Duke Heart Week ending January 31st 2021
Highlights of the week:
Congratulations, DCRI!
Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. In an email sent this week, DCRI executive director Adrian Hernandez wrote:
“Colleagues and Friends:
As we plan for a year of highlighting the importance of clinical research and DCRI’s contributions over the past 25 years, we do so with acknowledgment of the weight of a global pandemic and with deep gratitude for our colleagues and healthcare heroes who each day selflessly care for patients and strive to uncover solutions for the immediate crisis and its lasting impacts.
Twenty-five years ago, a group of pioneers formalized an organization around their vision of finding a new way to solve pressing public health needs and improving clinical care. Since that time, the DCRI has brought about fundamental and lasting changes to clinical research approaches, generating evidence that has directly contributed to improved patient outcomes.
Much has changed in the past 25 years, yet the DCRI’s mission remains constant: to improve health around the world through innovative clinical research. With resolve to bring original thinking to pathways explored and those emerging, with an understanding that asking the right question can reveal a new path for health, and with deep commitment to translate knowledge into clinical practice, the DCRI remains steadfast in its purpose to see the way forward in how clinical research should be done for the benefit of all.
I invite you to kick off our 25th anniversary celebration with us via a brief history lesson—and a trip down memory lane—from Robert Califf, MD, DCRI’s founding executive director.
Please stay tuned all year as we reflect on the vision that formally established the DCRI 25 years ago and our way forward. Throughout the year, we will highlight our faculty, fellows, and professional staff, as well as our collaborators and partnerships—without whom none of this would have been possible.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Stay healthy, and be well.”
On behalf of Duke Heart, we wish the entire team of DCRI members and staff all the best as you celebrate this important milestone. We look forward to many more years of excellence!
Three Cardiology Fellows to Compete in ACC FIT Jeopardy
Kevin Friede, Zak Loring and JD Serfas, three of our cardiology fellows, will represent the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) NC Chapter of Fellows in Training (FIT) in the upcoming ACC FIT jeopardy competition on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. The competition will be held virtually via Zoom. You can watch all the action live at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/95006827345?pwd=L0RYQ1B6Nk4rV3VCYlV2RHAyZEdIQT09#success. The passcode is 170135. Friede, Loring and Serfas will compete against teams from Florida and New Jersey. Cardiology fellow Vanessa Blumer, FIT liaison, helped coordinate the event. Good luck, team!!!
2021 CPCR Grant Awarded to Duke
Congratulations to Jennifer Rymer, Manesh Patel, Schuyler Jones and Hope Weissler – they learned this week that their project, “Validating the Peripheral Artery Questionnaire and Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire in a Population of Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia”, has been selected for a 2021 Collaborative Patient-Centered Research (CPCR) grant. The grant will begin in July and is awarded by Vascular Cures, a CA-based non-profit dedicated to advancing research in vascular diseases. Jennifer Rymer will serve as PI.
Way to go!
Shout-out to Vax Volunteers
Bill Cockfield, PA-C from our electrophysiology team volunteered as an observer and Midge Bowers, FNP-BC volunteered as a Covid-19 vaccinator in the community at the Karsh Alumni Center. Thank you so much for taking up this call to action!
Good-bye January, Hello Heart Month
Tomorrow is the start of Heart Month and with that, a reminder that Friday, Feb. 5 is Wear Red Day; we’d love for you to share photos of yourself sporting a bit (or a lot!) of red. You’ll see heart-themed decor peppered throughout Duke University Hospital and clinics to celebrate Heart Month and to promote information related to cardiovascular disease and prevention – you’ll see balloons, elevator signs and other displays. Also of note, babies born at DUH this month will receive red onesies as part of the celebration. We will accept photos all month long of any activity you or your teams take on to celebrate Heart Month. Please email them to Tracey Koepke at tracey.koepke@duke.edu.
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
Feb. 2: Clinical Pathologic Conference with David Nafissi. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Feb. 9: The Dye Don’t Lie: The Evolution of Invasive Lesion Assessment from Contrast to Physiology to Contrast with Rajesh Swaminathan. 5 p.m., Webex.
Feb. 16: Coronary Disease Revascularization with Bernard Gersh of the Mayo Clinic. 5 p.m., Webex.
Feb. 23: Extravascular Targets in PAH: Metformin to Mobile Health with Evan Brittian of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
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:
January 21 — Michael Pencina
CNN.com
‘Fat but fit’ is a myth when it comes to heart health, new study shows
http://cnn.it/2KINmqH
January 26 — Michael Pencina
PhillyTrib.com
‘Fat but fit’ is a myth when it comes to heart health, new study shows
http://bit.ly/3ahxBQk
January 26 — Duke School of Nursing
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News Announces 2021 Best Online Programs Rankings
http://bit.ly/39waFxs
January 27 — Manesh Patel
CBS17.com
Raleigh lawyer struggling with heart damage months after COVID-19 infection
http://bit.ly/3r6dNGe
January 28 — James Daubert
Medscape
Factors Predict Survival After Coronary Angio in Postarrest Patients
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/944873
January 28 — Tina Tailor (Radiology)
RSNA.org
Lung Cancer Screening Images Used to Identify Heart Conditions
https://www.rsna.org/news/2021/january/lung-cancer-screenings-and-the-heart
January 28 — Robert Califf
NBCNews.com
U.S. is in a ‘race against time’ with new coronavirus variants, scientists warn
http://nbcnews.to/2YuUgDh
Duke Heart Week Ending 1-24-2021
Highlights of the week:
Sondej Departs Duke Heart; Headed to OneMedical
Sean Sondej, Vice President of Heart Services for Duke University Health System, spent his final week with Duke Heart wrapping up his transition period and receiving well-wishes from colleagues. Sondej has joined the team of OneMedical, a membership-based, technology-driven primary care organization. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY, but has launched locations in 15 metropolitan areas throughout the U.S, including Raleigh. In August, 2020, the company announced their intention to launch services in North Carolina through a partnership with Duke Health. Sondej will serve as their Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.
Sondej probably didn’t realize it at the time, but his start as an administrative fellow at Duke in 2003 would lead to a career in healthcare administration at Duke that would span just over 17 years. Not all of that time has been with Duke Heart; Sean has also worked with Med/Surg/Critical Care, Psychiatry and Emergency Services, and worked as a member of Strategic Operations.
