Duke Heart Week ending February 28th 2021
Heart Highlights: Duke CVRC
To continue our celebration of accomplishments made throughout the past year, this week we are pleased to share some highlights from the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC).
The CVRC was formed in 2011 to provide an intellectual home for cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary, bench-oriented research. Their mission is to solidify, enhance and support outstanding cardiovascular research from the basic discovery end of the translational research spectrum.
- Most of the 20 CVRC faculty members are now housed in co-localized, newly renovated research space in the CARL building, directly connected to Duke University Hospital
- The CVRC offers a combined 33,048 square feet of lab space, giving them one of the largest spaces dedicated to basic cardiovascular research in the U.S.
- Our CVRC investigators hold greater than $25 million in active research award funding; Duke is in the top five nationally for basic science research funding in the cardiovascular space (based on 2014-2018 data).
The CVRC’s Cardiovascular Physiology Core, launched in 2016, provides investigators with a central resource for creating and characterizing mouse models of cardiovascular disease. They offer state-of-the-art and comprehensive invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular phenotyping services. Non-invasive techniques include echocardiography, myocardial strain analyses, exercise capacity assessments, ambulatory and ECG monitoring. Invasive techniques include ex-vivo cardiac studies and in vivo pressure-volume loop analyses.
Despite research curtailment due to COVID-19, the CVRC made a number of significant accomplishments in 2020:
- The Cardiovascular Physiology Core invested in a major equipment purchase of two new Vevo 3100 echocardiogram machines from Fujifilm.
- Chris Holley, MD, PhD, was named Associate Director of the CVRC. The leadership team is excited for the energy and engagement he has already shown.
- The 2020 CVRC Research Staff Appreciation Award was presented to Nour Nazo who has served the CVRC in an exemplary manner. She was nominated by Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal.
- Establishment of the Headley Family Award. Made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Dorothy Headley, the award supports basic cardiovascular research at Duke with an annual one-year seed grant of $25,000 targeted toward CVRC researchers who are conducting innovative research into the causes and treatment of hypertension, atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases.
The first recipient was Sudha Shenoy, PhD. The award to Shenoy, in collaboration with Jon Campbell, PhD, of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, is for her project ‘A novel approach to treat Diabetes Mellitus: Modulation of glucagon receptor ubiquitination.’
The CVRC partners closely with Chancellor Emeritus (and current National Academy of Medicine President) Dr. Victor Dzau regarding the relationship with the Edna and Fred L. Mandel Jr. Foundation.
- The most recent award from the Mandel Foundation was announced in August for $899K.
- The Mandel Scholar Award was given to Dennis Abraham, MD, for his project, Mechanosensitive TREK-1 modulates myofibroblast driven fibrosis.
- Mandel Fellow Awards were provided to:
Qiao Zhang, PhD, mentored by George Truskey, PhD, for their project: Clinically relevant human microphysiological system disease model to investigate the effects of cellular force disruption in Cardiovascular diseases and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
Gayathri Viswanathan, PhD, mentored by Sudarshan Rajagopal, MD, PhD, for their project: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- Mandel Seed Awards were provided to:
Laura Wingler, PhD, for her project: A High-Throughput Discovery Platform for Deep Mutational Scanning of GPCR Kinases
Ravi Karra, MD and Dennis Ko, MD, PhD, for their project: Genetic Regulators of Human Cardiomyocyte Proliferation
Sudha Shenoy PhD, collaborating with Jonathan Campbell, PhD (continued funding from previous year) for their project: Ubiquitin-dependent signaling bias at the glucagon family receptors and its impact on pancreatic β cell function
Congratulations to all faculty, fellows and staff members within the CVRC. You’re doing impressive work!
Heart Health in South Asians Webinar Held
On Monday, as part of ongoing educational events in February for Heart Health Awareness Month, Neha Pagidipati and Raj Swaminathan were the guest speakers for a Zoom webinar on “How to Keep Your Heart Healthy: Understanding Heart Disease & Diabetes in South Asians.” (Link includes a page of resources recommended by Pagidipati.)
Cardiovascular disease risk is alarmingly 3 to 4-fold higher in South Asians. Etiologies include genetics, unbalanced diet, and sedentary lifestyles. Strategies to reduce risk were discussed. There were a high number of registrants from around the world and many submitted thoughtful questions for the Q&A session.
The event was sponsored by the Duke Asian Alumni Alliance, Duke Triangle, and the Duke Alumni Association. To view a recording of the webinar, please visit: http://bit.ly/2Plo57S.
Shout-out to Klem & Cardiac MRI Team!
Earlier in February, a patient with neurosarcoidosis who is wheelchair dependent presented for an outpatient cardiac MRI at the DMP. Unfortunately, the patient was noted to be in atrial flutter while their device was being programmed prior to the MRI, so the patient was sent to the Emergency Department instead. After converting to sinus rhythm, the consult team — led by Igor Klem — recognized that the patient did not need further inpatient care and was able to be discharged. The cardiac MRI team, including Rosemary Engel and Katina Johnson, was able to reschedule the outpatient cardiac MRI for the patient on the same day. This was immensely helpful as the patient was relying on a wheelchair transportation service to get to Duke, which would make getting the patient back on a different day for the MRI a bigger burden for the patient, according to Sean Pokorney, the outpatient provider.
“I was on the consult team with Igor that day and felt that Igor and the MRI group should be recognized for their outstanding services in patient care. Dr. Pokorney was very appreciative that the cardiac MRI was able to be done.” – Jordan Hausladen
Kudos to all team members, especially the Cardiac MRI team, for their flexibility and kindness in helping this patient get the scan done on the same day. Way to go!
Shout-out to Carlisle!
Anna Lisa Crowley and Sunil Rao shared a really nice note from a Durham VAMC patient with us this week – the patient was thankful for the care and compassion they received from first year Cardiology fellow, Matt Carlisle:
“During a cath lab visit, I was attended by one of your fellows, Dr. Matthew Carlisle. Many times I have watched interns, fellows and attending physicians sweep into a prep or recovery area, dispense with what is obviously a well-used spiel, and then they turn and vanish into a medically induced mist. I can’t blame them for failing to be more involved in the moment. Usually they offer what they have with a professional attitude, not much more, not much less.
On [this visit] I experienced one particular difference; Dr. Matthew Carlisle asked how I would like to be addressed.
I was pleased by the question and from that moment forward I knew that Carlisle, the young man from Alabama, was my sincere advocate. He was attentive to me and interacted very well with my daughter, who was my driver that day. His attitude reflected his confidence that my case would be positively resolved.
Ninety minutes later, I was more alert and oriented than I had been in weeks. Please pass along to him my sincere regards and tell him I walked 80 yards across the parking garage and when I arrived home I was able to run across the lawn.
