Yearly Archives: 2025

Chief’s message:  Holiday weeks and reflection

As we end the year over the next two weeks – we will be taking time like many to review ways in which we can work together to accomplish our mission in the upcoming year. This weeks Pulse highlights the amazing teamwork that has been driving us all year with stories of awards, community outreach, our new fellows, site research with first device implant, research funding, and the new department Chair of Pediatrics.

We hope that our faculty, fellows, residents, nursing and all heart center teams have time to reflect on the tremendous impact and ways in which we have worked to improve the heath of our community and region.  We hope you will have a some time over the next few weeks to spend with family and loved ones.  

Also – this last week we had the opportunity to have a dinner to deepen some of our strategic relationship with partners helping us innovate to improve the clinical and research access, outcomes, and cost of care.  We were lucky enough at the dinner to get this iconic Durham Legend photo we wanted to share that includes Coach K, Giorgio (of restaurant fame) and Rob Califf.  

Highlights of the week:

Happy Holidays!

On behalf of the leadership team for Duke Heart & Vascular, we wish each of you a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Pulse will be on a short break over the next couple of weeks. We will return on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.

In celebration of the season, we have some holiday cheer to share with you:

The Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) recently celebrated with a holiday potluck – everything looks like it was delicious! Maria Price Rapoza, executive director of the CVRC said, “2025 had some challenges, but it was good to take time to connect with colleagues and appreciate good food together.” What a lovely way to launch the holidays with the team!

And our Duke Health Heritage Cardiology team celebrated with some fun décor!

Please send us any holiday photos you would like to share with Pulse – we’ll run them on Jan. 11 to welcome the New Year.

 

Complimentary Holiday Meal at DUH, Dec. 25

For all those working on the Duke University Hospital (DUH) campus on Thursday, Dec. 25, hospital administration is offering a complimentary holiday meal for you at Duke North Atrium Café as an extension of sincere appreciation for the teams who make DUH such a special place to work and receive care.

Serving Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 6 – 9 p.m., based on CSU (Heart & Vascular preferred time is 12:30-2 p.m. or 7:30-9 p.m.)

 

Tarnowski Earns DAISY Award

Congratulations to Abbey Tarnowski, RN, of the Duke University Hospital CVSSU/EP Lab! She was surprised with a DAISY Award on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

Her nominator wrote a truly heartwarming nomination, which in part reads:

“The nominee, Abbey, exhibited all qualities that I value in a nurse. She was compassionate, reassuring, patient, and respectful, and she seemed to genuinely care about my well-being. I always hate to ask my nurses for anything (I feel like a bother), but Abbey was happy to help with whatever I needed – no hesitation. She also did a great job of assessing the situation and anticipating my needs before I had to ask for something. For example, she brought me a warm blanket when starting my saline IV, and she brought me snacks right after the procedure since I hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been treated so kindly by a nurse. I have never nominated a nurse for a Daisy Award (and didn’t know how to do so prior to this submission), but I searched for a way to recognize Abbey for her exceptional care. Her patience, eagerness to help, empathy, and genuine kindness meant so much to me. I am incredibly grateful for her help, as it turned an unpleasant day into a positive, memorable one.”

DAISY Awards are provided internationally by The DAISY Foundation to nurses who provide exceptional care to patients at organizations that are part of the DAISY program. Duke Health has been an active DAISY participant since March 2021 and has earned 3811 nominations with 81 inpatient honorees (DAISY award winners) through September 2025. For the cycle that includes July-September 2025, Duke Health had 314 nominations. Four inpatient awards are presented per quarter.

To learn more about The DAISY Award, please visit https://www.daisyfoundation.org/

Amazing work, Abbey! We are blessed to have you on our team!

 

What’s the 411? Featuring Samantha Minc

Vascular surgeon Samantha Minc, MD, MPH, recently served as the guest speaker for the Durham County, NC Department of Public Health’s What’s the 411 Series – an ongoing educational program that offers free workshops (in person or virtual) about managing diabetes and related issues.

Minc was the featured speaker for Save Your Sole: How to prevent amputation from diabetes and vascular disease, held at Noon on Dec. 17, 2025.

Way to go, Samantha!

 

Heart Team Members Participate in Science Saturday, BOOST Program

A big shout-out to our team members who volunteered their time on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at the BOOST “Science Saturday” outreach event! BOOST – or Building Opportunities and Overtures in Science and Technology — is an enrichment program founded by the late Dr. Brenda Armstrong that exposes middle schoolers who come from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM to healthcare fields.

Victor Ayeni, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, PGY-2, recruited team members to join him for some holiday-time community engagement for BOOST. He was joined by fellow resident Sabrina Arezo, MD, and three of our excellent cardiac sonographers: Emily Lynch, Katie Beaman, and Lynda Metcalfe.

“We and the students had a blast learning about cardiac ultrasound, with hands-on scanning from the sonographers as we talked about the healthcare careers of being a physician and being a sonographer,” said Ayeni. “I’ve heard directly from participants and alumni of the program how transformational the program has been, so I wanted to support it however possible.”

In general, experiences like this are always mutually beneficial for Duke employees and the community, Ayeni adds. If you or anyone you know are interested in helping with future events, please reach out to victor.ayeni@duke.edu so that he can connect you to the BOOST program coordinator.

Great job, everyone! Keep up the great work!

 

First CCM Implant Performed DUH

This past week Duke’s Heart and Vascular team implanted our first cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) device into a heart failure patient at Duke University Hospital. CCM devices received pre-market FDA approval in 2019. A CCM device is a small, implantable generator that treats heart failure by sending timed electrical pulses to strengthen the heart’s muscle contractions, helping it to pump more blood and oxygen throughout the body.

The implant procedure itself is nearly identical to a standard dual-chamber pacemaker procedure. The impulse generator and two leads are placed during the procedure. The device stimulates the septum and seeks to remodel the heart over several weeks to months. Unlike a pacemaker or CRT, this is not a device targeting the conduction system but rather the muscle itself, according to cardiologist Marat Fudim, MD, who specializes in heart failure.

CCM is now fully available at Duke for patients with left ventricular ejection fraction between 25-45 and symptomatic for heart failure. This is an alternative therapy to Barostim, which is a different device that has been offered at Duke for about two years. 

“With this new therapy available, we are open for referrals via our heart failure device clinic – which is staffed by Todd McVeigh, PA; Leilani Gomez, RN; and me,” said Fudim. “The team plans to grow this and other device offerings, including Barostim and CardioMEMS.”

Aferdita Spahillari, MD, MPH, was the primary cardiologist on this case. Electrophysiologist Dan Friedman, MD, performed the procedure.

“Thanks to everyone for the administrative and clinical support necessary to get this program up and running,” said Friedman. “This is another milestone as we work to cement Duke as a world-class center for clinical care and research into devices for patients with heart failure. Our patient is doing well and experiencing symptom improvement. They were, in fact, discharged the same day.”

Congratulations, all!

 

2026 Cardiovascular Disease/Advanced Cardiac Training Fellows Announced

We are thrilled to announce our cardiology and advanced cardiology training fellows for 2026! Matches were conducted on Dec. 3, 2025 and all fellows will start on July 1, 2026.

Anna Lisa Chamis, MD, director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship program, extends her thanks and gratitude to Camille Frazier-Mills, MD, MHS; Robert Harrison, MD; Christopher Holley, MD, PhD, and Nishant Shah, MD, assistant fellowship program directors; the fellowship recruitment committee; Brianna Small, MSW, MPA, program coordinator, and to each of the current fellows for their time and talents during the recruitment process. It was a team effort!

Our newest fellows, by program, will be:

Cardiovascular Disease:

Duke 2026 Incoming CVD Fellows

Ryan Edwards, MD

Residency: Duke

Medical School: Duke

Joshua Ellis, MD, MMS

Residency: Mass General Hospital

Medical School: Harvard

Jordan Franklin, MD

Residency: Duke

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern

Mark Hieromnimon, MD

Residency: Duke

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Amanda Jowell, MD

Residency: Mass General Hospital

Medical School: Harvard

Christos Kyriakopoulos, MD

Residency: University of Utah

Medical School: University of Ioannina Medical School

Mathew Padanilam, MD

Residency: University of Chicago

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Katelyn Rennyson, MD

Residency: Duke

Medical School: Georgetown University

Jameson Wilbur, MD

Residency: University of Texas Southwestern

Medical School: Ohio State University

Dylan Zerjav, MD

Residency: Johns Hopkins

Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Adult Congenital Cardiology Fellow:

Duke 2026 Incoming ACHD Fellows

Annirudh Balachandran, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: McGovern Medical School, UT Houston

Medical School: Tufts University

Advanced Heart Failure Fellows:

Duke 2026 Incoming AHFTC Fellows

Seamus Hughes, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: UT Southwestern

Medical School: Johns Hopkins

Paula Rambarat, MD

Current Fellowship: Duke Cardiovascular Disease Research Pathway

Residency: Mass General Hospital

Medical School: Columbia

Joshua Rushakoff, MD, MPP

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: Cedars Sinai

Medical School: UCSF

 

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellows:

Duke 2026 Incoming EP Fellows

Jawan Abdulrahim, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: Duke

Medical School: American University of Beirut

Damarcus Ingram, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: Duke

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Eric Xie, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: Johns Hopkins

Medical School: Johns Hopkins

Interventional Cardiology Fellows:

Duke 2026 Incoming ICC Fellows

Medha Biswas, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Residency: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

Medical School: New York Medical College

Jonathan Hanna, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: Yale School of Medicine/Yale New Haven Hospital

Medical School: Yale School of Medicine

Husam Salah, MD

Cardiology Fellowship: Duke

Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Medical School: Jordan Univ. of Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine

 

Congratulations to all! We look forward to welcoming all those who are new to Duke in July.