As noted by William Fulkerson, MD, in a December 2020 announcement that Sean would leave Duke at the end of January, “[Sean’s] talents were quickly recognized, and he advanced here to fulfill many important roles, including partnering with physician and nursing leaders to lead our Heart Center CSU during a critical period of growth. Instrumental in creating our Heart Care Plus collaboration with WakeMed and working with many other local hospitals to expand high quality care in their communities, Sean is admired as a relationship-builder, a strategic thinker and an effective leader of great character. Throughout his career at Duke, he has mentored many colleagues and developed the people around him, including sponsoring our MINDS affinity group to support our young professionals.”
During his time with Duke Heart his accomplishments were recognized with several awards, including a Triangle-area Healthcare Hero Award in 2017, an honor given annually by the Triangle Business Journal. He was also recognized by Modern Healthcare in 2013 as an Up & Comer.
Sean has helped Duke Heart in so many ways – not the least of which were efforts taking place behind the scenes in advocacy and support. For those who have worked most closely with him, we know him as a genuinely caring, hard-working and dedicated colleague who not only advocates for others but who is willing to take on whatever job is needed in order to get our team beyond the finish line. Whether lending a hand to a unit move in the hospital, or to pitch in on community events such as Heart Walk, he is a team player.
We spoke with Sean late this past week to get his thoughts on his time at Duke. Here is what we learned:
“Being able to say that I’ve been a part of Duke Heart has always made me so proud, and at the same time I’m so appreciative that I’ve always been made to feel a part of the team and to be seen as someone who can help. Watching what our people and teams are capable of each day has inspired me and driven me, and is something I will miss a lot,” he said. “I know this is something that is always said, but I was always struck by what each person was willing to do at all hours of the day in order to make sure the right thing happened. That’s special, different, and something to be cherished and to be thankful for.”
As for his experiences and how they have shaped him, Sondej added:
“I’m the person I am because of the people at Duke, especially in Heart. I’ve been with this team for more than half of my time at Duke; that’s more than with any other team by a factor of two. The people of Duke Heart mean so much to me, have helped me in so many ways, and have shaped who I am as a person. I owe all of you so much.
“While so many things are changing around us, it will always be true that doing the very best for others will be the right path. Duke, and the Heart Services team, are capable of both setting the standard and continuing to aspire to more. I wish you all the best, but know that you’re already on the way.”
Sean, thank you for all you have done to support the Duke Heart team over the years. You will be missed! We wish you all the best at OneMedical and beyond.
ICYMI: Rajagopal’s Latest Appears in Current Issue of Science
Congrats to Sudarshan Rajagopal of the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center and his co-authors! Their paper, “Noncanonical scaffolding of Gαi and β-arrestin by G protein-coupled receptors,” has just been published online, ahead of print, in Science. A link to the article is here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33479120/.
Way to go!!!
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
Jan. 26: DCD Heart Transplantation with Adam DeVore, Ben Bryner & Sharon McCartney. 5 p.m., Webex.
Feb. 2: Clinical Pathologic Conference with David Nafissi. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Feb. 9: The Dye Don’t Lie: The Evolution of Invasive Lesion Assessment from Contrast to Physiology to Contrast with Rajesh Swaminathan. 5 p.m., Webex.
Feb. 16: Coronary Disease Revascularization with Bernard Gersh of the Mayo Clinic. 5 p.m., Webex.
Feb. 23: Extravascular Targets in PAH: Metformin to Mobile Health with Evan Brittian of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
Conversations with Colleagues
It’s not too late to talk with your colleagues about recent events in Washington, D.C. The recent violence at the U.S. Capitol has left many of us feeling strong emotions, including sadness, anger, and grief. If you would like to process your emotions together with your fellow team members, Conversations with Colleagues is holding a special series of Zoom meetings – beginning January 20 – dedicated to the topic. The gatherings are guided by a Duke social worker and participants agree to offer one another a supportive environment. Each discussion can include up to 30 people, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To see the topics and to sign up, please visit: bit.ly/CwCDCEvents.
February is Heart Month!
It’s hard to believe, but January is nearly over and we’re getting ready to celebrate Heart Month:
Feb. 5: Wear Red Day. Share your spirit with colleagues working in the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic space, as well as your support of all those living with and experiencing cardiovascular diseases: wear some red and wear it proudly! (Take pics & share them with Pulse!)
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:
January 13 — Manesh Patel
TheHealthy.com
What Is Acute Heart Failure? Here’s What You Need to Know
http://bit.ly/35Y7j3U
January 18 — Joseph Rogers
CBS17.com
Signs of improvement appear in NC’s still-high COVID-19 numbers
http://bit.ly/3sH4Dl6
January 18 — Joseph Rogers
WRAL.com
Could NC be moving past post-holidays spike in coronavirus cases?
http://bit.ly/35YOmhJ
January 20 — Renato Lopes
Medscape
ACEIs, ARBs Safe to Continue in COVID-19: Trial Published
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/944439
January 20 — E. Magnus Ohman
Healio/Cardiology
Evolocumab may reduce likelihood of future revascularization in established ASCVD
http://bit.ly/3phMPuM
January 21 — Renato Lopes
Physician’s Weekly
RAAS Inhibitors Don’t Affect Covid-19 Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients
http://bit.ly/3a2rQ8K
January 21 — Michael Pencina
CNN.com
‘Fat but fit’ is a myth when it comes to heart health, new study shows
http://cnn.it/2KINmqH
January 21 — Joseph Rogers
CBS17.com
With some of NC’s COVID numbers improving, now comes the wait for drops in lagging indicators
https://bit.ly/3pdH01s
January 22 — Stephen Greene
TheHealthy.com
These Are the 4 Stages of Heart Failure
Division of Cardiology Publications Indexed in PubMed Jan. 14 – 20, 2021
Beijnink CWH, Thim T, van der Heijden DJ, Klem I, Al-Lamee R, Vos JL, Koop Y, Dijkgraaf MGW, Beijk MAM, Kim RJ, Davies J, Raposo L, Baptista SB, Escaned J, Piek JJ, Maeng M, van Royen N, Nijveldt R. Instantaneous wave-free ratio guided multivessel revascularisation during percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: study protocol of the randomised controlled iMODERN trial. BMJ Open 2021;11(1):e044035. PM: 33452200.
Califf RM, Curtis LH, Harrington RA, Hernandez AF, Peterson ED. Generating evidence for therapeutic effects: the need for well-conducted randomized trials. J Clin Invest 2021;131(2):10.1172/JCI146391. PM: 33270604.
Fanaroff AC, Lopes RD. Antithrombotic Regimens in Low-Risk Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Trials Evaluating Patient-Centered Outcomes Needed. Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2021;14(1):e010331. PM: 33423539.