Again, I am grateful for the skillful care of the doctors and staff within the VA Health System.” – Name withheld
Great job, Matt! Thank you for the exceptional care you provided!
ICYMI: Yapejian, Fudim Published in EHJCR
Rebecca Yapejian and Marat Fudim are co-authors of “Novel findings of respiratory rate increases using the multisensor HeartLogic heart failure monitoring algorithm in COVID-19-positive patients: a case series,” published last weekend in European Heart Journal – Case Reports, Vol 5, Issue 2, February 2021.
Congratulations to both authors! We are particularly proud of this article – as it represents a wonderful collaboration across subspecialties and disciplines. According to Yapejian, a nurse practitioner with our Duke Electrophysiology team, “It was truly a great honor to know that a medical journal deemed a case series that was written by a nurse practitioner as first author worthy of publication. Furthermore, I was so proud to have Marat Fudim, MD, serve as my co-author to show how interdepartmental (EP and Heart Failure) and interdisciplinary (NP and MD) collaboration can make for great success. It’s opportunities like this that I have always hoped to achieve.”
Well done!
Head’s Up: March is…
Just a quick head’s up that nationally, March is Women’s History Month. International Women’s Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 8 and, Duke-wide, it is Employee Appreciation Month. Employee Appreciation Day is slated for Friday, March 5. Although this is a designated awareness month for appreciation, we know that showing our appreciation for employees is important all the time – so keep those shout-outs and kudos for Pulse coming our way all year long.
Reminder: Best Hospitals Survey Now Open
The U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals annual survey is open in Doximity. Voting is a great way to celebrate how Duke is leading the way in patient care, education and research, so be sure to log into Doximity by March 26th and VOTE!
Results from the reputation survey are an important component of the scoring U.S. News & World Report uses to rank the nation’s top hospitals, along with all of the work we do to provide the best care for our patients. We hope all survey-eligible team members will consider showing your pride in Duke Heart and voting for all three of Duke’s hospitals as part of your “top 5” for “Best Hospitals for Cardiology and Heart Surgery.”
How to Vote: Voting is open through March 26, 2021. To vote, physicians can visit Doximity.com or the survey page on Doximity.com. The survey will display until the physician votes or the survey closes.
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
Mar. 2: Developing Pharmacogenomic Tools for Personalized Antithrombotic Therapy with Kevin Friede. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar.9: Epidemiological Research in Cardio-Oncology – Focus on Atherosclerosis with Avirup Guha of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 16: Advanced Cancer is also Heart Failure Syndrome: Cardio-Oncology Including and Beyond Cardiotoxicity with Stefan Anker, Professor of (Tissue) Homeostasis in Cardiology & Metabolism at Charite Berlin. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 23: If You Build It… (They) Will Come – Advanced Therapies in ACHD with Jonathan Menachem of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
Conversations with Colleagues: Racial Justice
The Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality has announced a second cohort of their Conversations with Colleagues series, Racial Justice: Deeper Dive. The six- week program starts tomorrow, March 1st. The virtual sessions are available to anyone at Duke Health and Duke University.
The series is expected to be a transformative experience that focuses on exploring the origins of systemic racism, understanding our own implicit biases and learning what we can each do to have a positive impact on our local community.
The curriculum includes mixed media to engage all learning styles. Because this is a cohort based experience, attendees are asked to commit to all six weeks of the series. You will select a day and time that works for you and will be expected to attend all six sessions in that cohort. This will allow participants to build relationships with others in their group.
To register, visit bit.ly/CwCRacialJustice.
Six-Part Mental Health Webinar Series Available Through April
Mar. 3: Identifying and Managing Problematic Substance Use in Times of Stress. 4-4:30 p.m. Hosted by the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and led by assistant professor Jennifer Plumb Vilardaga, PhD. (Link below)
This is the second in a six-part webinar series, “Taking Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones,” for all Duke University and Duke Health community members and their families. The 30-minute topical webinars provide practical expert advice on topics including emotional wellness, substance misuse, suicide prevention, and mental health for children, adolescents and teens.
The webinar series runs through April 27. Learn more, watch past webinars and join upcoming webinars: http://bit.ly/DukeMHSeries.
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:
February 23: J. Antonio Gutierrez
Endovascular Today
Patient-Level VHA Data Show No Association Between Paclitaxel-Coated Devices and Long-Term Mortality
http://bit.ly/3uuyI8p
Duke Heart Week ending February 21st 2021
U.S. News Best Hospitals Survey Now Open
The U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals annual survey is now open in Doximity. Voting is a great way to celebrate how Duke is leading the way in patient care, education and research, so be sure to log into Doximity in the coming weeks and VOTE!
Results from the reputation survey are an important component of the scoring U.S. News & World Report uses to rank the nation’s top hospitals, along with all of the work we do to provide the best care for our patients. We hope all survey-eligible team members will consider showing your pride in Duke Heart and voting for all three of Duke’s hospitals as part of your “top 5” for “Best Hospitals for Cardiology and Heart Surgery.”
How to Vote:
Voting is open through March 26, 2021. Invitations to take the survey were emailed to a randomly selected 10 percent subset of the eligible physicians who are users of Doximity. All other survey-eligible Doximity users can expect to get an invitation by the end of next week, Friday, February 26. To vote, physicians can visit Doximity.com or the survey page on Doximity.com. The survey will display until the physician votes or the survey closes.
Heart Highlights: Duke Electrophysiology
Although the year 2020 may be one that most people were happy to put behind them, we are finding many reasons to celebrate accomplishments made throughout the last year. Our faculty, fellows and staff continued to contribute toward excellence in patient care, research and training. We are pleased to share some highlights from one of our program areas: Duke Electrophysiology.
Duke Electrophysiology has one of the largest teams in the U.S. with 14 faculty members (two of whom are women). It is home to the Duke Center for Atrial Fibrillation, one of the largest atrial fibrillation centers in the country. We are sharing some of the highlights from the section this year courtesy of Jon Piccini our EP Section Chief.
In calendar year 2020, Duke EP clinicians performed:
- 5,822 in person device interrogations
- 14,206 remote device interrogations
- 1096 device implants at Duke University Hospital, including 125 leadless pacemaker implants
- 980 catheter ablations at Duke University Hospital, including 489 AF ablations and 131 VT ablations
- 57 left atrial appendage closure procedures at Duke University Hospital
- 120 lead extraction procedures within the Duke Heart network
The Duke EP faculty published 124 peer-reviewed manuscripts and conducted several “firsts” in NC, including:
- Placement of the first Micra AV, a paradigm-changing device that provides atrioventricular synchrony by accelerometer-
Camille Frazier-Mills based detection of mechanical atrial contraction and VDD pacing. This was done last February by Camille Frazier-Mills.