 

Research Funding Award Notifications August – November

The following research funding was awarded to cardiology faculty members from August through November 2025 as reported by the Duke Department of Medicine.

(August)

Sponsored Research

• Adam Devore received an award (4UH3-HL173571-02) from the National Institutes of Health for a project entitled “1/2 Spironolactone Initiation Registry Randomized Interventional Trial in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Extension Trial.” Total funding will be $1,813,726.
• Senthil Selvaraj received an award (1R03-HL180898-01) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for a project entitled “Probing Regional Metabolism During Exercise through Coronary Sinus Sampling.” Total funding will be $242,250.

Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials

• Anna Lisa Chamis received an award from Edwards Lifesciences, LLC for a project entitled “FY26 – Advanced Training in Cardiology Fellowship Grant.” Total funding will be $25,000.
• Donald Hegland received an award from Boston Scientific Corporation for a project entitled “FY 26 – Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Grant.” Total funding will be $20,000.
• Neha Pagidipati received an award from American Heart Association for a project entitled “AHA HLBW.” Total funding will be $1,090,000.
• Neha Pagidipati received an award from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a project entitled “Implementing a Solution for chronic Kidney Disease.” Total funding will be $64,700.
• Jonathan Piccini received an award from the American Heart Association for a project entitled “GWTG Clinical Insights.” Total funding will be $2,303,127.
• Jonathan Piccini received an award from the American Heart Association for a project entitled “GWTG Inpatient Data Analysis Center.” Total funding will be $1,678,468.

(October 2025)

Sponsored Research

• Senthil Selvaraj received an award from the Medical College of Virginia Foundation for a project entitled “Diversifying Recruitment to Improve Generalizability of Therapeutic Ketosis Strategies in Heart Failure.” Total funding will be $240,000.

Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials

• James Daubert received an award from Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a project entitled “A Phase 2 Double-Blind, Repeat-Dose, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study To Evaluate The Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of CRD-4730 in Participants With Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia.” Total funding will be $119,754.
• Daniel Friedman received an award from Medtronic, Inc. for a project entitled “TRANSvENous Diaphragmatic Pacing for Heart Failure:(TRANSCEND-HF).” Total funding will be $49,328.
• Marat Fudim received an award from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for a project entitled “A Phase 2A, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Multi-center Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of BMS-986435/MYK-224 in Participants with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction HFpEF.” Total funding will be $175,393.
• Donald Hegland received an award from Medtronic, Inc. for a project entitled “FY26 – Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Grant.” Total funding will be $20,000.
• Michel Khouri received an award from Eidos Therapeutics for a project entitled “A Phase 3, Open-Label, Multicenter, Extension Study of Acoramidis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Variant Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.” Total funding will be $324,004.
• Sudarshan Rajagopal received an award from United Therapeutics Corporation for a project entitled “X-TRIPP UT PH ILD and XeMRI MutiSite study Pro00118547 Assessing Acute Pharmacodynamics and Long-Term Response to Inhaled Prostacyclin with Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI in patients with PH-ILD.” Total funding will be $561,882.
• Nishant Shah received an award from Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. for a project entitled “Study of the Prevalence of Endogenous Hypercortisolism in Patients with Resistant Hypertension (MOMENTUM).” Total funding will be $118,125.

(November 2025)

Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials

• Terry Fortin received an award from Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC for a project entitled “SOTERIA Cont MK-7962-038 An Open-label Long-term Follow-up Study to Evaluate the Effects of Sotatercept When Added to Background Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Therapy for the Treatment of PAH (MK-7962-038).” Total funding will be $559,070.
• Marat Fudim received an award from 35Pharma Inc. for a project entitled “DCA08 HS235-003.” Total funding will be $540,799.
• Michel Khouri received a sub-award through Yale University for a project entitled “The Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Early Detection with Artificial Intelligence (TRACE-AI) Network Study.” Total funding will be $288,701.
• Sudarshan Rajagopal received an award from Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC for a project entitled “HARMONIZE- A Phase 2, Multicenter, Double-blind, Extension Study to Evaluate the Effects of Sotatercept for the Treatment of Combined Postcapillary and Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension (Cpc-PH) due to Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection.” Total funding will be $260,524.

Congratulations to all — excellent work!

 

DUHS Leadership Update

Marino to Join Duke Health as Chair, Dept of Pediatrics

In a joint announcement on Friday, Dec. 19, Mary E. Klotman, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, and Thomas Owens, MD, EVP and Chief Operating Officer for DUHS announced that Bradley S. Marino, MD, MPP, MSCE, MBA, will join Duke Health as chair of the Department of Pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief of Duke Health, effective March 30, 2026.

Marino is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cardiology and critical care medicine with a distinguished record of advancing clinical care, research, and education. In his new role, he will lead the Department of Pediatrics across its many divisions and guide one of the nation’s most respected pediatric health systems. He will also play a key part in shaping the future of North Carolina Children’s, Duke Health’s partnership with UNC Health to build the state’s first freestanding children’s hospital.

Most recently, Marino has served as the Ronald and Helen Ross Distinguished Chair of Pediatric Cardiology, chair of the Department of Heart, Vascular & Thoracic, division chief of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, and executive co-director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Center at Cleveland Clinic Children’s and Cleveland Clinic. He also chaired the Children’s Institute Strategic Advisory Council and served as vice-chief for the Children’s Institute South Sub-market, where he led rapid expansion of pediatric services. In addition, he served as the co-director of the Cardiovascular Innovation Center for Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Research and executive co-director of the Neurodevelopmental Support Program at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation. His distinguished career spans additional leadership roles at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and extends nationally through roles with the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and multiple collaborative networks dedicated to improving pediatric cardiovascular care.

Marino is a leading pediatric cardiovascular outcomes researcher whose work has significantly advanced care for children with congenital heart disease. His research focuses on surgical and ICU factors affecting mortality and morbidity, as well as neurodevelopmental, psychosocial, and quality-of-life outcomes in high-risk pediatric populations. Dr. Marino is also widely respected for his contributions to national policy and advocacy efforts, as well as his commitment to mentorship and faculty development.

Our deepest gratitude to Ann M. Reed, MD, for more than a decade of exceptional leadership as chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Her tenure elevated Duke to national prominence in pediatric research and clinical care. Special thanks to Moira Rynn, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the members of the search committee for their thoughtful work in conducting a national search to identify Dr. Reed’s successor.

Finally, we want to acknowledge Kyle Rehder, MD, who will serve as interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics beginning January 1, 2026, ensuring continuity and stability during this transition.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Marino to Duke Health. We are confident that Dr. Marino’s leadership will inspire innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care for children and families for years to come.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Dec. 23: No CGR – Happy Holidays!

Dec. 30: No CGR – Happy Holidays!

Jan. 13: Topic TBD with Daniel Loriaux, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Jan. 7: DCRI Info Session with Sana Al-Khatib and Neha Pagidipati. Noon, DMP 7E39 or via Zoom.

Jan. 9: Fellows Forum with Anthony Lin. Noon, Zoom only.

Jan. 14: DHP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 16: EP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad and Jon Taylor-Fishwick. Noon, Zoom only.

Jan. 21: HF/Transplant Case Presentation with Nishkala Shivakumar. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 23: Topic and speaker to be announced. Noon, Zoom only.

Jan. 28: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 30: DHP Case Presentation with Jon Taylor-Fishwick. Noon, Zoom only.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

Jan. 8: Right Heart Guidelines with Fawaz Alenezi

Jan. 15: Tricuspid Valve Pre-interventional Image Screening with Fawaz Alenezi

Jan. 22: Multi-Modality Imaging on Pericardial Disease with Cosette Champion

Jan. 29: NO CONFERENCE

 

Medicine Grand Rounds

Jan. 30: Quality and Safety at Duke: The Integral Role of the Department of Medicine with Drs. Mike Pignone and Rick Shannon. 8 a.m. Trent Semans Great Hall.

 

DCRI 30^th Anniversary Forum Series

Jan. 27: A Fireside Chat with Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, 18th Director, National Institutes of Health.  2 p.m., Zoom.

Bhattacharya will share insights on the NIH’s priorities for the nation’s healthcare and research initiatives as part of this fireside chat, which will be held virtually.

 

MLK Jr. Commemoration, Jan. 13

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service, community, and leadership will be honored on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 11:30-1:30 in the Trent Semans Great Hall. The program will feature Keynote Speaker Marissa Young, Duke Head Softball Coach, plus lunch, and the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award to outstanding team members who were nominated.

Registration is required to attend in person. Deadline is January 6, 2026. Space is limited.

You can join the celebration online, however! The option to tune in to the commemoration will be available for those who cannot attend in person. Feel free to host a watch party with your team or watch the keynote during your break. Click here to launch the live stream online.

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

2026 Duke Heart CMEs

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• June 6: Duke Heart Failure Symposium — Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
• 30: 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

December 12: Monique Starks
WRAL (Raleigh-Durham)
NC State students have developed drones to help save lives

December 15: Pamela Douglas
Becker’s ASC Review
5 cardiology leaders to watch in 2026

December 16: Joseph Turek
Diario ABC
Mariami, la primera bebé en España que recibe un trasplante parcial de corazón

 

Highlights of the week:

Happy Hannukah

To all those celebrating the holiday, may your home and this season be filled with light, love, and joy this Hanukkah.