Kaur S, Chen Y, Shenoy SK. Agonist-activated glucagon receptors are deubiquitinated at early endosomes by two distinct deubiquitinases to facilitate Rab4a-dependent recycling. J Biol Chem 2020;295(49):16630-16642. PM: 33453899.
McCarthy J, Patrinos G, Ginsburg G. Welcome to the 18th volume of Personalized Medicine. Per Med 2021;18(1):1-3. PM: 33459576.
Navar AM, Wang TY, Li S, Mi X, Li Z, Robinson JG, Virani SS, Peterson ED. Patient-Perceived Versus Actual Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Willingness to Consider and Use Prevention Therapy. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2021;14(1):e006548. PM: 33435730.
Nelson AJ, Ardissino M, Haynes K, Shambhu S, Eapen ZJ, McGuire DK, Carnicelli A, Lopes RD, Green JB, O’Brien EC, Pagidipati NJ, Granger CB. Gaps in Evidence-Based Therapy Use in Insured Patients in the United States With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Heart Assoc 2021;10(2):e016835. PM: 33432843.
Pakharukova N, Masoudi A, Pani B, Staus DP, Lefkowitz RJ. Allosteric activation of proto-oncogene kinase Src by GPCR-beta-arrestin complexes. J Biol Chem 2020;295(49):16773-16784. PM: 33453910.
Polcwiartek C, Atwater BD, Kragholm K, Friedman DJ, Barcella CA, Attar R, Graff C, Nielsen JB, Pietersen A, Søgaard P, Torp-Pedersen C, Jensen SE. Association Between ECG Abnormalities and Fatal Cardiovascular Disease Among Patients With and Without Severe Mental Illness. J Am Heart Assoc 2021;10(2):e019416. PM: 33432845.
Rodriguez-Homs LG, Hammill BG, Ryser MD, Phillips HR, Mosca PJ. Relationship Between HCAHPS Scores and Survey Response Rate Is Linked to Hospital Size. J Patient Exp 2020;7(6):1543-1548. PM: 33457612.
Samei E, Richards T, Segars WP, Daubert MA, Ivanov A, Rubin GD, Douglas PS, Hoffmann U. Task-dependent estimability index to assess the quality of cardiac computed tomography angiography for quantifying coronary stenosis. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2021;8(1):013501. PM: 33447644.
Sparks MA, Rianto F, Diaz E, Revoori R, Hoang T, Bouknight L, Stegbauer J, Vivekanandan-Giri A, Ruiz P, Pennathur S, Abraham DM, Gurley SB, Crowley SD, Coffman TM. Direct Actions of AT (Type 1 Angiotensin) Receptors in Cardiomyocytes Do Not Contribute to Cardiac Hypertrophy. Hypertension 2021;77(2):393-404. PM: 33390039.
Xu H, Farmer HR, Granger BB, Thomas KL, Peterson ED, Dupre ME. Perceived Versus Actual Risks of 30-Day Readmission in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2021;14(1):e006586. PM: 33430612.
Duke Heart Week ending 1-17-2021
Chief’s message: Transitions
The country is appropriately fixated on a peaceful transition of power this week as Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Closer to our home in Durham, we are also dealing with several transitions. The Duke Heart group lost a true leader this week in Amy Kessenich, a senior director of our Heart Network and kind soul who continued to work on our quality in the network up until her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family, and we hope to celebrate her life once the pandemic is better.
We have also had several faculty transitions over the last several years, and this week we announce the retirement of Doug Schocken, a mere 54 years after arriving at Duke as a Freshman in 1966. He has blessed us with a wonderful walk down his memories at Duke seen below in the Pulse. We are lucky to continue to have Doug interact with us for some time and look forward to hearing about his next adventures. In the clinic and on the wards, we will miss his wit, his ability to provide thoughtful and important points at clinical case conferences, grand rounds, and in general practice. Our fellows will miss his ECG teaching, although we will aim to keep some of that going. Perhaps most of all, with our some of our faculty retiring, or in the case of some unfortunately passing away, we will miss the ability to have the continuity and direct relationship to the Duke culture of excellence that they have embodied for some many years. So hopefully like many transitions, we will focus on continuing the legacy research, education, and clinical care while recognizing our privilege of standing on the shoulders of those that have come before us and taught us.
News from the Week:
Passings: Amy Kessenich, Senior Director, Duke Heart Network
We are deeply saddened at the loss of Duke Heart Network’s Senior Director, Amy Kessenich, MHA/MPA, BSN, RN. The news of her death was shared on Thursday with faculty and staff of the Duke University Health System in an announcement made by the senior leadership team of Duke Network Services. Their statement:
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the passing of our esteemed colleague, Amy Kessenich, on January 13, 2021. Amy’s positive influence has been an inspiration to Duke and our affiliates for almost 30 years. A consummate nursing professional, Amy brought her energy, enthusiasm and brilliance to a career that spanned a variety of clinical and leadership roles in bedside nursing, quality, performance improvement, Heart Center excellence and affiliations.
Amy truly believed that it was the responsibility of large systems, privileged with a breadth of expertise and resources, to ally with community hospitals and physicians to enhance access to high-quality health care at the local level. Amy embodied this belief when she relocated with her family to Lumberton, NC, in 2006 to serve as the Duke-employed director of the Southeastern Health cardiovascular service line. She subsequently served as senior director of the Duke Heart Network (DHN) from 2012 until her death.
Amy worked tirelessly with her team and colleagues in the Duke Heart Center to assimilate evidence-based care and data-driven approaches to performance improvement to advance health together with our DHN affiliates. As a leader, she bolstered the confidence and skills of those with whom she worked, both formally and informally. Amy was by nature a nurturer of others. Her self-worth was mirrored in the growth of those around her through teaching, influencing, reinforcing and encouraging staff and physicians.
Our hearts are comforted by the knowledge that Amy’s spirit remains in the lives that she enriched through the selfless work and commitment she gave to our organization and our affiliated communities. At Duke, we strive for excellence. Amy defined excellence through her every action, throughout every day. This is the legacy she leaves with us. Let us all aspire to her greatness through the merits of our own actions.
Amy’s family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in her memory.
We extend our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. Her loss is felt deeply by so many, including those who shared the following with us:
“Amy was the guiding light for our Duke Heart Network personally, professionally, and most importantly for our entire North Carolina community. She was able to improve clinical care across our region by applying data driven evidence based practice with a consistent, humble, and patient centered manner. Personally, Amy encouraged and taught me and generations of our faculty, fellows, to impact and improve the health of our communities.