- The use of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) to treat Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia. This was two years in the making under the stewardship of Al Sun, Jason Koontz, Zak Loring and Manisha Palta (radiation oncology)
- Implanting the FDA-approved Watchman FLX left atrial appendage occlusion device. Jonathan Piccini and Sreek Vemulapalli (Duke’s CDU Director) did the case in a patient who had atrial fibrillation and was a poor candidate for long term oral anticoagulation. (Duke was also the first center in NC to implant the original Watchman device approximately 5 years ago.)
Michael Rehorn, Albert Sun, and colleagues published the first case of noninvasive electrocardiographic mapping of ventricular tachycardia in a patient with a left ventricular assist device (HeartRhythm Case Reports)
In June, Brett Atwater and his team performed the world’s first-in-human use of a new conduction system pacing (CSP) lead implantation system, called the Agilis HisPro.
Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) leadership named electrophysiologist Sana Al-Khatib director of the DCRI fellowship program in 2020, and under the leadership of Donald Heglund, Duke EP graduated their 25th class of EP fellows since receiving ACGME accreditation in 1995 and July 2020 marked the 47th year of our overall EP fellowship program.
Importantly, as Duke (and all other AMC’s) stepped up their commitment to increasing representation of all racial and ethnic backgrounds across the University and Health System, Kevin Thomas was named co-chair of the School of Medicine’s (SOM) Faculty Steering Committee on Dismantling Racism. The committee will review data from institutional surveys, focus groups, exit interviews, and testimonials captured from faculty and students to inform recommendations for transformation across the SOM. Thomas currently serves as assistant dean for underrepresented faculty development at the SOM and director of faculty diversity and health disparities research at the DCRI. He has devoted his career to eliminating disparities for patients with cardiovascular disease and helping junior faculty from underrepresented populations advance their medical careers.
Exceptional work by all faculty, staff and fellows – congratulations!
Butler Named TBJ Health Care Hero for 2021
Congratulations to 7E/Cardiac Intensive Care Unit nurse Kiersten Butler! We learned this week that she has been selected by the Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) as one of their 2021 Health Care Heroes – and we are thrilled! Winners were announced on the TBJ website on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Butler, who is one of four awardees from Duke this year, was nominated by her nurse manager, Greg Flynn. As part of the nomination, Flynn described the impact Butler’s efforts have made at Duke:
“Her work as the chair for the Cardiac ICU charge nurse committee has helped multiple nurses train to become a charge nurse. In this work, she has helped the ICU maintain its high level of care. The charge nurses respond to cardiac arrests in the hospital, maintain patient placement throughout the cardiology wards and run the day to day functions of the ICU. Without the training Kiersten has helped establish, it would be difficult to get the charge nurses to a place where they could do their job effectively.”
TBJ Health Care Heroes Awards are one of the longest running annual award programs in the Triangle. Awards are made in a number of health provider categories and each are highly competitive. A virtual celebration is planned for April 15. The TBJ will honor each of the awardees during an online event that will include their colleagues, friends and family.
Congratulations, Kiersten – this is well deserved!
Shout-out to Loriaux!
A special shout-out this week to cardiology fellow Dan Loriaux:
“I wanted to take a minute and shout out our ECHO Fellow Dan Loriaux. He quickly earned a reputation for going above and beyond for our CDU patients. He has stepped in several times to help obtain a PIV for a patient with difficult access using his portable US machine. This not only helps with the CDU workflow but prevents long time delays for the patient waiting on the IV team. On one occasion, while he was not on ECHO service and passing through 7200, he popped in and placed an IV for a procedure patient. His positivity and willingness to assist with even the smallest tasks has not gone unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. Our ECHO Fellows are the best!” — Maile Billings
Great work, Dan! Hat tip to Jon Owensby and Anna Lisa Crowley for the share!
Shout-out to Samsky!
We have another impressive story worthy of a shout-out this week:
“Together with Dr. Michel Khouri, I want to give a special shout out to cardiology fellow Marc Samsky who rounded on the general medicine service this week at the Durham VAMC. He went above and beyond on a day when we unexpectedly had no cardiac sonographers report for work. He performed urgent echocardiograms on sick intensive care unit patients that were not even his patients just to help out our VA cardiology team! His extra effort helped expedite care to Veterans! Thanks Marc!” – Anna Lisa Crowley
Way to go, Marc! Nicely done!
ICYMI: Bernard Gersh, MD @CGR
In Cardiology Grand Rounds last week, Dr. Bernard Gersh presented a thorough review of “The Indications for and Preferred Methods of Coronary Revascularization in Chronic Coronary Syndromes.” As most of you know, Dr. Gersh is Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic (Rochester) and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Duke. In this lecture, Dr. Gersh discussed the available clinical trial results comparing medical therapy to surgical intervention or PCI in these patients. Many of the trials are quite dated now and do not reflect the current management of these patients, raising questions about what the best approaches are in 2021, and whether newer trials are needed. He also discusses the recent controversy regarding the EXCEL trial, where the surgical chairman of the study alleged misconduct in the data reporting (which seems to be an argument about the changing definitions of MI).
Dr. Gersh also shared a beautiful musical tribute to all the frontline healthcare workers in the COVID pandemic, a traditional Zulu hymn recorded by his alma mater at the University of Cape Town. You can access the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDwbUDpYs3E. This is well worth watching.
Many thanks to all who joined us via Webex and to Chris Holley for providing this summary.
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. 23: Extravascular Targets in PAH: Metformin to Mobile Health with Evan Brittian of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
Mar. 2: Developing Pharmacogenomic Tools for Personalized Antithrombotic Therapy with Kevin Friede. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar.9: Epidemiological Research in Cardio-Oncology – Focus on Atherosclerosis with Avirup Guha of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 16: Advanced Cancer is also Heart Failure Syndrome: Cardio-Oncology Including and Beyond Cardiotoxicity with Stefan Anker, Professor of (Tissue) Homeostasis in Cardiology & Metabolism at Charite Berlin. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 23: If You Build It… (They) Will Come – Advanced Therapies in ACHD with Jonathan Menachem of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
DukeHeart On The Go: Latest PAD/CAD CME Modules Now Available
The third program in our CAD/PAD CME series is now available on the DukeHeart On The Go and MedEd On The Go educational platforms. These platforms offer micro-learning education presented in single-learning objective episodes. Developed by Duke Heart faculty in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Medicine and the Society for Vascular Surgery, the modules can be viewed here: Translating the Evidence to Practice Gaps (Case-based Session).The program presents recent, important trial data that guide clinical practice for these chronic and progressive vascular diseases. The CME/CNE certified program addresses key questions, such as: what are atypical signs and symptoms? How can I assess clinical risk profiles for patients with infra-popliteal disease and iliac occlusion?