 

 

 

 

Extraordinary Teamwork in Cath Lab

A big shout-out to Dan Loriaux, MD, and our incredible colleagues from across multiple areas who worked together to support a particularly challenging case in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory last week.

“This was a truly inter-departmental collaboration and awe-inspiring to me,” said interventional cardiologist Schuyler Jones, MD, professor of medicine in cardiology.

A patient was experiencing a massive pulmonary embolism and required assistance — multiple options were discussed, but the ultimate decision was to pursue mechanical thrombectomy. Loriaux worked with clinician leaders in Pulmonary Vascular Medicine, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Neonatology, ECMO/7West, and MICU to bring the patient to the lab, cannulate for ECMO, and remove thrombotic debris from the patient’s lungs. During the case the teams worked through some incredible physiology to support the patient, Jones added.

“Tremendous work by the entire team on this case,” said Jeff Keenan, MD, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical director of Duke’s Mechanical Circulatory Support Program. “Dan has already had a big impact on our ECMO program, and I expect that impact will only grow further with time.”

Excellent teamwork!

 

Patel Speaks at Novartis Groundbreaking

Manesh Patel, MD, chief of cardiology and vice president of Duke Heart and Vascular, was an invited speaker this week at the ceremonial groundbreaking of what will become a flagship manufacturing hub for Novartis in Durham and Wake counties. The event was held in Research Triangle Park on Thursday, Dec. 11.

The groundbreaking heralds a major expansion of production capabilities for Novartis. It is part of a $771 million investment in the region and is expected to support more than 700 new jobs in North Carolina, where Novartis has operated for more than twenty years. The expansion includes new construction and renovations across multiple sites in RTP, nearly doubling the company’s operational footprint to more than 700,000 square feet.

In addition to Patel, speakers included Victor Bulto, president of Novartis in the U.S.; Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis; Steffan Lang, president of operations for Novartis; Ralf Heckner, the Swiss ambassador to the U.S., FDA Commissioner Marty Mckary, MD and NC governor, Josh Stein.

A video of all spoken remarks can be found in WRAL’s news coverage of the event here. It is also located below, under News.

Great job, Manesh!

 

Passing of Duke Health Affiliations Colleague, Lori Bray

We were saddened to learn of the passing of our colleague, Lori Bray, of Duke Health Affiliations and Networks, on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Lori’s career at Duke spanned more than 20 years, marked by her unwavering commitment to extending the expertise of Duke Health to patients and communities. She began her journey with the Private Diagnostic Clinic, where she held numerous leadership roles before joining Duke Health Affiliations & Networks (formerly Network Services) in 2016 as Senior Director of Hospital Affiliations and Network Development. In 2022, Lori transitioned to the newly developed Affiliate Provider Relations leadership role, continuing her work to strengthen connections between Duke providers and affiliate sites until stepping down earlier this year to focus on her health and family.

Lori was known for her analytical mind, calm leadership, and can-do spirit. She approached challenges with a restorative, data-driven mindset, and an ability to see patterns that led to solutions. Her colleagues admired her steadfast presence, her remarkable and contagious laugh, and her gift for bringing perspective and humor to even the most complex situations. Lori’s influence lives on through the many initiatives she led and the countless relationships she nurtured throughout Duke Health.

A memorial service was held yesterday, Dec. 13, at Triangle Grace Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made in Lori’s memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org) and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (foodbankcenc.org).

Please join us in keeping Lori’s family and her closest colleagues and friends in your thoughts and honoring her legacy of leadership, grace, and compassion.

 

MLK Jr. Commemoration, Jan. 13

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service, community, and leadership will be honored on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 11:30-1:30 in the Trent Semans Great Hall. The program will feature Keynote Speaker Marissa Young, Duke Head Softball Coach, plus lunch, and the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award to outstanding team members who were nominated.

Registration is required to attend in person. Deadline is January 6, 2026. Space is limited.

You can join the celebration online, however!

The option to tune in to the commemoration is also available for those who cannot attend in person! Feel free to host a watch party with your team or watch the keynote during your break. Click here to launch the live stream online.

 

30 Years of DCRI – Anniversary Forum Series

Duke Clinical Research Institute will host National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, on Jan. 27, 2026 as the opening event of the DCRI 30th Anniversary Forum series.

The series is part of a year-long celebration beginning in 2026, honoring the DCRI’s three decades of innovation in clinical research and catalyzing the future of healthcare. Bhattacharya will share insights on the NIH’s priorities for the nation’s healthcare and research initiatives as part of this fireside chat, which will be held via Zoom.

What: DCRI 30th Anniversary Forum: A Fireside Chat with Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PHD, 18th Director, National Institutes of Health

When: 2-3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

Where: Zoom (Link to come)

Please save the date and join if you are able!

Duke Health Quality and Safety Conference Call for Abstracts

The Duke Health Quality and Safety Conference has issued a call for abstracts. They are due by Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. Information and abstract guidelines available here.

Contact aaron.west@duke.edu or kyle.rehder@duke.edu with any questions.

 

Complimentary Holiday Meal at DUH, Dec. 25

During this season of gratitude, we extend sincere appreciation for the teams who make Duke University Hospital (DUH) such a special place to work and receive care. Anyone working on the DUH campus on Thurs., Dec. 25 is invited to enjoy a complimentary holiday meal at Duke North Atrium Café to celebrate the season.

Times: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 6 – 9 p.m., based on CSU

ORA Holiday Hours

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) will operate with reduced staff during the holidays. For transactions with sponsor due dates between December 22 and January 2, submit form to ORA by Monday, December 15. NOTE: The standard due date for NIH SBIR/STTR (R43/R44) is January 5, so the submission deadline to NIH is Monday, January 5, 2026 with the internal deadline at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Please complete Intent to Submit no later than December 1, 2025 and route a submission-ready application no later than December 15, 2025.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Dec. 16: Remodeling the Nerve-Heart Interface: Translating Neurobiology to Antiarrhythmic Therapy with Ching Zhu, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom. 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Medicine Grand Rounds

Jan. 30: Quality and Safety at Duke: The Integral Role of the Department of Medicine with Drs. Mike Pignone and Rick Shannon. 8 a.m. Trent Semans Great Hall.

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

2026 Duke Heart CMEs

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

Duke Heart in the News: 

December 5 — Mitchell Krucoff

tctMD

News  Daily News

FDA Panel Declines to Endorse Ventura Interatrial Shunt for HFrEF

December 7 — DUHS

WTVD – ABC 11 (Durham, NC)

Three Area Employers join Forbes Dream Employers List

December 10 — Joseph Turek

Popular Science

The 50 greatest innovations of 2025

December 10 — Robert Mentz

Cardiovascular Business

A common word may be giving heart patients the wrong idea

December 11 — Duke Health/Donavon Harbison

Men’s Health

I Survived a Rapidly Failing Heart. My Lifesaver: A Titanium Ticker.

December 11 — Duke Heart Network/Frye Regional

WHKY (Hickory, NC)

Local Hospital Reaches Heart Care Milestone

December 11 — Manesh Patel

WRAL (Raleigh/Durham, NC)

Novartis expansion shows commitment to talent in North Carolina

(Patel’s remarks begin at 12:48 in video)

Chief’s message:  Holiday Season and Big Sports Weekend

Duke had a great sports week this week.  We saw the basketball team win an competitive and big game Tuesday night against Florida with a late three. (Picture to the right). The team then showed some composure late with a great road win against Michigan State yesterday.  Even more exciting and potentially unexpected – the Blue Devils football team won the ACC with an OT win against Virginia yesterday.  Great to see the teams do well and all the support from the fans in the area.

Duke Heart has also had some busy weeks to end the year with some final year end conferences – CVCT this week on clinical trials.  We are also having our leadership group meet this week for a research retreat where we work on our research strategic plan.  We are aligning our research work more tightly to our clinical missions to ensure we can build programs that are multi-disciplinary, self-sustaining, and eventually help us differentiate our care.  We will share the outcomes of this work with our group and thank those engaged in it.

Highlights of the week:

Celebrating Duke Heart & Vascular

You will see fresh messaging throughout our Heart & Vascular units in Duke University Hospital, the Duke Medicine Pavilion, and Duke Clinics this week.

On Friday, we installed new wall clings in hallways and staff work areas in recognition of the excellent work our teams are doing each day. We hope you enjoy them!

 

Why Do You Study That? How to Heal a Broken Heart featuring Nenad Bursac

Duke Today featured the work of Nenad Bursac this week as part of their series, Why Do You Study That?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the world, and damage to the heart is hard to repair – often requiring surgery. But what if other treatments like gene therapy could offer new, less invasive approaches to heart care?

That is why Duke biomedical engineer Nenad Bursac is growing beating human heart tissue in a lab: to test these therapies. Using these patches of heart tissue as testbeds, his lab and collaborators can experiment. For example, the lab is testing a gene therapy that repairs heart tissue damaged from heart attacks. The effort has recently demonstrated positive results in nonhuman primates.

With funding from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health, Bursac has been able to realize a lifelong goal: combining engineering with medicine to push innovation in heart care. The U.S., he says, is a unique place that attracts researchers from around the world like himself.

Working together and federal funding is critical to supporting continued improvements to health and wellness for America and the world. Check out the video here: Engineering Heart Tissue.

 

First Cardiac NICU opens at DUH

Congratulations to our pediatric cardiology colleagues! This week, Duke University Hospital opened a Cardiac NICU – the first of its kind in the state. This dedicated space is staffed with cardiac-trained nurses and supported by providers from Cardiology, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) and Neonatology for coordinated, specialized care for our cardiac patients.