She will be missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”
Manesh Patel, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Co-Director of Duke Heart Center
“My heart is truly broken by the passing of Amy. The world has lost a wonderful person. She was one of the most deeply caring, kind, generous, warm, and compassionate individuals I have known. Her passion was extending Duke’s excellence beyond the local Duke environment – and in the process she transformed many programs for the better. She had an intuitive knack for always knowing what to do, when and how – and imparted that wisdom to all around her. She was quick to praise when other were successful, gaining the greatest satisfaction when she succeeded in helping those around her. She really was the “Best of Duke” – and we will all miss her dearly.”
James Tcheng, MD, professor of medicine in cardiology
“I was fortunate to begin learning from Amy almost 17 years ago right after I first started at Duke. At the time, Amy was leading the quality improvement efforts of the Heart Center before she expanded her work to the Heart Network affiliates. As we all know, improvement requires change. Not just of processes, but ultimately of how each person shows up each day. Facilitating the latter is far harder and requires relationships, trust, humility, and perseverance. It’s not just the data, it’s the art of bringing multiple points of view to the same conclusion. Amy set the standard for how to encourage people and teams to aspire to more, while not dwelling on past mistakes. I learned so much from watching her over the years, as I know many others did. And through Amy’s efforts, thousands of patients received better care, were saved, and have Amy to thank.”
Sean Sondej, Vice President, Duke Heart & Vascular Services
“Amy helped me to reach beyond myself, to strive for what was possible, not just what was easy. I will carry the memory of her constant and patient mentorship with me for the rest of my life.”
Jean Klingenberger, MBA/MHA, BSN, RN, Associate Clinical Director, Duke Heart Network
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Amy for the last four years and not a day went by that I didn’t learn something from her. She always carried herself as the utmost professional and ambassador for Duke Health, even while fiercely and quietly battling her illness. She maintained optimism even in the most challenging situations and never settled for anything less than the best. Her dedication to her career and those she served was extraordinary. The imprint she has left on Duke, her colleagues, and our communities will last for decades to come.”
Melanie Watson, MSN, RN, Assistant Vice President of Specialty Affiliations, Network Services
“As Amy is remembered for being a brilliant health care leader who made countless contributions to improving heart care across the country, I also want to recall the exemplary care that Amy provided at the bedside. I’ll never forget the warmth and confident expertise that Amy provided in the cardiothoracic ICU and especially during a time when she cared for one of my family members many years ago. I believe that her endless compassion and uncompromising excellence in caring for patients was at the heart of what made her a beloved leader who was successful in advancing quality and program development at community hospitals nationwide to the benefit of thousands of patients. Some of us had the privilege of having Amy as friend and mentor for nearly 30 years during her career at Duke. We will always miss her, but we are comforted by the fact that her legacy as a true health care hero will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
Harry Phillips, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Duke Network Services
Doug Schocken, MD, Retires from Duke Cardiology
Quietly on Friday, January 15, Doug Schocken, MD, hung up his stethoscope and turned in his Duke badge – retiring after more than 30 years as an intellectually driven cardiologist and clinician-investigator. We asked Doug to share his thoughts on his career in medicine and his time at Duke. We also invited several colleagues to share their thoughts on their work with him. Here is what we learned.
“I spent half of my adult life at Duke, wrote Schocken. “I came here at age 18 and have spent 26 years here (in three iterations) and 27 years in Tampa. I have many yarns to spin, but will emphasize my experiences with Duke Cardiology.
I came to Duke as a freshman in 1966. When my dad had his first MI at age 49 in 1968, that was my “a-ha moment.” I figured that if I was destined to get this illness, I’d better learn something about it. I would watch surgery. In the OR’s in Duke South, the 5th floor had windows that looked down into the OR’s on the 4th floor. Great views and you didn’t have to scrub. I stumbled into one of the first W-P-W cases, with the venerable Will Sealy opening the chest, John Gallagher wielding plunge electrodes and Ray Ideker running the Grass multi-channel recorder. Dr. Andy Wallace was conducting the whole show. Once I got to medical school, my first heroes were Drs. Bill Floyd and Jess Peter. They were gifted clinically, had real compassion and were master teachers. I also had opportunities to round with Dr. Eugene Stead and Dr. Edward Orgain, the original Duke Cardiologist and a student of Paul Dudley White at MGH. Dr. Orgain used to make rounds on Sundays, arriving after church in his fine linen suit and equally fine straw hat, called a ‘skimmer’. He was an ‘old school’ attending.
As a resident in the CCU in Duke South in those days, there were only PGY-2’s, no PGY-1’s or 3’s. Twenty-four hours on and 24-hours off for six weeks. Oh, and you had to show up for morning and evening rounds on your days off. We had two fellows who alternated weeks on. We never saw them except occasionally on rounds. Mine were George Cooper, later at MUSC, and Wayne Alexander, later chief of cardiology and medicine at Emory. The CCU resident had to carry the defibrillator to codes, up and down the stairs of Duke South. Woe be unto the resident who dropped the 25 pound Life-Pak 1 down a stairwell.
Joe Kisslo arrived from Yale when I was a 2nd year medical student. Joe got to play with the first Duke 2D echo system in the Western Hemisphere (really the first good 2D system anywhere). The unit was the brainchild of Olaf Von Ram and filled an entire room in Duke South. You could hardly fit the bed and the sonographer in the same space, and those vacuum tubes could generate some heat. It seemed that nearly every echo request led to one manuscript or another. No one had ever seen anything like this in real time.
I came back from the NIH in 1977 having the swollen head that only a first-author paper in Nature could bring. After my time in ‘Lefkoland,’ in 1980, as with all the other research fellows in the pre-DCRI era, we had to present at the monthly Cardiology Research Conference. By that time, Joe Greenfield was the Division Chief. At the end of my presentation of many elegant binding curves and adenylate cyclase assays, Joe (as only he could do), gruffly bellowed, “Schocken, that was mighty fine science…but it sure wasn’t cardiology.”
In 1981, I weighed all my options and selected a young school in a young city and cast my lot with the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa. I had a great career there, met my wonderful wife, Dawn, had two terrific kids (both Duke grads), but my “Tampa Tales” are for another time.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to Pam Douglas, Chris O’Connor, Howard Rockman and Tom Bashore for having faith in me and trust in my ability to help the division after the untimely passing of Fred Cobb. They engineered a plan to bring me back here in 2008, and I am most grateful for the opportunity that brings me now to the conclusion of a wonderful career in clinical academic cardiology.