Feel free to share program availability with colleagues! DukeHeart On The Go modules are free once you sign up for an account. If you have any questions about the DukeHeart On The Go CME platform, please direct them to Christy Darnell.
Six-Part Mental Health Webinar Series Available Through April
From February 17 through April 27, the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is hosting a six-part mental health webinar series, “Taking Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones.” The 30-minute topical webinars are designed to provide practical expert advice for Duke University and Duke Health community members and their families who may be struggling with different mental health challenges. Topics include general mental health, substance misuse, suicide prevention and mental health in children of color. Learn more and join the webinars. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Gallagher.
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:
February 2 — Harry Severance
Emergency Physicians Monthly
COVID-19 can offer some silver linings
http://bit.ly/3dwasNk
February 12 – Jonathan Piccini
tctMD
CABANA Supports Use of AF Ablation in Patients With Heart Failure
http://bit.ly/3azIXAk
*story also carried by Pharma & Healthcare Monitor and MD EDGE
February 18 — Tracy Wang and Manesh Patel
Healio/Cardiology Today
COVID-19 and CVD ‘inextricably linked’
http://bit.ly/2NmLJ3c
February 18 — L. Kristin Newby
Salisbury Post
Duke University COVID-19 study in Kannapolis contributes data to wastewater surveillance
http://bit.ly/3pwlMv2
Duke Heart Week ending February 14th 2021
Highlights of the week:
If You Are Looking for Reasons to Celebrate…
If you’re looking for a few reasons to celebrate, today happens to be Valentine’s Day – and we are, of course, right smack in the middle of Heart Month and there are lots of great reasons to continue wearing some red to drive awareness around cardiovascular disease. Just in time for the holiday, a story of companionship courtesy of the Duke Lemur Center.
This weekend is the first weekend of the Lunar New Year – a belated happy new year to all, particularly our friends and colleagues who hail from China. It’s the Year of the Ox and we wish all of you good health, happiness and prosperity.
It’s also National Donor Day. Celebrated annually on February 14th, today is the day Donate Life America has selected to spread awareness and education about all types of donation — organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets and marrow. National Donor Day is also a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through donation, are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and those who died waiting because an organ was not donated in time. A hat tip to all of our team members working with patients and their families who are on this path.
Coming up on Tuesday… it’s “Shrove” or “Fat Tuesday” – so we bid you an early “Laissez les bon temp roulez!” – enjoy some traditional New Orleans fare (and we have a faculty member that makes a fantastic red beans and rice dish; one of the not-so-secret ingredients is Slap Yo Mama sauce), listen to some sweet jazz and perhaps enjoy a slice of king cake in celebration of mardi gras. To get you in the spirit, there’s this story.
In this pandemic year, there are still many things to celebrate and many stories of perseverance. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the great work! For yet another reason to celebrate, see our next story.
Duke University Among Top 10 in Nation for Federal Medical Research Funding
Duke University continues its leadership in biomedical research, ranking 10th among the nation’s top medical schools and research institutions for funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Duke received $467 million in federal funding from the NIH in 2020, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, an independent research center that compiles an annual ranking of NIH funding for U.S. medical schools and their departments. Duke was the largest recipient of NIH grant funding in North Carolina for fiscal year 2020.
Four basic science departments and seven clinical science departments at Duke ranked among the top 10 in the country:
- #2 for Orthopedics
- #2 for Pediatrics
- #3 for Surgery
- #4 for Neurosurgery
- #5 for Anesthesiology
- #6 for Internal Medicine
- #9 for Anatomy/Cell Biology
- #9 for Genetics
- #9 for Neurosciences
- #9 for Pharmacology
- #10 for Psychiatry
“Duke is home to many of the brightest and most innovative biomedical researchers in the world,” said Mary E. Klotman, M.D., dean of the Duke University School of Medicine. “Even with the challenges that the past year placed on the global research enterprise, these rankings show that our scientists persevered and continued our long history of excellence in biomedical research.”
The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, investing more than $41 billion a year to advance research aimed at improving health.
MURDOCK C3PI Study Contributes to NC Research Network Monitoring COVID
A Duke COVID-19 study tracking the pandemic in Cabarrus County is contributing data to a statewide research network monitoring the coronavirus in sewer systems to help inform the public health response in North Carolina.
The MURDOCK Cabarrus County COVID-19 Prevalence and Immunity (C3PI) Study in December launched a collaboration with the N.C. Wastewater Pathogen Tracking Research Network (WW PATH). The WW PATH network brings together researchers and institutions from across the state to develop tools to monitor wastewater for the coronavirus and link these sewer surveillance data to COVID-19 infections. People shed the coronavirus through their stool even before they show symptoms of COVID-19.
The MURDOCK C3PI Study is collaborating with the network by sharing results from the 300 participants who are tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. These data are shared securely using methods to protect participant identity and confidentiality. To see the full article, visit: http://bit.ly/3agVsRb.
Thakkar Headlines NIEHS Heart Disease Awareness Event
Maitreya Thakkar was the guest speaker for a heart health seminar held Thursday evening, Feb. 11. The event, You Are Your Own Best Heart Health Advocate: Women and Heart Disease was offered as part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science’s (NIEHS) Women’s Health Awareness Virtual Series: Real Talk with the Experts seminar series. The online session was moderated by Leatrice Martin-Short, who dedicated many years of service to Duke Heart as our community outreach and volunteer coordinator. The session addressed early warning signs of heart disease and prevention of heart disease in women. The event was attended by about 150 online guests and was very well received. Thakkar has already received notes from attendees thanking him for his time; one guest (a Duke staff member & care provider) wrote,
“I was on the webinar last night with Women’s Health Awareness. You gave an excellent presentation and made it easy to comprehend. It was wonderful having the story from Tonya before your presentation. It was really awesome, inspiring, and memorable. Well done. I hope we have a Part 2. I’m sure, I’m not the only one who knows, you helped change lives last night.”
Nicely done!
Two Duke Cardiology Fellows Selected as IM Chief Residents for 2022-2023
We are very excited to announce that two of our first year fellows (starting July 2021) — Lonnie Sullivan and Sara Coles — have been selected as 2022-2023 Chief Residents for the Duke Internal Medicine Residency Program. The announcement was made Friday morning by Dr. Aimee Zaas, Program Director, Duke Internal Medicine Residency Program. The three Chief Residents will be:
Lonnie Sullivan, MD — Duke University Hospital
Lonnie is a graduate of the Morehouse College and Duke University School of Medicine. He will be a fellow in Cardiology in 2021-22.