A shout-out to the entire Duke Children’s team and to Kelly Ellington, Dr. Lakshami Katakam and Dr. Kevin Hill for recognizing the need and advancing the work to bring the vision to life. Great work!

 

Ginsburg, All of Us Research Program Update

Congratulations to Geoff Ginsburg, MD, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer for the All of Us research program at the NIH, and adjunct professor of medicine in cardiology at Duke. Ginsburg gave the opening plenary lecture on Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) 2025 Annual Meeting, held Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

His lecture, The All of Us Research Program: Advancing Precision Medicine for the Nation, was covered in the conference’s Daily Bulletin.

Keep up the great work, Geoff!

 

ORA Announces Holiday Hours

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) will operate with reduced staff during the holidays. For transactions with sponsor due dates between December 22 and January 2, submit form to ORA by Monday, December 15. NOTE: The standard due date for NIH SBIR/STTR (R43/R44) is January 5, so the submission deadline to NIH is Monday, January 5, 2026 with the internal deadline at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Please complete Intent to Submit no later than December 1, 2025 and route a submission-ready application no later than December 15, 2025.

 

Visitor Guidelines For Inpatient Areas

Please remember, all visitors of inpatient units, surgical areas, and the Emergency Department (ED) must obtain and wear a visitor badge. This also applies to Duke team members who are not assigned to these areas and are present solely to visit a patient. Inpatient and ED units follow similar standards; coordinate with patient information services in these areas to receive your visitor badge.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Dec. 9: ValvEmergencies: Valve Disease and Cardiogenic Shock with Zach Wegermann, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

Dec. 16: Remodeling the Nerve-Heart Interface: Translating Neurobiology to Antiarrhythmic Therapy with Ching Zhu, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom.        

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Medicine Grand Rounds

Jan. 30: Quality and Safety at Duke: The Integral Role of the Department of Medicine with Drs. Mike Pignone and Rick Shannon. 8 a.m. Trent Semans Great Hall.

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

2026 Duke Heart CMEs

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

November 26 — Kevin Thomas

Cardiovascular Business

Is the field of cardiology empowering or stifling? Cardiologists share their perspective

November 28 — Monique Starks

VICE

This Town Is Testing Drone-Delivered Defibrillators. Will It Work?

November 28 — Monique Starks

News Now Chicago

Drone-Delivered Defibrillators Launch in Clemmons, NC: Life-Saving Innovation

November 30 — Monique Starks

The Charlotte Observer

Drones become 911 first responder partner in Forsyth County

December 2 — Duke University & DUHS

Here Rock Hill

Forbes Names 25 North Carolina Companies as Top Employers

December 2 — Marat Fudim

tctMD

Rising HF Burden in the US Potentially Related to Changes in Cardiometabolic Factors

December 3 — Elisabetta Politi

Everyday Health

Cutting Too Many Carbs Could Put Heart Health at Risk

December 3 — Douglas Overbey

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

This high-risk surgery gave their daughter a chance. They found it in Fort Worth

December 4 — Mitchell Krucoff

Medpage Today

FDA Panel on Interatrial Shunt for Heart Failure: It’s a Hard No

December 4 — Monique Starks

Healio/Cardiology Today

Testing of drones with automated external defibrillators to treat cardiac arrest underway

December 5 — Mitchell Krucoff

MedTech Dive

FDA advisory panel votes unanimously against J&J heart shunt

Chief’s message: Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season 

Thanks to all the faculty, nursing teams, clinical staff, residents, and fellows that were helping care for our patients over the Holiday week.  I know there were several groups working to care for large numbers of patients and areas where we needed everyone to help use care for our community through the break.  Additionally, we hope you all got some time for reflection, time with family and loved ones.  The break is often characterized for food and football in many homes.  Duke Football had a big win vs. Wake Forrest with losses by both SMU and Pitt sending them to the ACC championship next weekend in Charlotte.  Some images from before the game included.  Hopefully we one more win and some timely losses by other teams like James Madison – Duke might have a long-shot to get to the College Football Playoff – which would be quite an ending to the year.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be both celebrating our teams and the hard work over a tumultuous year, and preparing and planning for how we will respond to the important calls for improved health and reduced cost of care for our communities while we continue our mission to discover and train the next generation.

Highlights of the week:

Food Drive Yields Over 100lbs in Donations

Congratulations to the Karra Lab and the Cardiovascular Research Center! Their food drive collected more than 100 pounds of food to support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Thank you to everyone who supported and donated to this effort – your contributions will make the holidays a bit easier for many families throughout our community. A hat tip to Lauren Parker for coordinating the drive and for getting the donations delivered to the food bank.

Way to go! Your generosity was a terrific way to kick off the holiday season!

 

DUH, DRH Earn Meritorious Surgical Outcomes Designation

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has recognized Duke University Hospital (DUH) and Duke Regional Hospital (DRH) for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2024. This is the ninth consecutive year in which DUH has achieved meritorious outcomes and the second year for DRH.

The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a meritorious composite score in either an “All Cases” category or a “High Risk” category which includes only higher-risk cases. This year, the ACS NSQIP recognized 76 out of an eligible 609 hospitals as achieving “Meritorious” for their quality scores.

Each composite quality score was determined through a different weighted formula combining outcomes in the following eight clinical areas: 

• Mortality
• Cardiac: cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction
• Pneumonia
• Unplanned Intubation
• Ventilator > 48 hours
• Renal Failure
• Surgical Site Infection (SSI): superficial incisional SSI, deep incisional SSI, and organ/space SSI
• Urinary Tract Infection

To be eligible for either list category, the hospital must have submitted at least one case in each of the 2022, 2023, and 2024 calendar years, though only performance in calendar year 2024 was evaluated for the 2024 Meritorious lists. Of the 656 NSQIP hospitals participating in 2024, 609 met the three-year criteria to be eligible for Meritorious consideration.

The 76 hospitals achieved the distinction based on an outstanding composite quality score on one or both of the grouping categories (All Cases and High Risk). Sixty hospitals were recognized on the “All Cases” list and 60 hospitals were recognized on the “High Risk” list; the 60 hospitals represent approximately ten percent of the 609 ACS NSQIP-eligible hospitals. Forty-three hospitals are recognized on both the “All Cases” and “High Risk” lists, 16 other hospitals are on just the “All Cases” list, and 17 other hospitals are on the “High Risk” list only, totaling 76 hospitals being recognized as Meritorious.

“To be recognized by ACS NSQIP for nearly a decade as having meritorious surgical outcomes is a testament to a hospital-wide commitment to providing the highest standard of care for our surgical patients, especially while facing increasingly difficult challenges,” says Keri A. Seymour, DO, Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief Quality Officer for the Department of Surgery. “I am incredibly proud of our teams who continue to go above and beyond to ensure that our surgical patients are receiving excellent quality care.”

The full press release detailing the process for Meritorious designation, and the list of hospitals recognized as such, is available on the ACS website.

Congratulations to all team members!

 

DUHS Leadership Updates

Mathis-Harris Named CNO, PCO for Duke Health Lake Norman

On Monday, Nov. 24, Kristie Barazsu, president and COO of Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital (DHLN) and Terry McDonnell, chief nurse executive of DUHS, jointly announced that Miranda Mathis-Harris, BSN, RN, MBA, CNML, has been named the Chief Nursing Officer and Patient Care Officer for Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital. Miranda has served in this role on an interim basis, where she has provided steady, thoughtful leadership.

Miranda has dedicated more than thirty years to Duke Health. Since beginning her career in 1989 as a Clinical Nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Duke University Hospital, she has taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including Senior Director of Nursing for Patient Flow & Transfer Center, Life Flight, and Emergency Department.

As Chief Nursing and Patient Care Officer, Miranda will serve as a key member of the hospital’s leadership team as a leader who brings sincerity, fairness, and a clear commitment to her teams and to the patients we serve.

Congratulations, Miranda!

 

Flanagan Named AVP, Patient Flow & Care Coordination, DUHS

Barazsu and McDonnell also announced this week that Katie Flanagan has been named Associate Vice President, Patient Flow and Care Coordination for Duke University Health System, effective November 10.

As Duke Health continues to advance system-wide coordination and improve care across all settings, ensuring strong and seamless patient flow is essential. This work is critical to supporting timely access to care, removing barriers, and improving the overall patient and provider experience. Katie is the right leader to guide this effort during a period of significant system transformation. She will also maintain her current responsibilities overseeing the DUHS Case Management team. 

Katie had been serving as Assistant Vice President for Care Coordination for Duke University Health System, and has been instrumental in strengthening care management processes, enhancing cross-campus collaboration, and developing approaches that improve transitions of care and operational efficiency.

In her new role, Katie will lead a newly designed health system structure and team accountable for the strategic and operational oversight of patient flow and the Transfer Center. She will drive key priorities designed to align system capabilities, improve transparency, and support coordination across hospitals and ambulatory settings.

Katie will serve in a dyad partnership with Neel Kapadia, MD, who will join her in leading clinical strategy and physician engagement to advance patient flow across the continuum.

Congratulations, Katie!

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Nov. 25: No CGR/holiday.

Dec. 2: What’s Hot (or Not) Now in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Andrew Wang, MD. 5 p.m. DN 2002 and via Zoom.

Dec. 9: TBD with Zach Wegermann, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

Dec. 16: Remodeling the Nerve-Heart Interface: Translating Neurobiology to Antiarrhythmic Therapy with Ching Zhu, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Dec. 3: Match Day Review with Anna Lisa Chamis. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 5: SVT with Jon Piccini. Noon. Zoom only.