What does the future hold for me? More time with my wife, who has put up with my 13 year “deployment” from Tampa. I’m going to continue reading ECG’s for Duke. I am looking forward to tuning up my sailboat, playing golf, working on DIY projects, including my deconditioned body (victim of the pandemic’s closure of Duke’s gyms). I hope to do some fishing — lots of fishing. I have an enormous list of books to be read, many of which I already own. I also have lots of movies and TV series to watch. I’ve heard that “Seinfeld” is good. My wife got me a new camera several years ago, and I’m itching to use that, too.
Last, to all my colleagues who have supported me with great referrals and thoughtful consults, thank you very much. To all the many, many staff members, administrators, PA’s, nurses, technicians, and medical assistants, especially those from my clinical home at Southpoint, thank you. You have contributed in so many ways to make my career much more than it would have been otherwise. It’s been a great ride.”
Schocken served as president of the Duke University Collaborative Cardiovascular Society (DUCCS) from 1997 to 1999, and has served as Medical Director of the Southpoint Clinic since 2011. A small retirement celebration was held on Friday.
“The folks at Southpoint gave me a beautiful send-off, suitably masked and (mostly) distanced with take-away cookies sealed in cellophane and bottled water to consume elsewhere,” added Schocken. “I got lots of very thoughtful gifts and mementos. It was wonderful.”
Our colleagues shared the following:
“I was delighted when we were able to recruit Doug to return to Duke in 2008 after his years leading the USF cardiology program and fellowship. Among other strengths, he brought rich expertise and national leadership in cardiac rehab and prevention, helping to fill the gap left by Fred Cobb’s untimely death in 2006; in electrocardiography, taking over from Galen Wagner; and heart-mind interactions, stepping in after Chris O’Connor’s departure. It is emblematic of Doug’s quiet competence that he has contributed so much to the Division’s clinical and educational programs, yet asks for little recognition. It is a real personal pleasure on his retirement now, to fully acknowledge, and celebrate, his impact on the Division, the Heart Center and Duke Health.”
Pamela Douglas, MD, Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cardiovascular Disease
“Having been a resident and cardiology fellow at Duke, both Tom Bashore and Chris O’Connor were keen on trying to recruit Doug back to Duke to lead our outpatient clinical Cardiology practice at Southpoint. For me, however, it was his love of the beta-adrenergic receptor that was the key driver of getting Doug back to Duke. In the late 1970’s, using newly developed radioligand binding methods, Doug published a seminal paper describing changes in beta adrenergic receptor density in humans with ageing. His work led to the eventual discovery of the deficit of adrenergic receptors in heart failure and ultimately to the conceptual basis for why we use beta-blockers in the current management of patients with heart failure.
Doug’s inquisitive nature and sharp intellect has been instrumental in our ability to transform Cardiology at Southpoint into a vibrant academic clinical cardiology practice that is second to none. Whether it was a discussion about the interpretation of a difficult ECG, a complex patient medical problem or just being able to schmooze about “receptors,” Doug had this ability to always bring the joy of medicine and discovery into one’s life.”
Howard Rockman, MD, Edward S. Orgain Distinguished Professor of Cardiology and Director, Duke Cardiovascular Research Center
“Doug is one of the most vibrant and compassionate people I know. He is always insightful and respectful; and is a walking encyclopedia of Duke Cardiology history. He embodies the Duke Cardiology Training Program experience and why we all love it so much. He bleeds Blue and I will always cherish his words of wisdom, his sage advice, and his thoughtful mentorship!”
Rich Krasuski, MD, Director of Duke University Collaborative Cardiovascular Society (DUCCS)
“It has been an honor to share a workroom with Doug at Southpoint for the past two years. Doug is a masterful clinician who taught me a great deal about what it means to connect to patients on a personal level while providing world class care. Every Monday and Tuesday morning I looked forward to seeing where our casual conversations would lead. Invariably they led to non-medical topics – our childhoods, travels, hobbies, books, and, most often, our families. I have come to appreciate that, despite all of his academic and clinical accomplishments, Doug is most proud of who he is as a father and husband. Thank you, Doug, for showing me what true success looks like. I am looking forward to our continued friendship.”
Robert Harrison, MD, assistant professor of medicine in cardiology
“I remember during his first week back at Duke, we needed help on the inpatient heart failure service and we asked Doug to round. Bright and chipper at 7:30 in the morning, he began to care for over 30 patients. His intellectually thoughtful and careful attention to detail provided excellent care one by one, but at 5 p.m., when I went to check on him, he was only halfway through rounds with several hours to go. I reminded Doug that sometimes we cannot address every single medical problem of every patient as an inpatient (the Stead way) and some of these could be left for work-up in the outpatient clinic. He smiled, kept rounding in his way, and happily finished at midnight. Over the years, Doug built an important and complex practice seeing up to 60 patients a week emphasizing his passion for prevention of heart failure and ischemic heart disease.
I know everyone in Duke Cardiology will miss Doug. His quite intellectual approach, thoughtful commentary, and his commitment to the long-lasting principles of the Division, including the fellowship and the DUCCS organization will be remembered.
While Doug may not be seen at Duke South on a day-to-day basis, he will continue the Duke legacy by remaining editor of the Marriot EKG book that Galen Wagner had led, participating in educational programs, and continuing to advocate for Duke Cardiology.
Thank you Doug for your service to Duke, your patients and colleagues will be forever grateful.”
Christopher O’Connor, MD, President of Inova Heart & Vascular Institute and former division chief of Duke Cardiology
ACLS/BLS Update
A group of faculty members who attended the July and October, 2020 ACLS/BLS classes sponsored by Duke Heart received an email entitled “Extremely Urgent.” This was sent out in error. (Apologies!) As long as you have a current card, there is no further action needed on your part. The modules/test/hands-on check offs you completed are sufficient for renewal. Please check your spam email if you are still in need of your card. Hat tip to Laura Dickerson for letting us know about this!
Lefkowitz Memoir Coming Soon
Robert Lefkowitz has a soon-to-be published memoir hitting shelves on Feb. 2. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm: The Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures of an Accidental Scientist is available for pre-order; it’s being published by Simon & Schuster. An article about it appeared last week in Duke Today, accessible here.
Congratulations, Bob!
Fellows Recognized by Duke Emergency Services
We are pleased to share some recognition of our Fellows courtesy of Duke’s Emergency Department. In a note shared with us today by Anna Lisa Crowley, we found recognition of Matt Carlisle, Jessica Duran, Sipa Yankey and Michelle Kelsey. “In an effort to recognize our hard-working consultants down in the Emergency Department, we initiated a Consultant Kudos program as a way to give a friendly shout-out to our colleagues. Attached are the comments we have received over the last several months for your service. Special thanks to these amazing residents!”