Sara Coles, MD — Durham VA Medical Center
Sara is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She will be a fellow in Cardiology in 2021-22.
Nathaniel Harris, MD, PhD — Duke Regional Hospital/Ambulatory Medicine
Nathaniel is a graduate of North Carolina State University and Duke University School of Medicine. He will be a fellow in Rheumatology and Immunology in 2021-22.
The Chief Residents are a key part of the medicine residency team, providing invaluable leadership, teaching, and support for our trainees. Our incoming chiefs join a strong tradition of resident leadership, and we look forward to their contributions to the Department of Medicine.
Congratulations!
Congrats to Bill Cockfield of Duke EP!
We learned this week that Bill Cockfield, PA recently passed his International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) re-certification (initial certification in 2010) for EP; he is also a certified cardiac device specialist. Additionally, Bill shared his device knowledge with our Cardiology APP colleagues this past Wednesday as he gave a talk on device wound assessment, documentation, and billing.
“Bill is an excellent clinician and takes great care of his patients. He is always there for the EP team by attending meetings, working patients into clinic, sometimes even over his lunch break, or covering when people are out. To top it off, he’s been volunteering on Sundays to give much needed COVID vaccinations.
We so fortunate to have him as a colleague and are thankful for his leading example!”
Hat tip to Amber Stohl for bringing this to our attention. Congratulations, Bill!!
Shout-out to Flores, Nanna, Pomeroy, Kong & Code Blue Team
Shout-out to the incredible efforts of several of our fellows–Karen Rosario Flores, Mike Nanna and Jordan Pomeroy; and to faculty member David Kong for their teamwork and partnership with the rest of the Code Blue team in responding to a lengthy code last week at Duke University Hospital.
In a series of notes shared with us by Anna Lisa Crowley, we learned that the quick response of our CICU and interventional teams was recognized and valued by the patient’s family and hospital leadership although the outcome was not as we all hoped.
“The entire code blue team did a remarkable job in a lengthy code yesterday on (unit withheld). While the outcome was not what everyone wanted, your leadership and the compassionate, excellent work of the team was appreciated. Your care made a difference for that patient’s family and for the team you worked with.” – Lisa Pickett, Chief Medical Officer, Duke University Hospital
“Every single individual present had a clear role and focused on that role, which made this an incredibly well run code, including the CICU fellow and cath lab team who came to evaluate for cath lab activation based upon the patient’s EKG.” – Jenny Van Kirk (hospitalist primary responder)
We are incredibly proud of the great teamwork our Duke Heart care providers demonstrate each day. Thank you.
Shout-out to Narcisse & Cath Lab team!
In a note shared with us this week by Anna Lisa Crowley we learned that at the end of January, fellow David Narcisse helped out on a complicated and critically ill patient call in the cath lab.
“I just wanted to reach out and let you all know that Dennis saved the day last Saturday when a call came in for a very sick anterior STEMI patient. When the patient was decompensating and I felt like I needed at least 9 more arms, Dennis came over, put on lead and stepped up to help out. No one asked him to come in and assist in that way, but he did so without hesitation and honestly the whole thing went much smoother because of his help. He also called the CCU whenever we needed medications and made sure that we had the supported we needed from them. He communicated clearly and positively and I think I speak for all the staff when I say he is truly appreciated!”
“Everyone: Phillip, Emily Coursey, Laura, Adam, Dr. Kiefer and Dr. Patel worked great as a team and Dennis was so kind to come help out. Proud of our whole Cath Lab team!!!” — Elle Simpson
The note was originally sent to Schuyler Jones, Elizabeth Watts and Anna Mall, who forwarded to Crowley. To quote the now retired LV Staton, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Great job, everyone!
Perfusion Team Update
The 42nd Annual Seminar of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion was held virtually from February 6th-13th, 2021. Rachel Gambino, CCP, presented an excellent educational seminar, “Managing ECMO Catastrophes on the Ground and in the Air.” Dr. Jacob Klapper engaged in a very interesting debate, “ECPR: What is it good for?” and our colleagues in Pulmonary Critical Care, Drs. Craig Rackley and Anne Mathews, debated optimal management strategies for COVID ARDS. Alex Gum, MS CCP was nominated as a Fellow of the AACP, joining Academy Fellows from Duke- Ian Shearer, Greg Smigla and Desiree Bonadonna.
Congratulations to all! Thanks for representing us so well!
2020 ACLS/BLS E-books Now Available
If you’re in need of borrowing ACLS or BLS books, the Duke Medical Center Library has the updated 2020 volumes available electronically. They’re available for up to six users at a time. For more information, please visit: https://mclibrary.duke.edu/about/blog/acls-bls-pal.
Six-Part Mental Health Webinar Series to Start in February
From February 17 through April 27, the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences will be hosting a six-part mental health webinar series, “Taking Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones.” The 30-minute topical webinars are designed to provide practical expert advice for Duke University and Duke Health community members and their families who may be struggling with different mental health challenges. Topics include general mental health, substance misuse, suicide prevention and mental health in children of color. Learn more and join the webinars. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Gallagher.
COVID-19 Updates:
NEW: Website explains how to help staff Duke’s vaccination clinics
We’ve seen an outpouring of support from students, faculty and staff who want to help out at Duke’s vaccination clinics. A new website, launched last week, should help answer many frequently asked questions, including how people can support Duke’s vaccination efforts and what to expect when they sign up. If you have any questions, email vaxvolunteer@duke.edu. Thank you. Full URL: https://covid-19.dukehealth.org/vaccination-operations
All the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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.
Mar. 2: Developing Pharmacogenomic Tools for Personalized Antithrombotic Therapy with Kevin Friede. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 16: Advanced Cancer is also Heart Failure Syndrome: Cardio-Oncology Including and Beyond Cardiotoxicity with Stefan Anker, Professor of (Tissue) Homeostasis in Cardiology & Metabolism at Charite Berlin. 7:15 a.m., Webex.
Mar. 23: If You Build It… (They) Will Come – Advanced Therapies in ACHD with Jonathan Menachem of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m., Webex.
DukeHeart On The Go Launches PAD/CAD CME Series
In collaboration with the Society for Vascular Medicine and Society for Vascular Surgery, Duke Heart has developed a certified 4-program educational series on PAD/CAD that appears on DukeHeart On The Go and MedEd On The Go, two platforms that provide micro-learning education in single learning objective episodes.
