at providing the vision for PCORI over the next 10 years which included ensuring working to generate patient centered research that improves the outcomes of our communities. She discussed patient engagement, big data, the role of funding and open science and her own journey to PCORI Leadership. Like Dr. Stead, she described the importance of understanding the whole person, removing disparities and inequities in health, and how we will be working in research and care delivery to do that.
EP Updates:
Kevin Jackson Named Director of Duke Center for Atrial Fibrillation
We are very pleased to announce that Kevin Jackson, MD will be assuming the role of Director of the Duke Center for Atrial Fibrillation at Duke University. Dr. Jackson completed his residency training at UCSF and his cardiology and electrophysiology fellowships at Duke before joining the faculty in 2007. Dr. Jackson is a key leader and recognized expert in the treatment of atrial fibrillation locally and across the country. He provides care for AF throughout our health system, including at Duke University Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and through HeartCare Plus at Wake Med in Wake County. He is uniquely poised to help lead our care efforts in this arena. Dr. Jackson will be working with Janice Febre, RN (DCAF Nurse Coordinator) to improve the consistency and data-driven approach within our hospitals and clinics. I am very pleased to see Dr. Jackson take on this new role. He has a strong reputation as a top notch clinician in our community and excels at efficient and high-quality care delivery. Please congratulate KJ when you see him.
Rebeccal Yapejiaan elected Associate of the ACC
Sana Al Khatib shared great news this week. “I am writing to share with you the great news that Rebecca Yapejiaan – one of our EP NPs, was just elected as an Associate of the ACC. The approval happened in record time (24 hours)”. Congrats Rebecca – well deserved
American Heart Associate Scientific Sessions to Start this week.
Many of our Faculty and Fellows will be presenting at the upcoming Virtual AHA sessions. The sessions will have an all star cast of Keynote Speakers including Dr. Toni Fauci on the Cardiovascular Effects of COVID-19. We will also have many of our Faculty and fellows presenting, with many faculty moderating and involved with Late Breaking Science.
Registration Links can be found here: the website
Image of the Week:
After a contentious political season – Joe Biden was declared President-Elect with Kamala Harris as Vice-President Elect. Hopefully our country that has been deeply divided will find a way towards common ground and a way forward for some of the most pressing issues in our country right now – many of which touch our lives in health care. No matter what your political beliefs, the election of the first woman, a women of color as Vice-President elect is historic, hopeful and inspiring to generations.
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
Nov. 10: Michelle Kelsey – Presenting Morbidity and Mortality Case to the Faculty and Fellows
Nov. 17: Special Grand Rounds – Celebrating Brett Atwater’s Contributions to EP
Conferences, Symposia & Webinars
Nov. 13: 12th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium. Noon – 4:30 p.m. For more information, please visit this page. This event will be held virtually and is co-sponsored by Duke and the University of North Carolina in partnership with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association through the Building Medical Education in PH program. Please join us!
Nov. 13–17: AHA Scientific Sessions 2020, a virtual experience. Registration is now open. See the website for details.
Conversations with Colleagues: A Deeper Dive on Racial Justice
During the initial Conversations with Colleagues (CwC): Racial Justice sessions attendees shared that they wanted a deeper dive and more action steps related to racial justice. During this next edition of CwC attendees will sign up for 6 weeks of conversations. Participants will be placed into small cohorts and will walk with this same group of colleagues throughout the entire 6 weeks. These cohorts will allow staff to build relationships, have colleagues to bounce ideas off of and have accountability partners to help them stay true to the mission of the deeper dive. You will read articles, watch videos and engage in other activities that will deepen your knowledge about racial justice. Attendees will also learn action steps that they can take to make a difference.
Dates/Links for CwC
The conversations will take place weekly, starting this week and running through 12/7 (with a break Thanksgiving Week). Conversations will be 1 hour long.
Mondays 2-3pm (10/16 – 12/7)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvdOCqrDgsEtQYipTJ7F4eZnPQZFTIx2ZD
Tuesdays 8-9am (10/27 – 12/8)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAtde-grTsqGtxJl7M6huHcgA3yFQ18pO6P
Wednesdays 12noon-1pm (10/28 – 12/9)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkce-rqjIrHdPmAvmnM_L0GEaFrkeFZq5L
Thursdays 5-6pm (10/29 – 12/10)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lcu6rqTMiEtOIeRMiWtRQcInZLR6LnmPB
Fridays 12 noon-1pm (10/30 – 12/11)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrf–trTwrHtB3TEX5B-7UUXW2RgDJWGko
Sundays 4-5pm (11/1 – 12/13)
https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucuqtrjIpGdx8gdnQst1yAS-5NDrgzrD2
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response
On Thursday, November 19th, join us for a free half-day symposium where we will learn about ways that we can support each other through both personal and professional grief, share stories of support, and identify resources available at Duke.