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom. 

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

2026 Duke Heart CMEs

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

 

• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

November 21 — Monique Starks

Government Technology

Which city is the first in the U.S. to send drones with defibrillators on 911 calls?

November 21 — Nishant Shah

WRAL (Raleigh, NC)

New studies offer insight into reducing heart disease risk

November 21 — Monique Starks

Axios Raleigh

A North Carolina 911 experiment sends defibrillators by drone

November 21 — Monique Starks

LinkedIn.com/Tech Future by Chuck Martin

Drones Deliver Defibrillators in North Carolina 911 Trial

November 21 — Monique Starks

WUNC-FM

Test project promises to bring medical help from the skies

November 22 — Monique Starks

13 News Now (Norfolk, VA)

Drones now delivering AEDs during 911 calls in James City County and Forsyth County

November 23 — Monique Starks/Duke Health

WXII-TV (Winston Salem, NC)

Medical drones tested in Forsyth County

November 24 — Duke Health/DCRI

La Razon (Spain)

Drones con desfibriladores: la innovación médica que ya salva vidas en EE UU

November 25 — Monique Starks

Emergency Management

N.C. County Tests Drones With AEDs for Cardiac Arrest Calls

Chief’s message: Gratitude and Community

Dear Duke Heart community, this time of year allows for some reflection and certainly some continued work on our hope to improve the lives and health of our community.  I wanted to send a note before this thanksgiving break extending our sincere gratitude for the entire Duke team – including our staff, faculty, residents, fellows, nurses, researchers, Heart Center leadership council, all of our ambassadors, supporters, and most importantly our patients who allow us the privilege of caring for them.  As the complexity of healthcare and research increases at Academic Medical Centers, we can sometimes lose site of the immense opportunity and privilege we have in working as part of our cardiovascular team.  Everyday, as we work in the clinics, hospitals, research labs, we see the continued dedication and effort.  I am grateful for the tremendous resilience, grit, and spirit of the cardiovascular team and focus on the mission of improving health outcomes, and making the journey of health care better for our patients and teams while we develop a sustainable model to continue to do research and make meaningful discoveries. Perhaps most gratifying is the opportunity to be part of this Duke Heart community and the ability to live a life of purpose and service.  We want to specifically, thank those of you who will be working over the holiday times to ensure we continue to care for our patients.  Hopefully, all of you will get some time with family and friends over the upcoming thanksgiving holiday or weeks to come.

We were personally lucky to get to travel to Spartanburg South Carolina this weekend to see the Division 3 Cross Country National Championship races.  Pictured is our son, Sanju, who is a junior at UChicago, part of the men’s team that finished 12th overall.  He placed high enough to win All-American honors – something he has been striving for several years. We were blessed to be present for the race.  I believe the team will be shaving the mustache’s for the holidays but that is yet to be seen.

 

 

 

Highlights of the week:

First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Study Launched; Drones Now Delivering AEDs During 911 Calls

Every minute counts when someone’s heart stops. In the U.S., more than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest each year, and fewer than 10% survive. Most of these emergencies happen at home, far from lifesaving equipment.

Now, for the first time in the United States, a coalition of researchers, public safety agencies, and community partners – led by Duke Health and coordinated through the Duke Clinical Research Institute – is testing a new way to save lives.

Drones carrying automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being dispatched during real 911 calls in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The effort is part of a clinical trial that aims to see if drones can deliver AEDs to patients faster than traditional emergency services.

“This study represents a major step forward in how we respond to cardiac arrest in the United States,” said Monique Starks, MD, principal investigator and associate professor of medicine in cardiology at Duke. “By integrating drone technology into emergency care, we’re working to close the critical gap between cardiac arrest and treatment, and that has the potential to save thousands of lives.”

According to previous research, if an AED can be used within 2 to 3 minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates can jump to 70%. But EMS often takes 8 to 10 minutes to arrive. That’s where drones come in.

The study is happening in Clemmons, NC, where the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was already using drone technology as part of its law enforcement operations.

When a 911 call comes in for cardiac arrest in Clemmons, a drone carrying an AED is launched immediately. At the same time, the standard of care is still in place and EMS is also deployed.

The 911 dispatcher coordinates with a drone pilot who launches the drone to fly autonomously to the location of the cardiac arrest. The drone flies at 200 feet, lowers to 100 feet, and winches the AED safely to the ground. The 911 dispatcher then guides the bystander on getting and using the device.

“Launching drone-delivered AEDs is a promise to our citizens that their safety and quality of life are paramount,” said Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, Jr. “When seconds matter, this technology gives us the ability to reach people in need faster than ever before. It’s about saving lives, building trust, and showing our community that we will always lead with care and commitment.”

The research team hopes to reduce AED delivery time to under five minutes for more than half the population in the study area. The trial also includes James City County, Virginia.

The work is supported by the American Heart Association and involves more than a dozen partners, including University of Washington, Hovecon Consulting, Emory University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and University of Toronto.

“This project is laying the groundwork for what we hope will become a large, multi-center randomized clinical trial,” said Joseph Ornato, MD, co-principal investigator on the study and professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. “That future research will help us understand critical questions about how well this works, what it costs, and how we can get AEDs to people as quickly as possible whether they live in a city or rural community.”

“Forsyth County Fire/EMS 911 is proud to partner with Duke Health and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in this groundbreaking drone AED project, which has the potential to save lives by delivering critical care faster than ever before,” said James Fore, director of Forsyth County 911 Fire/EMS. “By integrating this technology into our emergency response system, we are strengthening our ability to serve the community when every second counts.”

“Our teams have worked tirelessly to set a new standard in cardiac arrest care by integrating drone delivery of AEDs during 911 calls,” said Stephen Powell, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and member of the study team. “This collaboration between telecommunicators and drone pilots—built through extensive planning and drills—aims to save precious minutes and, ultimately, lives. It’s incredible to see what’s possible when dedicated people come together for a single purpose.”

“While much of the excitement around drone delivery has centered on faster packages and e-commerce convenience, today marks a pivotal shift,” said Basil Yap, vice president of Hovecon. “This program is about life-saving deliveries of critical medical equipment in the form of AEDs, and we have achieved that only by making rigorous safety and full regulatory compliance the foundation of everything we do.”

“Drones can meaningfully shorten the most critical moments between collapse and care,” said Betsy Sink, battalion chief at James City County Emergency Medical Services. “They won’t replace traditional response systems, but they can strengthen them by placing lifesaving equipment in the hands of bystanders when it matters most. This project allows us to better understand how far this innovation can go in improving survival and will shape the future of emergency medicine.”

“We’re excited about the potential drones bring to public safety,” said Sgt. Tiara Suggs, specialized response team commander with the James City County Police Department. “Whether it’s delivering AEDs, locating missing persons, or getting eyes on a scene faster than we ever could before, drones help us respond smarter and faster. In rural areas especially, where access can be limited, they’re a force multiplier that’s helping us save lives and protect our communities in ways we couldn’t just a few years ago.”

(Media coverage appears below)

 

Applefield Selected for 2026 ACC Emerging Faculty Academy

Congratulations to Willard Applefield, MD! We learned this week that he has been selected for the 2026 American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) Rick Nishimura, MD, MACC and Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, MACC Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy.

The program is designed to develop early career faculty in cardiology who have shown promise as educators. It aims to enhance participants’ skills as ACC educators and prepare them for leadership roles within the ACC organization.

Well-deserved, Willard!

 

 

 

Visiting Scholar Wraps Up Time with Duke Heart Team

We are pleased to have recently welcomed Diego Diaz, MD, of Colombia, South America, to Duke Heart and Vascular Services. Diaz practices electrophysiology and heart failure, and was here to spend some time rounding with and interacting with our team. Diaz arrived at Duke on November 10^th for a two-week visit. He is shown here with Marat Fudim, MD.

His visit is part of a long-standing relationship via Alex Barbagelata, MD, adjunct professor in the Duke Department of Medicine, who helps facilitate our annual hosting of physicians from South America.

We enjoyed having Diego with us!

 

 

Clarivate’s Most Highly Cited Researchers 2025

Thirty-one researchers from across Duke are named to Clarivate’s Most Highly Cited Researchers list for 2025. Of the 31, four are faculty members within the Duke Heart & Vascular team. Those making the list rank in the top 1 percent of their field for publication citations.

Congratulations to Chris Granger, Adrian Hernandez, Renato Lopes, and Bill Kraus!

For the full Duke Today article, please visit https://today.duke.edu/2025/11/duke-scholars-featured-highly-cited-researchers-2025-list.

 

Cardiology APPs Gather

Our cardiology APP team held a social event for cardiology ambulatory APPs, nurses, and Heart Center staff to meet new people and foster enhanced working relationships across the disciplines. The team gathering was held on Nov. 16 at Hi-Wire in Durham.

Hat tip to Julie Marshall, APP team lead, for sharing this photo with us!

 

DUH Serving Up Appreciation at Thanksgiving

We are deeply grateful for the incredible dedication of all our Duke University Hospital team members, and we are especially thankful for those who will be serving our patients and team members on Thanksgiving Day.

Your commitment ensures that our patients receive exceptional care every day of the year, and we couldn’t be more thankful for your service and compassion. To show our appreciation, Duke Hospital administration is offering a complimentary meal at the Atrium Café in Duke North for all staff working on Thanksgiving Day. Learn more about the schedule and meal options here.