Two of the programs are available now:
- Identifying Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease
- New & Emerging Treatment Approaches in the Management of Patients with CAD/PAD
Two more programs will launch in February: Translating the Evidence to Practice Gaps (Case-based Session) and Improving Clinical Outcomes in Patients with CAD/PAD – A Case-based Review on Discharge Planning, Compliance and Adherence in the Ambulatory Patient. We will provide links once the programs are available.
DukeHeart On The Go modules are free once you sign up for an account. If you have any questions about the DukeHeart On The Go CME platform, please direct them to Christy Darnell.
ASE Live Webinar: Sonographer Professional Development
Feb. 18, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., ET. Attendees will get a brief overview of five important professional development topics from eight experts in the cardiac sonography field with different backgrounds and career paths. The goal will be to help guide early career sonographers to growing within the field of echo and within ASE. The other goal is to gain feedback from the audience about which topics sonographers want to hear more about so that future webinars can be tailored to audience needs.
Moderators: Kristen Billick, BS, ACS, RDCS (AE, PE), FASE; Ashlee Davis, BS, ACS, RDCS, FASE
Speakers: Peg Knoll, RDCS, RCS, FASE; Elizabeth McIlwain, MHS, ACS, RCS, FASE; Jennifer Tresness, RDCS (PE, AE), RDMS(FE), FASE; Colin Dunbar II, RDMS, RDCS (AE, PE, FE), FASE; Ken Horton, RCS, ACS, FASE; Richard Palma, BS, RDCS, RCS, ACS, FSDMS, FASE
This activity is FREE for ASE Members, $25 for non-members. This activity does not offer CME credit. This webinar will be posted for on-demand viewing on the ASE Learning Hub in the weeks following the live broadcast.
Reflections on Race and Medicine During the Year of COVID-19 and Beyond
Feb. 18, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. DCRI will host a special Research Forum for all Duke faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Damon Tweedy, Duke faculty member and author of Black Man in a White Coat, will:
- Explore how medical education and the health care system have perpetuated health disparities
- Discuss strategies to mitigate the harms of physician bias and patient mistrust on health outcomes
- Examine the unique challenges and roles of Black physicians in the delivery of medical care
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted longstanding racial and ethnic health disparities in our country. Coupled with heightened nationwide protests during the summer of 2020, these events have sparked a renewed intensity towards addressing the dilemma of race in America. In his talk, Dr. Tweedy will explore these issues within the medical school and hospital setting, highlighting the challenges faced by Black patients and Black doctors while reviewing recent developments and reforms in the field. To attend, please access Zoom via: https://duke.zoom.us/j/93154390688?pwd=ZFpDd2s4NGI1aVlIdWxBTFkxS3ZsUT09
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:
February 3 — Oliver Jawitz
Health Day News
Women Less Likely to Undergo Guideline-Concordant CABG
https://bit.ly/3oPmMtO
February 5 — Sunil Rao
tctMD
Large Meta-analysis Confirms Survival, Bleeding Benefits With Radial Access
http://bit.ly/2NppEAP
February 8 — Sunil Rao
tctMD
Long-term CTO Data Raise Questions Over Primary Goals of Care
http://bit.ly/2Nvl7MU
February 8 — Harry Severance, Jr.
CNBC
Tahiti’s sudden tourism restrictions provide a lesson to people who can’t wait to travel
http://cnb.cx/3apsizD
February 9 — Duke Univ. and Duke University Health System
Forbes
America’s Best Large Employers 2021
http://bit.ly/2N5yGD6
February 11 — Jorge Antonio Gutierrez
tctMD
No Paclitaxel Death Signal in VA Data Out to 3 Years
http://bit.ly/2OHo7Xv
Duke Heart Week ending February 7th 2021
Updates from the week:
Passings: Richard L. McCann, MD, Vascular Surgeon
The loss of a colleague is never an easy one to share, particularly when the news comes so unexpectedly. The following was announced late Friday afternoon by Mary E. Klotman, MD, Dean, Duke University School of Medicine and Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Vice Dean, Section of Surgical Disciplines.
“It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Richard Lucas McCann, MD, passed away on Friday, February 5.
Dr. McCann was a Professor of Surgery in the Section of Surgical Disciplines. He began his nearly five-decade career at Duke University in the 1970s as an intern under the direction of Dr. David C. Sabiston Jr. During his surgical training at Duke, he spent three years as a cardiovascular research fellow in addition to his general surgery training. His reputation as a talented surgeon led to his hiring as Assistant Professor at Duke after completion of his general surgery training in 1983.
During his tenure at Duke, Dr. McCann became recognized as a superb surgeon in every domain. Technically, he mastered the anatomical exposure of vascular structures in all areas of the body with exceptional technical speed and efficiency. Dr. McCann participated in the first liver transplant at Duke with Drs. William Meyers and R. Randal Bollinger. In the late 1990s, he implanted the first aortic endograft at Duke for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. He pioneered complex aortic surgery, using an array of both open and endovascular techniques.
Dr. McCann mentored an entire generation of surgical residents and fellows. Beyond Duke, as an ambassador and humanitarian, he donated his medical and surgical talent to care for patients in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Haiti. In 2016, Dr. McCann was honored as a Duke Surgery Master Surgeon.
Our thoughts go out to the family and many friends of Dr. McCann. The family requests that anyone who wishes to honor Dr. McCann do so by donating to Hôspital Albert Schweitzer. Hôspital Albert Schweitzer, PO Box 110091, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232.”
For those of us in Duke Heart, the loss is significant. McCann has worked over the years with many of our current faculty and a significant number of former trainees. We’ve pulled together a series of remembrances to honor him:
Dan Mark, MD, Professor of Medicine, Duke Division of Cardiology, (via Twitter):
“He was not only a master vascular surgeon, he was a critical partner for the cardiac team in the early formative years of our interventional program.”
Chad Hughes, MD, Director, Duke Center for Aortic Disease and Surgical Director, Duke Center for Structural Heart Disease, Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
“When I came on faculty, I knew him well because I had trained here. I reached out to him and asked him to help mentor me, which he certainly didn’t have to do. But he was generous enough to bring me along. And we worked together until he retired from Duke and moved over to the VA; we did hundreds and hundreds of cases together. I have spent more time with McCann than anyone else outside of my family.
“He was the man from Maine, a man of few words. We’d do a case together and he might not say five words to me. If you were going into either vascular surgery or cardiac surgery, that’s the person who taught you how to sew. I can hear him yelling, “Put the needle in the direction you want it to go!” When you would go to clinic with him, he would always say the same thing whenever he’d enter the room of a new patient, ‘I’m McCann. How do you spend your days?’