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response will feature diverse and multidisciplinary panels, engaging didactic sessions, and surprise guests from across the university. Just some of the highlights include:
- Coach K delivers a special message
- Duke medical students will discuss the research behind grief and finding support through peers
- Well-Being experts and Duke Health leadership discuss normalizing discussions about grief
The virtual event runs from 1-5PM on November 19th, 2020. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live event. Reserve your space today at bit.ly/mattersofgrief
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.
Have a good week, everyone!
Duke Heart Week Ending November 1st 2020
Chief’s message: Adapting Halloween
Adapting Halloween for COVID-19 was something that we were struggling for a few weeks. I had promised my daughter that I would build a haunted house (in our home) so that she and her brother could have fun without going out. So, it was a nice break from the usual evenings, to be creative and make a scavenger hunt in three rooms with characters from Narnia including our dog as Aslan the lion, clues to solve for treats, and several “spooky areas”. The kids really seemed to enjoy it and we got to spend a bit more time on an evening that in the past has been a race to get around places, feed the family, and get back home. The COVID-19 pandemic has drained all of us of energy and presented challenges that will undoubtedly continue. As we continue to reduce the tragedies, we often struggle to stay vigilant with many of the public health recommendations. This weekend, however, provided a glimpse of how many in our community are adapting and moving forward, something that we continue to see across our health system and Duke Heart. Keeping up the personal and public health battle remains our primary focused mission as we care for our patients and each out.
Highlights of the week:
Halloween: the Kids, the Pets & the Pumpkins!
We hope everyone throughout Duke Heart has had a safe, fun and treat-filled weekend!!! We loved checking out these great costumes – a special hat tip to Jamie Jollis for collecting and sharing these with Pulse.
Shown here are: Jellybean (Sandra Anton’s pup) as a Hot Dog; a couple of pups dressed as wedding attendants; the Pokorney kids as a fireman and Wonder Woman; Katie Thompson’s kids as a dragon and an old lady; Mike Rehorn’s kids as Captain America and a cow. Also included: the contestants in the Cath Lab pumpkin contest. You’re all winners to us!
Celebrating Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 25-31)
Many thanks to all our wonderful respiratory therapists throughout Duke Heart! This was their special week to celebrate. Shown here are some images of our RT group having some fun with our daily COVID-safe treat cart (leadership decorated and brought the cart to the units each shift to prevent any large gatherings with shared food.) We were also able to present a large Thank You card that we have been circulating through the units for a few months (will be framed and will eventually hang in the department).
“In all we were able to celebrate with ice cream sandwiches, breakfast, our ‘Woot! Woot! Express’ cart, and Relax, Reflect, and Recharge gift bags aimed at helping the team to unwind on days off,” said Charlotte Reikofski, DUHS director of Respiratory Care Services. “We’ll wrap up with a full day of 8 Free CEUs and Superlatives on Friday, along with a team hike at Eno Park and COVID-safe Trunk or Treat afterward on Saturday. It has been a great week to celebrate the team!
Thanks for all that you do, Respiratory Care team!!!!
Duke Heart Grows Again!
We are very pleased to share that cardiology APP Tiffany McEwen and her husband Kevin have welcomed their first child. Please join us in welcoming Colton James McEwen, born Oct. 28; 9 lbs., 4 oz., 22”. “Dad, Mom and Colton doing well!
EVS Worker Recognized for Emergency Intervention
On Thursday, Ali Dahham, an Environmental Services associate assigned to 7100 was recognized with a special celebration and certificate to honor his efforts to assist a patient. Thanks to his observation skills and quick-thinking, he noticed a problem with a patient and immediately notified nursing staff. Because of his decision, the patient was able to receive advanced stroke therapies within the appropriate window of time.
“We are all here because we want to make a difference in our patient’s lives. When you think about who saves lives in a hospital, the first thing that comes to mind is the doctors, the nurses or the paramedics, and rightly so,” said Louisa Joy, Duke System Patient Experience Manager. “Rarely do you think of Environmental Services. Housekeepers sanitize patient rooms to keep the patients in a safe environment and at times they come across situations where they play a more active role in saving someone’s life.”
Dahham received a certificate and a star pin. The team helped celebrate with refreshments.
Congratulations, Ali! We are really proud of his actions and we are grateful for the efforts of the full housekeeping staff throughout Duke Heart.
Pictured are: Lisa Pickett, MD, Floreasa Scott, Ali Dahham, Elizabeth Webb, Isaac Johnson, Megan Steele, Brittany Stephenson, Louisa Joy, Julio Rodriguez and several additional staff members.