 

Nov. 24: Clinical & Translational Research Town Hall

“Demystifying Clinical Research Administration” is the third installment of the School of Medicine’s research town hall series with the objective of engaging directly with research faculty on relevant and/or emerging research resources, services, and needs. This is intended to provide a forum for bi-directional discussion and will leverage case examples to highlight challenges and solutions to conducting research at Duke.

All clinical and translational researchers are invited to join the SOM on Monday, November 24, 4-5 pm for TED-style presentations followed by a 30-minute panel discussion including Q&A.

Please join us in person in the Trent Semans Great Hall or participate via Zoom (link available upon registration).

Event Details

Register

Please contact the SOM at somclinicalresearch@duke.edu if you have questions about the event. 

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Nov. 25: No CGR/holiday.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Nov. 26: No conference/holiday

Nov. 28: No conference/holiday

Dec. 3: Match Day Review with Anna Lisa Chamis. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 5: SVT with Jon Piccini. Noon. Zoom only.

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom.        

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

2026 Duke Heart CMEs Announced

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

November 17 — Manesh Patel

NBC News

New heart disease calculator predicts 30-year risk for young adults

November 18 — Manesh Patel

Hindustan Times

Can young adults be at risk of heart disease? Here’s what new calculator says

November 18 — Manesh Patel

La Opinion

Nueva calculadora de riesgo en línea puede predecir enfermedades cardíacas desde 30 años antes

November 19 — Manesh Patel

Medscape

Dual Antithrombotic Therapy: Is Shorter Better for Patients With AF Undergoing PCI?

November 19 — Monique Starks

Popular Science*

Drones are delivering life-saving defibrillators to 911 calls

*carried by Yahoo News and affiliates

November 19 — Monique Starks

WTVD

Duke Health, Forsyth County launch study, delivering AEDs by drone to cut cardiac arrest response times

November 19 — Monique Starks

Becker’s Hospital Review

Duke Health delivers AEDs by drone

November 19 — Monique Starks

Blue Ridge Public Radio

Drones set to deliver emergency AEDs in Forsyth County pilot study

November 19 — Monique Starks

WDC TV News (Washington DC)

Drones are delivering life-saving defibrillators to 911 calls

November 19 — Monique Starks

WFMY (Greensboro, NC)

AEDs to be dispatched by 911 to help save lives

November 19 — Monique Starks

Cardiovascular Business

Drones deliver AEDs for the first time in the United States

November 19 — Monique Starks

WRAL (Raleigh)

Duke Health program has drones delivering life-saving AEDs in North Carolina

November 21 — Monique Starks

Gizmodo

North Carolina Town First in U.S. to Deploy Defibrillator Drones During Actual 911 Emergencies

November 21 — Sana Al-Khatib

Healio/Cardiology Today

Shortened dual antithrombotic duration after PCI may be safe in patients with AF

Highlights of the week:

Fall HCLC Meeting Held

Our Heart Center Leadership Council held its Fall meeting on Friday, November 14 at the JB Duke Hotel and Conference Center. After a welcome from HCLC Chair Bob Keegan, the Council members heard updates from Drs. Manesh Patel and Carmelo Milano. Presenters included Dr. Chad Hughes of Duke Aortic Center and Dr. Joseph Turek from our pediatric heart team, who each spoke about innovations in cardiovascular surgery; Dr. Svati Shah, who presented on our research vision for cardiovascular care, and then from Drs. Manesh Patel and Sreekanth Vemulapalli, and Keegan, for a discussion about the importance of philanthropy and collaboration for driving innovation in the cardiovascular space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CT Cardiac Scoring Available at Multiple Duke Locations

Do you have patients in need of CT Cardiac Scoring (CT Calcium Scoring) to evaluate plaque in the heart vessels? Duke Health offers this at three convenient locations, including Duke Medical Pavilion via Hospital Imaging Services, at Duke Imaging Arringdon, and Duke Imaging Heritage for a patient self-pay rate of $150.00, which includes the exam, professional reading, and technical services.

To download a flyer, click here: MC-4081 CT Cardiac Scoring FlyerNoCrop  

If you have any questions, please reach out to Barbara Willis, BSN, RN, Imaging Physician Liaison.

 

NC/SC VAD Event Held

Ventricular Assist Device coordinators from throughout North and South Carolina came together last week in Raleigh for an event focused on best-practice sharing and community building. Although the groups have held numerous such events over the years, gathering slowed during COVID. This is the second regional event the group has hosted since the pandemic. Event planners were Duke’s Laura Blue along with Jen Hajj of the Medical University of South Carolina.

Team members from every VAD Center throughout the region were invited to attend, says Blue. “It’s a great outreach event that brings nurses and nurse practitioners, and coordinators together to collaborate, discuss the latest research, and to provide mutual support to one another over challenges that all VAD centers and providers face.”

She added that such collaborative efforts are a great way to network with teams at regional VAD Centers and to share best practices, and that it can help facilitate patient referrals.

The event was held at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Research Triangle Park on Friday, Nov. 7. Sponsors included Abbott and Acelis.

 

Respiratory Care Team Member Spotlight: Andrew Almond

Duke University Hospital Respiratory Care Clinical Team Lead Andrew Almond is featured this week in a team member spotlight on the Duke Health Careers website!

In his youth, Andrew had a personal diagnosis that sparked his passion for health care. It’s this calling to care – and a family history in the field – that eventually led him to Duke Health, where he’s found a rewarding career in respiratory care. Watch his story.

 

 

Respiratory Care Team Retirements

Our Respiratory Care Team is celebrating two retirements after many years of service at Duke:

Paul Robbins, Respiratory Care Services, Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner, 41 years of service

Congratulations to Paul Robbins on his retirement! For four decades, Paul was not only a compassionate caregiver, but a cornerstone of the Respiratory Care Services medical team. Throughout his career, including during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul didn’t just care for patients—he helped shape the future of Duke University Hospital.

His commitment extended far beyond his role in patient care. Paul served as an invaluable mentor, teaching countless respiratory therapists, medical doctors, advanced practice providers, and registered nurses the complexities of pulmonary medicine.

But perhaps most importantly, Paul exemplified the power of resilience. In the face of overwhelming circumstances—during COVID, flu seasons, and the uncharted territory of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape—Paul continued to model strength, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. By passing on his newfound knowledge, Paul ensured that our practices would continue to evolve, benefiting not only those who worked alongside him but also newer staff members who will carry his legacy forward.

Paul’s sharp wit and incredible depth of knowledge are unmatched — whether the topic is history, movies, books, cars, music, whiskey, or just about anything else. He has always been able to hold a great conversation with anyone, from all walks of life. His presence, his humor, and the conversations we’ve shared will be deeply missed. Thank you, Paul, for your impact on all of those you served and worked with at Duke.

 

Lloyd Freeman, Respiratory Care Services, Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner, 33 years of service

Congratulations, Lloyd, on your retirement! Lloyd has made a lasting impact over his 33 years of service at Duke. He is deeply respected and appreciated by respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians, and staff across the hospital.

Lloyd has played a key role in teaching and mentoring new generations of clinicians, sharing not only his clinical expertise but also his calm, steady approach to patient care. His dedication to supporting others, fostering teamwork, and upholding high standards has shaped the culture of our department.

Colleagues will remember Lloyd for his kindness, his quiet confidence, and the way he made everyone around him feel supported. The impact he made isn’t just in the skills he taught—it’s in the way he made people feel valued and capable. Lloyd’s legacy will continue in the many clinicians he helped train and in the compassionate, patient-centered care he modeled every day. Thank you, Lloyd, for your dedication to your patients and colleagues at Duke!

Congratulations, Paul and Lloyd!

 

SURE Program Scholars at AHA

Several Duke Cardiovascular Research Center Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) Program Scholars attended and presented posters at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans last weekend.

The CVRC ran multiple undergraduate summer programs this year, including two AHA programs. Sudar Rajagopal led the AHA CVRC SURE program while Svati Shah oversaw the AHA Sarnoff SURE program. The following scholars are shown here:

Daliya Rizvi worked with the Lefkowitz Lab (CVRC SURE)

Bailey Herfindahl, who was mentored by Andrew Landstrom (CVRC SURE). In a LinkedIn post last weekend, Herfindahl, a heart disease survivor, wrote, “This weekend, I had the privilege of presenting my research poster at the American Heart Association’s annual international Scientific Sessions. This work was a result of my summer spent as an AHA SURE Scholar in the Landstrom Lab at Duke University, investigating a gene-specific treatment for a rare pediatric arrhythmia condition. In addition to being a SURE Scholar, I was recognized as a patient representative and had the opportunity to share my own cardiac story throughout the weekend. To be a part of this organization and contribute to the incredible life-saving research that has saved my own life was profoundly inspiring. A huge thank you to the American Heart Association‘s SURE Program, Dr. Andrew Landstrom, and Gio Monaco, as well as the rest of the Landstrom lab, for your support and mentorship.”

 

Inioluwa Olabode who was mentored by Andrew Landstrom (Sarnoff SURE)

Fabian Madera who was mentored by Joseph Turek (Sarnoff SURE)

Not shown is the last undergrad in our AHA-supported program, Casey James Powell, mentored by Satyanarayana Achanta (CVRC SURE).

Way to go, Scholars!

 

CVRC Food Drive – Contribute by Nov. 21

Reminder! The Karra Lab in the Cardiovascular Research Center is holding a food drive to support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.

Any donation of non-perishable food items would be appreciated. The most in-demand food items are peanut butter and jam (in large plastic containers); chicken, tuna, or salmon (in either pouches or pop-top cans); canned fruit and vegetables; soup, ravioli, and other ready-to-eat meals (pop-top cans preferred). Many people in crisis may not have access to manual or electric can openers!