Carlisle: Matt was extremely pleasant over the phone. He also spent awhile helping me better understand an EKG! (10/31); Thank you for being thorough and kind and spending a lot of time with the family! You came up with a reasonable plan for a somewhat difficult patient with real comorbidities complicated by anxiety and dementia. Thanks! (9/5)
Yankey: Expeditious, very helpful. Came immediately to speak to the team in person rather than over the phone. Provided helpful information regarding work-up and management of similar patients in the future. (12/28); Did an amazing job helping me in the waiting room to see patients. It was a day in the ED that was exceptionally busy with no beds to evaluate patients in. He’s very gracious and kind and seeing patients through their waiting rooms and giving them exceptional care. He was even able to help expedite the admission process for two of the patients who are in heart failure exacerbation. I appreciate his kindness and care for these patients and his clear communication about the plan. He is a great role model for his colleagues of what an exceptional consultant looks like. (10/16); He is always so friendly and happy to discuss the patient with you. Even if it’s a consult for abnormal troponin, and the issue is not cardiac, he is extremely helpful (12/14)
Duran: Excellent bedside manner, efficient and kind. Such a positive interaction with every consult and always willing to teach and discuss the patient even at 3 a.m. (9/28)
Kelsey: Michelle was incredibly patient and helpful with two cardiology consults in the middle of the night. She was enthusiastic about teaching and talked through her thought process, which was a great learning opportunity for me (EM intern). Thank you! (10/6)
Great job, Fellows! Thanks for always being incredible representatives for Duke Heart!!
ICYMI:
Just in time for MLK day! Congratulations to Jennifer Rymer and co-authors, Camille Frazier-Mills, Larry Jackson, Kevin Thomas, Pamela Douglas, Andrew Wang, Manesh Patel and Anna Lisa Crowley for their article, Evaluation of Women and Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Group Representation in a General Cardiology Fellowship After a Systematic Recruitment Initiative, published online in JAMA Network on Jan. 11. (Check out news coverage below!)
It’s a great recognition of important work by our program leaders and a shout out to our fellows. Nicely done!
Karsch Vaccination Site Needs Volunteers:
Manesh Patel shared a note with faculty earlier this week regarding the Karsch Vaccination Site’s need for staffing assistance. There is a need for volunteers who can administer the COVID Vaccine to patients. In order to volunteer you have to go to the NCID website and register (it only takes about 5 minutes). Once you register, you also have to email Rebecca Cray so that they can associate your registration with Duke (at the NC website this may take a few days/week). Once done – if interested — you are ready to volunteer. We thank you for considering.
The Karsch Vaccination Site is in need of physicians, APPs and RNs to support the site from 4-8 p.m. on weeknights and weekends, particularly over the next two weeks. If you are willing and able to help out, please follow the instructions below to register with the state and then send Rebecca (cc’d here) your NCID User name so she can work with the state to expedite your registration and put you on the schedule for the times you are able to work.
PART 1
Complete this process:
- Go to https://ncid.nc.gov/
- Click register (bottom right corner, blue box)
- Click Business user type option
- Complete the required fields to create an NCID
- Follow the steps to access your NCID account and create your security question.
PART 2
When complete – please forward your NCID USERNAME to Rebecca Cray Concha (rebecca.cray@duke.edu) so that we can link it to DUHS. Please also provide the email that you used to register.
Many thanks to all who have already volunteered!
COVID-19 Updates:
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
MLK Day
On this MLK Day and National Day of Service, we invite you to join Duke in supporting our community through COVID-safe service. The Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs is hosting a virtual food drive through the Interfaith Food Shuttle. A virtual food drive serves as a wonderful opportunity to support efforts that combat food insecurity and hunger in North Carolina while also remaining safe at home. Contribute to this fundraiser here.
For more information about Interfaith Food Shuttle, visit their website at foodshuttle.org. This event is sponsored by the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee. For more information about this and other MLK events, visit https://mlk.duke.edu
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Jan. 19: Neha Pagidipati, Dana Portenier & William Yancy presenting A Practical Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Weight Management within the Duke Health System. 5 p.m., Webex.
Jan. 26: Adam DeVore, Ben Bryner & Sharon McCartney presenting DCD Heart Transplantation. 5 p.m., Webex.
Conversations with Colleagues
Talk with your colleagues about recent events in Washington, D.C. The recent violence at the U.S. Capitol has left many of us feeling strong emotions, including sadness, anger, and grief. If you would like to process your emotions together with your fellow team members, Conversations with Colleagues is holding a special series of Zoom meetings – beginning January 20 – dedicated to the topic. The gatherings are guided by a Duke social worker and participants agree to offer one another a supportive environment. Each discussion can include up to 30 people, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To see the topics and to sign up, please visit: bit.ly/CwCDCEvents.
Global Challenges & the COVID Vaccine
The Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) is kicking off a “Global Challenges and the COVID Vaccine” Webinar Series on January 19th. The webinar is FREE of charge, but registration is required: https://duke.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZWhQblJdSiSAQuMy292LTw.
The Race for Vaccine Equity, January 19, 2021, 8-9 a.m.
Despite global efforts to ensure all countries have access to COVID vaccines, a large proportion of available vaccines have already been purchased by high-income countries. What can be done to ensure that low- and middle-income countries receive equitable access? Are countries prepared to distribute and administer vaccines? Join experts from DGHI and around the world as they explore the current state of vaccine access and equity.
Overall series description:
The development of safe and effective vaccines to protect against COVID-19 offers the brightest hope of ending a pandemic that has dramatically impacted the world. But many questions remain about how vaccines will be allocated, distributed, administered and accepted in countries of all income levels. This monthly webinar series will share global perspectives on these challenges and offer timely assessment of progress in the campaign to vaccinate people around the world.
February is Heart Month!
Feb. 5: Wear Red Day. Share your spirit with colleagues working in the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic space, as well as your support of all those living with and experiencing cardiovascular diseases: wear some red and wear it proudly! (Take pics & share them with Pulse!)