For any new patient, this is what he asked because he wanted to get an understanding of their activity level and this is how he learned about them. He was just an amazing guy; the patients always came first. It didn’t matter if he was on call, he’d come in if anyone had a problem. He was the go-to guy if any one of us got into a rough spot during a case. Sometimes he just had a sense of when to show up. He was pretty incredible and he touched us all. In fact, even people he had never met have been touched by him. With my trainees, I teach techniques McCann taught to me, and I talk about Dr. McCann while doing so… and in this way, he has touched their lives.”
Sunil Rao, MD, Section Chief, Cardiology at the Durham VA Medical Center:
“The loss of Dr. McCann is a huge one for all of us. When I was a medicine resident I knew of Dr. McCann only by his reputation as one of the best surgeons at Duke. His laconic manner made him seem intimidating, but when I formally met him during my interventional fellowship it was apparent that he was a very nice person, outstanding clinician, and excellent teacher. I remember when he allowed me to observe him in the operating room performing complex vascular surgery. The few sentences he said to me at each step were more educational than anything I could have read in a textbook. He was a nearly constant presence at the VA in recent years and our veterans were better off because of it. There is a small group of people who define the greatness of Duke and Dr. McCann is one of them. He will be greatly missed.”
Bradley Collins, MD, Duke Transplant Center; Medical Director, Animal Research, Duke Dept. of Surgery:
“Dr. McCann was the most technically gifted surgeon I have ever encountered. During a case when I was chief resident on his service, I witnessed him innovate in the operating room as options for a successful outcome in this particular patient continued to disappear, one after another… Dr. McCann won that day.
“Another thing that stands out for me is something I observed in his clinic. He treated his poor, Black patients with the same level of respect and dignity that he did his VIP’s… long before equity in healthcare was ‘a thing.’ His patients adored him. I was privileged to learn why.”
Ashish Shah, MD, Alfred Blalock Endowed Director and Chairman, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center:
“Dr. McCann looms large as a surgical educator for a group of surgeons particularly Duke trained cardiac surgeons. He taught us how to sew blood vessels together, how to be efficient in the operating room and frankly to do difficult things. He was fearless, tireless and devoted to even the most complicated patients.
“But I spent some time outside the operating room with Dr. McCann and consider it one of the great professional blessings in my life. He was a quiet man, with a volcanic temper at times, but when he laughed — or made you laugh, it was but always genuine. I cherished those moments. I loved being in his orbit. What do you do when you have an impossible problem? “Call McCann.” For a surgeon, that is the ultimate honor. Many of us have borrowed his lines with patients, “How do you spend your days?” It really will tell you everything you need to know when you’re assessing a patient’s fitness for surgery.
“For me, however, his sudden passing brings a difficult kind of grief. A reminder of what a life well-lived looks like, but also how much of our own life as teachers, physicians, and citizens is unfinished. In his quiet, deeply thoughtful, and technically brilliant way, Dr. McCann will always be the aspiration.”
Personally, I came to know Dr. McCann during my interventional fellowship when he would do endovascular cases with me in the cath lab. He then asked me to go to the OR to do vascular hybrid cases. He was a man of few words, great patient care, and a role model for a generation of physicians at Duke. He will be missed.
Duke Heart Celebrates Wear Red Day
Great job, Duke Heart! So many of our team members helped promote awareness of cardiovascular disease by sporting some red on Wear Red Day (Friday, Feb. 5). Thanks to all who submitted photos to us for this weekend, including Jill Engel, Rebecca Yapejian, Vanessa Blumer, Ashley Barba, Laura Dickerson and to those who shared them in your Twitter feed. Way to represent! Reminder: We will accept photos all month long of any activity you take on to celebrate Heart Month. Keep up the great work, everyone – thanks for all you do!
A very special shout out to Mary Martin, COO of Duke University Hospital for sporting red in support of Wear Red Day, and for her overall support and advocacy for Duke Heart! Thank you!!! – the faculty & staff of Duke Heart
The DPC staff at GC Lot COVID Testing Tent joined me today in wearing red to show our support for the awareness of heart disease and women’s heart health! – Rebecca Yapejian
CT surgery step down APPs – Ashley Barba
Heart Leadership sporting red kicks & putting in some steps! – Jill Engel and Manesh Patel
Team shot from Clinic 2F/2G – Vanessa Blumer
Duke Heart nursing leadership – Laura Dickerson
Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, Feb. 7 – 14
This week is designated as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week – a big shout-out to our team members working to support and care for our patients and families who are impacted by congenital heart defects.
One way to participate this week is via a free Facebook event on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. called The Gio Project Recital: Robert Young & Polina Khatsko, a benefit concert. Robert Young and Polina Khatsko will share an evening of music for saxophone and piano to raise awareness of congenital heart defects. All donations from this event will go to Mended Little Hearts of the Triangle, a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for families and children that have been impacted by congenital heart defects. To learn more, visit: http://bit.ly/3aMNvm1.
ICYMI: Shah Featured on WRAL for #WearRedDay
Congratulations to Svati Shah – she was interviewed live by WRAL anchor Debra Morgan on Friday evening in recognition of Wear Red Day and Heart Month; Shah was able to promote the safety and importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine when people become eligible, and gave WRAL viewers a number of important suggestions and health tips around cardiovascular disease. (Unfortunately, we do not yet have a link to share with you; we’ll provide once available.)
Earlier in the week Shah joined Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, for a YouTube live stream event called Heart to Heart: Why losing one woman is too many (you can view it here: http://spr.ly/6016HjN3E). The event also featured Tamron Hall and Star Jones; discussions focused on heart disease in women and included testimonials from survivors. Shah again joined AHA’s Nancy Brown on Friday for a “coffee break” event that further promoted heart disease awareness.
Shah is a member of the AHA Board of Directors and is a strong advocate for not only helping increase awareness around CVD and prevention, but for encouraging and mentoring women in STEM careers while continuing to further her own research into the underlying genetics of heart disease.
Recent Faculty Promotions, Division of Cardiology
Congratulations to the following faculty members in the Division of Cardiology for their recent promotion within the Duke Department of Medicine:
Maria Price Rapoza, PhD, to Associate Professor of Medicine (as of Feb. 1); Rapoza is the executive director of the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center. She provides executive management for cardiovascular research and has worked throughout her career to strengthen systems for conducting basic research.
Gerald Bloomfield, MD, to Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure (as of Jan. 
1); In addition to his appointment in the DOM, Bloomfield holds a faculty appointment within Duke Global Health Institute and is a member of the DCRI; He has launched a clinical research program at Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya to determine the causes of heart failure among East Africans.
Michel Khouri, MD, to Associate Professor of Medicine (as of Jan. 1); Khouri’s work is in the emerging field of cardio-oncology, researching better ways to identify cancer patients at higher risk for developing heart disease and heart failure during and after cancer therapy.