A donation box has been set up on the first floor of the CARL building, as well as in CARL 247. Please plan to bring in donations by Friday, November 21.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Parker (lep52@duke.edu), Duke School of Medicine MD/PhD candidate, Karra Lab.

 

Holiday Decorating Safety Reminders: Keep it Festive and Fire-Safe

As we begin to decorate our spaces this holiday season, let’s keep safety at the heart of our celebrations. Here are a few friendly reminders to help us all stay merry and mindful:

Do’s:

• Use UL-approved artificial trees—fiber optic and pre-wired are great options!
• Choose battery-operated candles and LED lights to avoid fire risks.
• Keep decorations flame-retardant and non-combustible.
• Appoint a team member to turn off lights daily to prevent overheating.
• Avoid door decorations as these are now allowed by Fire Code and Joint Commission.
• Use flame-retardant cotton substitutes like Magic-Glass.

Don’ts:

• No live greenery, metallic trees with electric lights, or aerosol sprays (sorry, no fake snow!).
• Avoid extension cords and never plug power strips into each other.
• Don’t place cords under rugs or across doorways.
• Keep corridors clean, no hanging or draped decorations, and don’t cover more than 25% of wall space.
• Never block fire exits, doors, or safety equipment with decorations.
• Don’t use space heaters. If you are uncomfortable in your workspace, contact Engineering.

Let’s make this season bright—and safe—for everyone. Download and print this flyer to hang in your department. If you have questions, reach out to your department’s safety rep or local OESO office. Read more here.

 

Campus Construction & Renewal Updates

If you’ve been on campus lately, you know there is a lot of construction taking place all over Duke. For a list of updates and target completion dates, you can read all about what Duke Facilities Management is doing right here.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Reminder – Nov. 18 is the deadline for flu vaccination compliance.

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Nov. 18: Wearables for Disease Detection and Monitoring with Jessilyn Dunn. 5 p.m. DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Nov. 19: EP Case Presention with Alex Gunn and Yoo Jin Kim. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Nov. 21: Adult Congenital, part 2 with Rich Krasuski. Noon. Zoom only.

Nov. 26: No conference/holiday

Nov. 28: No conference/holiday

Dec. 3: Match Day Review with Anna Lisa Chamis. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 5: SVT with Jon Piccini. Noon. Zoom only.

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom.        

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Nov. 20: Multi-Modality Imaging for LVH with Mugdha Joshi

Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

 

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

2026 Duke Heart CMEs Announced

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

 

• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

November 7 — Svati Shah

Pharmacy Times

Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism in Heart Failure: From Genetic Drivers to Fuel Modulation Therapies

 

November 8 — Nishant Shah

NBC News*

Harmful cholesterol levels cut in half with one-time gene editing drug in early trial

*carried by affiliates nationally

 

November 8 — Kristin Newby

CNN*

Experimental daily pill may lower cholesterol in patients who don’t see enough benefit with statins alone, study finds

*carried by affiliates nationally

 

November 8 — Manesh Patel

Healio/Cardiology Today

Left atrial appendage closure may not confer benefit vs. drug therapy in high-risk AF

 

November 8 — Manesh Patel

Healio/Cardiology Today

Ongoing anticoagulation may not be necessary after successful atrial fibrillation ablation

 

November 8 — Sana Al-Khatib and Manesh Patel

tctMD

One Month of Dual Antithrombotic Therapy May Be Enough After PCI in AF Patients

 

November 9 — Kristin Newby

CNN Espanol

Una píldora podría reducir el colesterol en pacientes que no obtienen suficiente beneficio solo con estatinas, según estudio

 

November 10 — Robert Califf

Contagion Live

2024-25 COVID-19 Vaccines Effective Against JN1 Subvariants

 

November 10 — Robert Califf

The Medical Independent

Cardiovascular disease in ‘tumultuous times’

 

November 10 — Nishant Shah

PHLatames.com

Un solo tratamiento genético reduce a la mitad el colesterol “malo” en humanos

 

November 11 — Christopher Granger

tctMD

CELEBRATE: Zalunfiban, a Novel Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitor, Helps in STEMI

Highlights of the week:

AHA Scientific Sessions & Duke Annual Reception

The American Heart Association 2025 Scientific Sessions is taking place this weekend in New Orleans. Our annual Duke reception was held last night at the New Orleans Marriott in the Warehouse Arts District.  We had several facutly and fellows presenting across a broad range of topics and commenting on Late Breaking Clinical science.  The big science coming out of the meeting we will review in upcoming weeks – many advances in cardiometabolic health, atrial fibrillation and anti-thrombotic treatment, heart failure including a first in-man gene study presented by Marat, and some new data on lifestyle changes and caffeine.  Please see some pictures from the conference including standing room only of Neha’s presentation in the cardiometabolic LBS session, some pictures around the conference.  Also some shots of the presidential session with Stacey Rosen from Northwell Health and the Northwell Health Nurses Choir.  Special shout out’s to our fellows Allie Levin who had two posters on causes of death in Congenital heart disease patients and outcomes in Fontan patients, and Hubie Haywood had a poster in heart failure.  

 

Memorial Service for Estes Announced

A memorial service for E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, will take place from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Few Chapel in Croasdaile Village, 2600 Croasdaile Parkway, Durham, NC.

Estes, a former Duke cardiologist who died on October 16, was highlighted by The Duke Chronicle in a news piece last week. To read that story, please click here or see below, under News.

 

 

 

 

What Happens to the Body in Space?

As humans prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars, scientists are trying to understand how space affects the human body. One of the biggest concerns is space radiation — high-energy particles from the sun and distant galaxies that can pass through spacecraft and into bodies.

Unlike Earth, which is protected by a magnetic field and atmosphere, space is not. This means astronauts are exposed to radiation that could harm their health during and long after their missions end.

Dawn Bowles, PhD, assistant professor in surgery at Duke, is collaborating with NASA to study how space radiation affects the heart. Bowles is co-director, along with Carmelo Milano, MD, of the Duke Human Heart Repository.

Originally trained as a virologist, Bowles was among nine principal investigators recruited by NASA into its Space Radiation Element program to mitigate the harmful effects of space radiation on astronauts’ health.

Her team conducts its research at a unique facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, home to the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory.

“It’s a really neat, nifty, unique thing that NASA has developed,” she said. “They actually can simulate as closely as possible what the radiation environment looks like in space here on Earth.”

Trying to understand the cardiovascular risk of space radiation exposure from astronaut data has been challenging due to the lack of data. Only 24 Apollo lunar astronauts have traveled beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) into the complex space radiation environment. Of those individuals who have traveled further, the amount of time spent there has been less than 50 days.

Bowles explained: “Astronauts who are going to be traveling to Mars or who are going to be living on the moon are going to be continually hit, bombarded with this kind of radiation. It is a serious risk for human health.”

Although astronauts have spent extended periods of time in space aboard the International Space Station, they remain within the protective environment of a magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, and are not exposed to significant amounts of radiation.

As a result, other studies that have examined the cardiovascular effects of space radiation on astronauts have been unable to generate firm conclusions.

Studies in animals have shown that radiation can lead to stiffening of the arteries, damage to the heart’s structure, and changes in how the heart beats.

“We’ve identified that there might definitely be a problem, at least in animal models,” said Bowles. “We’re doing additional studies to understand the mechanisms behind this problem and whether we can remedy it.”

Clues from the Lab and from Space

Bowles and her team use advanced tools to study how radiation affects tissues at the molecular level. “We do a lot of very advanced molecular omics — genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics,” she said, referring to the study of DNA, RNA, and proteins. “We try to look at the tissues or cells very holistically.”

In addition to exploring ways to protect astronauts from radiation damage, Bowles’ team is investigating whether existing medications could help. “We have a paper under review where we analyzed our data to see if there were any drugs that could be repurposed,” she said. “NASA’s just looking at ways to do this as economically as possible. If something already exists, why not use it?”

While her team hasn’t yet studied dietary changes, she believes their data could be used to explore that too.

“NASA really invests in these deep characterizations because these data sets go into their repository,” she said. “There’s a whole group of scientists at NASA doing data mining to gain new insights.” That information, Bowles noted, can be made available for other scientists to evaluate.

Though the research is focused on space, it could also benefit people on Earth. “There’s personnel in the medical field, like interventional cardiologists, who are exposed to low levels of radiation over time, who might develop similar cardiovascular effects,” Bowles noted. “Maybe we can find something protective for the heart for a patient undergoing cancer treatment. There is potential for saving human lives.”

Does Radiation Affect People Differently?

There’s still much to learn, especially about how radiation affects different sexes and species. “Most early studies were done with male mice,” Bowles said. “Now we’re doing studies with both sexes to see if there are differences.”

She added that they are also adding another component to the study — microgravity or weightlessness to better mimic the full space environment.

Bowles’ research, until now, has been funded by NASA. Despite funding uncertainties, Bowles remains optimistic.

“I’m very blessed to be able to work in an exciting field like this,” she said. “We’re uncovering biological mechanisms and responses that no one’s really looked at before. It’s all new ground and it’s very exciting.”

*this story was written for Duke Today and published on Nov. 4, 2025.