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:
January 8 — Jennifer Rymer
Medpage Today
Recruitment Strategy Increases Cardiology Fellow Diversity
https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/medicaleducation/90638
January 11 — Jennifer Rymer
Healio/Cardiology
Systematic recruitment initiative diversified cardiology fellowship applicants
http://bit.ly/3qmJ47t
January 13 — John Alexander
MDEdge/chest Physician
Calcium-induced autonomic denervation linked to lower post-op AF
https://bit.ly/39MJ3TR
January 13 — Renato Lopes
tctMD
REPLACE COVID Bolsters Advice to Continue RAAS Inhibitors in COVID-19 Patients
http://bit.ly/3smWphU
January 14 — William Kraus
Thrive Global
Why Our Definition of Exercise Needs a Refresh
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/why-our-definition-of-exercise-needs-a-refresh/
Duke Heart Week Ending January 10th 2021
Highlights of the week:
Welcome, Dr. Edward Chen!
Dr. Edward P. Chen has joined the Duke Heart team as the new Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Board certified in thoracic surgery, Chen specializes in surgery of the thoracic aorta, including aortic root replacement, aortic aneurysms, high-risk cardiac surgery, minimally invasive valve surgery, and mitral valve repair. His research focuses on outcomes in cerebral protection for aortic arch surgery, aortic dissection, aortic valve surgery, and aortic root replacement. He has led multiple federally funded grants and prospective clinical trials for more than 14 years.
Dr. Chen is taking over the leadership reins from Dr. Peter Smith who served as Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery since 1994. Smith remains at Duke and will continue to focus on research endeavors, including several projects devoted to the study of COVID-19 as part of Operation Warp Speed.
Chen is a 1988 graduate of Stanford University. He received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in 1992. He went on to complete his general surgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco in 2000, followed by his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Emory University in 2003. He finished a fellowship in Aortic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2003. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons as well as the American Heart Association and a member of the American College of Cardiology, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery among many other professional memberships.
Please give him a warm welcome when you see him!
Passings: Dr. Earl Metz, Duke Alum & OSU Medical Giant
We are saddened to have learned this weekend of the passing of a great leader and mentor in medicine, Duke Medical alumnus Dr. Earl Metz, who died on Jan. 2 at the age of 85. Metz, a 1961 graduate of Duke School of Medicine, trained as both a resident and a fellow (hematology) here at Duke, training under Dr. Eugene Stead. He dedicated several decades to the care of patients at The Ohio State University Medical Center, but always stayed in contact with his Duke roots – continuing as an avid supporter. He was honored by Duke’s Medical Alumni Association with a distinguished alumnus award in 2002 and was invited to give the Eugene A. Stead, Jr., MD Lecture that same year.
Several faculty shared their thoughts with us today:
“Earl was the finest physician and one of the finest people I have ever known. My most important mentors, Earl, Chas Wooley, Fred Cobb, and Joe Greenfield have all passed on. I observed Earl and tried to model him as a medical student, resident, and worked with him daily as Chief Resident. He even cared for my father. A great loss.” – Kenneth G. Morris, MD
“Earl Metz was a gentle giant in patient care and mentoring. I will be forever grateful for the impact he has had on my life and how I care for patients. He was a great mentor during my residency and continued to mentor me after I left Ohio State. It is amazing the number of people he impacted during his lifetime.” — Mike Sketch, MD
“Dr. Metz was the primary reason I wanted to train at Duke. He was instrumental in me matching there in 1996.” — Sunil Rao, MD (via Twitter)
“He was the biggest Duke supporter I ever knew.” — Tom Bashore, MD
Dr. Metz’s obituary is available here. We extend our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Rymer Receives a Women as One Escalator Award
Jennifer Rymer has been selected as a recipient of a Women as One Escalator Award. The Escalator Awards program aims to highlight and provide resources to talented women in cardiology.
Out of 53 candidates representing 12 countries and a range of cardiovascular subspecialty areas, 11 winners were announced in late December. Five were provided a Research Award and three pairs of mentor/mentees were provided Mentor Match Awards.
Rymer earned one of the five Research Awards, which include $50,000 in support of an approved research project as well as participation in networking events and quarterly research mentorship meetings with leaders in the field as well as previous Escalator Award winners.
Congratulations, Jenn! To learn more about the Escalator program, please visit: https://womenasone.org/projects/#escalator.
D’Amico to Serve as Medical Director for AATS
Thomas A. D’Amico, MD, Gary Hock Endowed Professor of Surgery, chief of General Thoracic Surgery, and director of the Thoracic Oncology program at Duke Cancer Institute, has been appointed to a two-year term as medical director of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS).
The AATS Medical Director is responsible for assisting the association in its efforts in content planning, faculty selection, and faculty development. The person in this role is also the physician champion during the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) re-accreditation process and interviews.
According to an announcement published in the AATS Update (December 2020 issue), D’Amico was chosen for this role “based on his leadership, expertise, and continued support of the association.”
“AATS is honored to have Dr. D’Amico serve as its medical director for the next two years,” read the announcement.
In addition to AATS, he holds leadership positions with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. He is also active in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), as a member of NCCN Board of Directors and Guidelines Steering Committee, the chair of the Quality and Outcomes Committee, as well as a member of the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Small Cell Lung Cancer Guidelines Committees, and co-chair of the Esophageal Cancer Guidelines Committee.
D’Amico is also an associate editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and serves on the editorial board of the Annals of Surgery.
The AATS is considered by many to be the most prestigious academic CT surgery society in the world. Congratulation, Dr. D’Amico!
Dickerson Accepted to AONL Nurse Director Fellowship
We are pleased to share the great news that Laura Dickerson, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Clinical Operations Director, Duke Heart Services has been accepted into the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Director Fellowship.
The Fellowship is a competitive, year-long program targeting the unique leadership needs of those who are accountable for planning, directing, and coordinating operations of multiple units/departments or service lines in support of the strategic direction of nursing and the greater needs of the healthcare organization. This is a prestigious national fellowship for nurse leaders and one of the most distinctive for those seeking greater professional development in the field.
Congratulations, Laura – this is well deserved!
Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography Now Available!
We are happy to announce the (long awaited) publication of Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography (13th Edition, Wolters-Kluwer, Philadelphia, 2021, 515 pp.)
This classic first appeared in 1954 as the single-author publication by Henry J.L. “Barney” Marriott, MD. After eight editions as the sole author, Barney transitioned editorial duties to Duke’s Galen Wagner, who later engaged Duke medical graduate David Strauss as co-editor. The current edition has been edited by Strauss and Doug Schocken. This edition is significantly updated and expanded, including new or updated chapters on congenital heart disease and inherited rhythm disorders. In keeping with the times, the print edition is accompanied by an eBook that now includes many illustrative videos, animations and an extensive collection of review quizzes, including ECG tracings with interpretations.