NC ACC FIT Jeopardy Team Advances
Wondering how the NC chapter fared in yesterday’s ACC FIT Jeopardy competition? They put in a strong performance, earning a spot at ACC FIT jeopardy nationals! The NC chapter’s team was comprised of a trio of Duke cardiology fellows: Kevin Friede, Zak Loring and JD Serfas. Great job!!! We anticipate that the ACC FIT Jeopardy nationals will take place during the ACC Scientific Sessions in May.
ACC Announces Full List of Distinguished Awardees for 2021
The American College of Cardiology last week announced the full list of those selected to receive distinguished awards during Convocation at the Scientific Sessions in May. The announcement states 
that the “ACC’s list of 2021 Distinguished Awardees represents a diverse group of individuals from around the globe who are tangibly helping to transform cardiovascular care and improve the heart health of patients worldwide.”
Honorees with Duke ties include:
- Douglas P. Zipes, MD, MACC, Distinguished Young Scientist Award: Marat Fudim, MD, FACC
- Distinguished Scientist (Clinical Domain): Christopher M. O’Connor, MD, MACC
The ACC will also award the annual Pamela S. Douglas Distinguished Award for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion to Quinn Capers, IV, MD, FACC, of UT Southwestern. The award was named in Douglas’s honor last year; she was the first recipient.
To see the full list, please visit: http://bit.ly/2YTQdjT. Congratulations to all receiving honors this year!
Reminder: Speaking of the ACC Scientific Sessions… Advanced registration ends March 31. Sign up now, save some $$.
Shout-out to EP, Echo Teams!
Jill Engel, associate vice president for Duke Heart Services, received a note of thanks earlier this week from Robert “Hap” Zarzour, executive director of Athletic Medicine at Duke, who wrote to thank several members of our team for their quick attention to and care of one of the athletic coaches last weekend. Engel shared the note with Pulse.
“I want to send this quick note to say thank you to you and your amazing team. One of our assistant coaches came in the training room this afternoon and was in A-Fib. I talked to Dr. Jeff Bytomski, and his fellow met him at Duke Sports Science Institute, took an EKG, labs and performed an exam. They sent the EKG to Dr. Jim Daubert for his review. He, as always, responded right away. I then called to schedule an echocardiogram and the staff really went above and beyond, seeing our coach immediately for the echo. I talked to Maggie Gordon and Kenny Walters who both were understanding and accommodating, particularly late on a Friday afternoon during a pandemic. This is only possible under your leadership. I was blown away at how great everyone was in the care of this patient. Duke is a great place but, as you know, sometimes we can get in our own way — but not in Duke Heart. Your team is the best example for patient healthcare. I am thankful and grateful to be able to work with your amazing staff. Coach Cutcliffe walked in when I was on the phone with scheduling and he could not believe how exceptional it went.” — Hap
Well done, team!! Keep up the great work!
Wofford Guest Presenter at Conemaugh GR
Brian Wofford, Duke Vice President of Heart Operations for Durham County, was a presenting speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Grand Rounds with Conemaugh Health System, a member of the Duke Life Point network. Wofford spoke on understanding the value and power of diversity, inclusion, and belonging; the importance of hearing first-hand experiences of personal success and failures, and encouraged self-reflection, deeper thinking, and conversations among audience members. Wofford has been involved in Duke’s Moments to Movement initiative and with the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) to encourage greater diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts. Great job, Brian!
DukeHeart On The Go Launches PAD/CAD CME Series
In collaboration with the Society for Vascular Medicine and Society for Vascular Surgery, Duke Heart has developed a certified 4-program educational series on PAD/CAD that appears on DukeHeart On The Go and MedEd On The Go, two platforms that provide micro-learning education in single learning objective episodes.
Two of the programs are available now:
- Identifying Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease
- New & Emerging Treatment Approaches in the Management of Patients with CAD/PAD
Two more programs will launch in February: Translating the Evidence to Practice Gaps (Case-based Session) and Improving Clinical Outcomes in Patients with CAD/PAD – A Case-based Review on Discharge Planning, Compliance and Adherence in the Ambulatory Patient. We will provide links once the programs are available.
DukeHeart On The Go modules are free once you sign up for an account. If you have any questions about the DukeHeart On The Go CME platform, please direct them to Christy Darnell.
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. 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.
Scientific Leadership in a Public Health Crisis: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci and David M. Rubenstein
Feb. 10, 4:30 – 5:15 p.m., this is the 2021 Victor J. Dzau Distinguished Lecture in Global Health, which is the highest-profile annual event organized by the Duke Global Health Institute. The event is supported by a gift from Victor J. Dzau, former chancellor of health affairs at Duke, to encourage education and discussion of interdisciplinary challenges to global health.
Event is free and will be streamed live on YouTube. Sponsored by Duke Global Health Institute. To learn more, visit: http://bit.ly/3q0UtKe.
ASE Live Webinar: Sonographer Professional Development
Feb. 18, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., ET. Attendees will get a brief overview of five important professional development topics from eight experts in the cardiac sonography field with different backgrounds and career paths. The goal will be to help guide early career sonographers to growing within the field of echo and within ASE. The other goal is to gain feedback from the audience about which topics sonographers want to hear more about so that future webinars can be tailored to audience needs.
Moderators: Kristen Billick, BS, ACS, RDCS (AE, PE), FASE; Ashlee Davis, BS, ACS, RDCS, FASE
Speakers: Peg Knoll, RDCS, RCS, FASE; Elizabeth McIlwain, MHS, ACS, RCS, FASE; Jennifer Tresness, RDCS (PE, AE), RDMS(FE), FASE; Colin Dunbar II, RDMS, RDCS (AE, PE, FE), FASE; Ken Horton, RCS, ACS, FASE; Richard Palma, BS, RDCS, RCS, ACS, FSDMS, FASE
This activity is FREE for ASE Members, $25 for non-members. This activity does not offer CME credit. This webinar will be posted for on-demand viewing on the ASE Learning Hub in the weeks following the live broadcast.
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:
February 2 — Tracy Wang
Everyday Health
Gestational Diabetes Tied to Artery Damage Years After Pregnancy
http://bit.ly/3q33hzD
February 2 — Oliver Jawitz
Practical Cardiology
Women Less Likely to Undergo CABG Than Men, Despite Inclusion in Guidelines
http://bit.ly/3oPfPJs
February 3 — Oliver Jawitz and Brittany Zwischenberger
tctMD
Surgeons More Likely to Stray From CABG Best Practices in Female Patients
http://bit.ly/2NYYil4
February 3 — Oliver Jawitz
HealthDay News
Women Less Likely to Undergo Guideline-Concordant CABG
http://bit.ly/3oPmMtO
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