Nazo Honored by CVRC
You may recall that, earlier this year, Nour Nazo was selected as the 2020 CVRC Research Staff Appreciation award recipient. Due to the research curtailment, the team was not able to inscribe Nour’s name on their award plaque until recently. The plaque is located in the lobby of the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center, first floor of the Carl Building.
Congratulations once again, Nour!
Important Reminders
- Election Day is Tuesday. VOTE!
- Please get your Flu Vaccination: All team members must get their vaccination or otherwise demonstrate policy compliance by Tuesday, Nov. 10. Details and resources all available on the Duke Health Influenza Resources site (NET ID required): https://influenza.dh.dukehealth.org.
COVID-19 Updates:
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Medicine Grand Rounds: Friday November 8th – 8 AM: Stead Lecture from Nakela Cook, MD, MPH: Envisioning PCORI 2.0: Accelerating Innovation to Implementation
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Nov. 10: TBA
Nov. 17: No CGR. AHA Scientific Sessions
Conferences, Symposia & Webinars
Moments to Movement Series:
Nov. 12, 1 p.m., the Moments to Movement series continues with the panel discussion, Clinicians on Racism and Health Inequities.
Our panel participants are:
- Theresa Williamson, MD, Neurosurgery Resident, Duke University Health System
- Kevin Thomas, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Underrepresented Faculty Development, Duke School of Medicine
- Vicky Orto, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services Officer, Duke Regional Hospital
- Rick Shannon, MD, Chief Quality Officer, Duke Health
Panelists will discuss how and why people of color experience different clinical outcomes. They’ll explain the meaning of health equity and explain what Duke is doing to ensure the same level of excellence is accessible to all.
To access the livestream, use this link.
Exclusive Event for Duke Community
Nov. 12: Common Hour/Fireside Chat with Adam Silver, T ’84, Commissioner of the NBA and Duke Board Member (named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, The Bloomberg 50, etc.). 5 – 6 p.m., Virtual event.
This event will be open exclusively for the Duke Community: faculty, students, staff, alumni, and families both on the university and health system side. This will be an off-the-record conversation with Adam as he touches on many key topics, i.e. his leadership of the NBA during Black Lives Matter & COVID-19 and the NBA’s involvement in China. Registration is available via: bit.ly/AdamSilver. Hosted by Duke University’s Student Government Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Nov. 13: 12th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium. Noon – 4:30 p.m. For more information, please visit this page. This event will be held virtually and is co-sponsored by Duke and the University of North Carolina in partnership with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association through the Building Medical Education in PH program. Please join us!
Nov. 13–17: AHA Scientific Sessions 2020, a virtual experience. Registration is now open. See the website for details.
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response
On Thursday, November 19th, join us for a free half-day symposium where we will learn about ways that we can support each other through both personal and professional grief, share stories of support, and identify resources available at Duke.
Matters of Grief: The Duke Response will feature diverse and multidisciplinary panels, engaging didactic sessions, and surprise guests from across the university. Just some of the highlights include:
- Coach K delivers a special message
- Duke medical students will discuss the research behind grief and finding support through peers
- Well-Being experts and Duke Health leadership discuss normalizing discussions about grief
The virtual event runs from 1-5PM on November 19th, 2020. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live event. Reserve your space today at bit.ly/mattersofgrief
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:
October 23 — James Jollis
Medpage Today
Disparities Abound in Chinese Heart Attack Care
https://bit.ly/3jRInPH
October 23 — Victor Dzau
Healio
Speaker: Medical community needs to determine ethics of genomic editing
https://bit.ly/2JgOArV
October 21 — Chetan Patel
WRAL
Duke completes 1,500th heart transplant
https://www.wral.com/duke-completes-1-500th-heart-transplant/19347521/
October 20 — Duke Health
WTVD
1500 Heart Transplants at Duke Health
https://bit.ly/3jPaCyu
October 20 — Stephen Greene
MDEdge.com
Experts tout immediate quadruple therapy for HFrEF patients
https://bit.ly/38e9Ucj
October 20 — Duke Hospital
Becker’s Hospital Review
Healthgrades’ best hospitals for cardiac care 2021
https://bit.ly/380xnNH
October 20 — Betty Tong
MedPage Today
Radiomics Could Help ID Lung Cancer Prognosis After Screening
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/naclc/89219
October 20 — Betty Tong
MedPage Today
‘License’ to Smoke After Negative Lung Screening?
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/naclc/89197
October 19 — Adrian Hernandez
Triangle Business Journal (subscription required)
For another Covid-19 study, this Durham CRO is given $44 million
https://bit.ly/3kR10og
October 18 — Manesh Patel
tctMD/the heart beat
Fewer Events and Symptoms With iFR-Optimized PCI, Suggests DEFINE-PCI Trial
https://www.tctmd.com/news/fewer-events-and-symptoms-ifr-optimized-pci-suggests-define-pci-trial
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