This edition has a distinct Duke flavor. Of the 29 co-authors, 13 are current Duke faculty members. Additionally, six of the co-authors are current or recent Duke Cardiology trainees: Dan Friedman, Steve Gaeta, Sarah Goldstein, Aimee Elise Hiltbold, Zak Loring, and Francis Ugowe.
Congratulations are due to all who took part in creating this newest version of a revered textbook.
Well done, team, and a nice way to kick off 2021!
Yapejian Earns 2020 NCNA Nursing Recognition
Rebecca Yapejian, MSN, FNP-C, a Duke Heart electrophysiology nurse practitioner, was named 2020 Outstanding Nurse of the Year, Triangle Region, by the North Carolina Nurses Association. The announcement was made December 21 by Nancy Dias, the Triangle Regional Engagement Coordinator for NCNA. Congratulations, Rebecca!
Shout-out to Perfusion!
The holiday season wrapped up with the Perfusion Team partnering with the “Share Your Thanksgiving” and “Share Your Christmas” programs through the Durham Volunteer Center. They were able to provide TWO families with fully catered Thanksgiving meals, and one family with gifts to brighten their Christmas.
Great job, everyone!
New Zoom Security Features Effective Jan. 12; OIT Live Online Support Available
To assist Duke users with the new security settings on all Zoom meetings (effective 6 a.m. January 12), the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will offer live online help on weekdays beginning Monday, January 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This special support service will continue through Friday, January 22. For assistance outside of these dates and hours, contact the OIT Service Desk or your local IT support team.
For live online help, join the Zoom support meeting at https://duke.zoom.us/my/oitzoom. OIT staff will be notified you are in the waiting room, and will admit you as quickly as possible to address your issue.
COVID-19 Updates:
“Vaxxies” & Social Media Guidelines
The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine at Duke is cause for great optimism and there is enthusiasm for sharing proof of vaccination in order to encourage others to be vaccinated. A trend has taken off on Twitter and elsewhere with people posting photos of their personal vaccinations. The photos, dubbed “vaxxies,” are permitted on your personal social media accounts, but note that they are not sharable on Duke-based social media channels unless we have a signed HIPAA release form on file for you. All Duke-based accounts must observe the following guidelines when posting information and images pertaining to vaccinations on Duke websites and social media channels:
- Individuals are free to share their own vaccination information or photos on their personal social media accounts. You do not need to complete a HIPAA form or seek approval for personal posts.
- Duke departments and units may not share vaccination information or photos online and on social media outlets unless all individuals depicted complete a HIPAA form. This includes retweeting and sharing of posts from the personal accounts of employees or patients.
If you have any questions or would like to sign a release form, please contact Tracey Koepke, Director of Communications for Duke Heart or Sarah Avery, Director of the Duke Health News Office.
Update on Campus Events/Gatherings
Duke University (and DUHS) will continue to observe the following restrictions through at least February 28, 2021:
- No in-person public events will be permitted on the Duke campus. This includes performances, concerts, lectures, reunions, alumni and development programs, conferences, symposia, tours, board meetings and any other event to which individuals who are not Duke students, faculty or staff would be invited or expected to attend.
- In-person gatherings other than scheduled classes and approved student activities are limited to 10 persons, 6’ social distanced, masked, and neither food nor beverages consumed.
- No in-person events hosted, sponsored or paid for by Duke will be permitted to take place off-campus, both in Durham and elsewhere in or outside the U.S.
- We will continue to monitor public health conditions and provide further guidance for the remainder of the spring semester, including commencement, as soon as we can reasonably do so in 2021.
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Jan. 12: Management of CTO and other complex CAD presented by Islam Othman. 5 p.m., Webex.
Jan. 19: A Practical Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Weight Management within the Duke Health System presented by Neha Pagidipati, Dana Portenier & William Yancy. 5 p.m., Webex.
Jan. 26: DCD Heart Transplantation presented by Adam DeVore, Ben Bryner & Sharon McCartney. 5 p.m., Webex.
The Future of American Innovation & the Role of the University
Jan. 14: Please join us as Duke welcomes Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the United States Patent & Trademark Office for a virtual event designed for Duke, UNC and the greater Triangle community. He will join us to discuss building a more supportive and inclusive innovation ecosystem. Q&A to follow. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Event is free and open to all. Please register here. Sponsored by Duke University’s Office of Licensing and Ventures.
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:
December 22 — Michael Zeitouni/Duke Clinical Research Institute
Cardiology Today
Premature CAD tied to frequent ischemic recurrences, premature death
http://bit.ly/2Xp1CYr
December 27 — Yuichiro Yano (Family Medicine & Community Health)
Medical News Today
Hypertension research: 2020 overview
http://bit.ly/3oBluDG
December 28 — Jennifer Rymer
Cardiology Today
After PCI for MI, 90-day prescriptions confer better medication adherence, fewer changes
http://bit.ly/2MJsvnz
December 28 — E. Magnus Ohman
Medscape
Risk Score to Guide ACS Treatment Does Not Improve Outcomes
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/943260
December 29 — Joseph Rogers
CBS17.com
‘It is filling up:’ Nearly 1 in 5 NC hospitals at least 90 percent full, federal data show
https://bit.ly/3bjjfB0
December 30 — Joseph Rogers
CBS17.com
More NC hospitals brace for staff shortages during pandemic, federal data show
http://bit.ly/3oyXnVS
January 1 — Midge Bowers
Caring for the Ages/Caringfortheages.com
Oral Anticoagulants for Atrial Fibrillation: Benefits Outweigh Risks for Older Adults
https://bit.ly/2JXRcvw
January 4 — Robert Califf
CNBC
Here’s how Covid vaccine distribution could improve
http://cnb.cx/2Xsab4I
January 5 — Camile Frazier-Mills
News & Observer
A diagnosis changed my life. Now COVID is shining a light on my little-known illness.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article248174095.html (subscription needed)
January 6 — Eric Westman (internal medicine)
New Scientist
Low-carb diets: An easy way to lose weight or recipe for heart attack?
http://bit.ly/3q8BrkK (subscription required)
January 6 — Robert Califf
STAT
5 scenarios for containing the Covid-19 pandemic and returning to a ‘new normal’
http://bit.ly/2K5QZGU
January 6 — Joseph Rogers
The Stokes News
January 7 — Sunil Rao
Medpage Today
ACC Nudges Hospitals Toward Same-Day Discharge After PCI
http://bit.ly/35t29wC
January 7 — Sunil Rao
tctMD/interventional
Checklist for Same-Day Discharge PCI Stresses Buy-In, and a Plan
http://bit.ly/3q2pw8c
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