 

17^th Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium Held

Our 17th annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium was held on Oct. 31. We welcomed just over 130 CME provider-attendees, and 30 patients and their guests who attended the “Patient Day” part of the symposium. The Patient Day session ran concurrent to the provider-based CME and was specifically designed for patients, family members and other caregivers so they could learn more on topics such as understanding pulmonary hypertension; existing non-medical therapies and testing expectations; how to navigate insurance, medications, and patient-assistance resources, and how to get and remain active while living with PH.

Course directors were Terry Fortin, MD, and Jimmy Ford, MD, of UNC-Chapel Hill, and presenters from Duke included Sudar Rajagopal, MD, Benjamin Trichon, MD, Willard Applefeld, MD, Richard Krasuski, MD, and Jordan Whitson, MD. A full list of presenters and their topics can be found here.

 

Heart Team Members Conduct Teaching Session on PAD

Several members of our Duke Heart team were invited to speak at a men’s group that is part of Morehead Avenue Baptist Church in Durham’s West End this past week. The men’s group had asked for providers to speak with them on a health topic, and our team chose peripheral artery disease (PAD). Providers included Victor Ayeni, MD; cardiology fellow DaMarcus Ingram, MD, and cardiologist Dennis Narcisse, MD.

According to Ayeni, a PG-2 Duke internal medicine resident who has been interning with electrophysiologist Camille Frazier-Mills, MD, the event ended up as a round-table discussion about not just PAD but cardiovascular health and wellness overall. He let us know that Narcisse even accepted one of attendees as a new patient!

The men’s group is interested in having Ayeni, Ingram, and Narcisse speak with them again, and would welcome other providers as well.

The event, Ayeni says, “was really heart-warming for both sides, and one of the community members specifically said that it meant a lot that we came to them, talked to them bidirectionally (rather than just lectured), and presented ourselves as part of the bigger Durham community.”

Way to go, Victor, Dennis, and DaMarcus! The world needs more of this.

 

DUH Earns Healthgrades Award for Cardiac Surgery

Congratulations to our CT Surgery team!!! We learned this week that Healthgrades selected Duke University Hospital for their latest America’s 50 best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award!

What a terrific accomplishment and well-deserved recognition for our team. Great work, everyone!

 

Duke Heart Grows Again

Congratulations to cardiology fellow Cosette Champion, MD, and her husband, Brian!

They welcomed their daughter, Madeline, on October 7. She weighed in at 7 lbs, 11 oz., and is just gorgeous. We are so excited for them!

 

2026 Duke Heart CMEs Announced

The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.

• Duke Heart Failure Symposium – Saturday, June 6, 2026. Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
• 18^th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Friday, October 30, 2026. Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.

Please save the dates!

 

Veteran’s Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11

Please join Duke in honoring service members at its Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. Duke University will recognize the service and sacrifice of its roughly 2,200 employees and 450 students who are military veterans during the annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on November 11 in Duke Chapel.

The event will feature remarks from President Vincent E. Price, Vice President for Human Resources Antwan Lofton, and Chapel Dean Luke Powery, with a keynote by Maj. Ryan Allen of the U.S. Air Force and a wreath-laying ceremony in the Memorial Garden.

 

Karra Lab of CVRC Launches Food Drive

Ravi Karra, MD, and his lab team in the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center are hosting a food drive to support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.

Any donation of non-perishable food items would be appreciated. The most in-demand food items are peanut butter and jam (in large plastic containers); chicken, tuna, or salmon (in either pouches or pop-top cans); canned fruit and vegetables; soup, ravioli, and other ready-to-eat meals (pop-top cans preferred). Many people in crisis may not have access to manual or electric can openers!

A donation box has been set up on the first floor of the CARL building, as well as in CARL 247. Please plan to bring in donations by Friday, November 21.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Parker (lep52@duke.edu), Duke School of Medicine MD/PhD candidate, Karra Lab.

 

Supporting Each Other During Times of Need

Health System leadership issued a statement this week related to the temporary shut-down of federal food-assistance programs. Please share this information with your team. The resource information below has been vetted and confirmed so you can feel confident in sharing it with others.

“The recent federal shutdown temporarily suspended federal food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), impacting individuals and families across our community. At Duke University Health System, we remain committed to Putting People First and connecting those in need with meaningful support.

Please find below verified resources to help team members, patients, and families navigate this challenging time. Whether you’re seeking assistance or looking for ways to help, we hope you find these resources valuable.

We know this is a difficult time for many. Let’s continue to lead with compassion, dignity, and respect as we support one another. Share these resources, check on neighbors, and stay connected. If you have questions, please reach out to your leadership or send an email to caringforeachother@duke.edu.”

Resources for Those in Need of Assistance

• Food Finder Tools: Locate nearby food assistance through the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC and Second Harvest Metrolina.
• Case Management Support: Patients and team members can be referred to Community Health Worker Navigation or Care Management to access help related to financial insecurity (ex. food, housing, transportation).
• Caring for Each Other Peer Support Program: Speak confidentially with a Duke colleague about personal or professional stressors.
• Personal Assistance Service (PAS): Free counseling and referrals are available at no cost to team members. Call 919-416-1727 to make an appointment.
• Financial Resources: The Earned Wage Access program allows team members to access already earned wages while the Caring for Each Other Fund* provides emergency financial support for team members.

Resources for Those Looking to Assist

• Emergency Relief Fund through Duke Doing Good: Team member contributions support local nonprofits focused on education, health, housing, and disaster relief.
• Root Causes Fund: (Donation link) Root Causes is a student-led initiative addressing food insecurity in Durham and among patients.
• Green Family Student Emergency Fund: (Donation link) Provides grocery gift cards to medical students facing emergencies.
• Duke Healthy Lifestyles Food Market: An in-clinic pantry serving patients through a partnership among Duke Children’s, Internal Medicine, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
• Caring for Each Other Fund*: (Donation link) Provides emergency financial aid for DUHS team members experiencing short-term crises. *Please note the Caring for Each Other Fund cannot be used to replace SNAP or WIC benefits but can support other immediate needs.
• Family Meal Trays Program: (Donation link) Offers meals to hospitalized children and families experiencing food insecurity.

 

New Duke CTSI Pilot Funding Opportunities: 2025–2027 IMPaCTS Challenge Awards

The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is pleased to announce two new pilot funding opportunities through the Improving Clinical and Translational Science (IMPaCTS) Challenge, designed to accelerate the advancement of scientific discoveries into real-world health solutions.

Each award provides $25,000–$50,000 in direct costs for up to one-year projects. The opportunities are open to investigators from Duke University and partner institutions (North Carolina Central University, Durham Tech, Lincoln Community Health Center, and others).

Funding Opportunities:

1. The Duke IMPaCTS Challenge: General Pilot Awards program supports projects that develop scalable solutions to overcome common bottlenecks in the translational research process—from basic discovery to clinical and community implementation.
2. The Duke IMPaCTS Challenge: Enhancing the Participant Experience Awards program focuses on improving research participation, engagement, and trust through innovations that make research more inclusive, efficient, and participant-centered.

Key Dates:

• Virtual Information Session: November 13, 2025, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET. Register to attend.
• Letter of Intent (mandatory) deadline: December 5, 2025
• Full Application Deadline: January 15, 2026
• Award Notifications:March 2026

Funding Period Start Dates:

• April 1, 2026
• August 1, 2026

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the CTSI Pilot Program Team before submission to ensure alignment with program goals.

Learn more about these opportunities and application instructions on the Duke CTSI Funding website or contact Eman Ghanem (ctsifunding@duke.edu) with questions.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

November 9-15: National Nurse Practitioner Week & Perioperative Nurses Week.

November 18: Deadline for flu vaccination compliance.

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Nov. 11: Perioperative atrial fibrillation after noncardiac surgery with Michael Wang. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Nov. 12: DHP Case Presentation with Krunal Amin. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Nov. 14: Fellows’ Forum with Anthony Lin. Noon. Zoom only.

Nov. 19: EP Case Presention with Alex Gunn and Yoo Jin Kim. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Nov. 21: Adult Congenital, part 2 with Rich Krasuski. Noon. Zoom only.

Nov. 26: No conference/holiday

Nov. 28: No conference/holiday

Dec. 3: Match Day Review with Anna Lisa Chamis. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 5: SVT with Jon Piccini. Noon. Zoom only.

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom.        

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

Friday 14-Nov 12:00 Virtual Fellows’ Forum Anthony Lin, APDs
Wednesday

Nov. 19: EP Case Presention with Alex Gunn and Yoo Jin Kim. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Nov. 21: Adult Congenital, part 2 with Rich Krasuski. Noon. Zoom only.

Nov. 26: No conference/holiday

Nov. 28: No conference/holiday

Dec. 3: MATCH DAY REVIEW with Anna Lisa Chamis. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 5: SVT with Jon Piccini. Noon. Zoom only.

Dec. 10: EP Case Presentation with Mugdha Joshi and Chad Kloefkorn. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 12: Board review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, via Zoom.

Dec. 17: DHP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad. Noon. DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Dec. 19: DHP Case Presentation with Harriet Akunor. Noon, Zoom only.

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Nov. 13: Topic TBD with Jemi Gelani

Nov. 20: Multi-Modality Imaging for LVH with Mugdha Joshi

Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

November 3 — Sreekanth Vemulapalli

American Heart Association Newsroom

New effort launched to support earlier diagnosis, treatment of aortic stenosis

 

November 3 — Mary Klotman, Justine Strand de Oliveira, and Howard Eisenson

The Duke Chronicle

‘Transcended his own era’: E. Harvey Estes remembered for pioneering community-centered health care

November 3 — Nishant Shah

Newz 9

Is Your Year-Long Supplement Routine Harming Your Heart? Discover the Surprising Truth

November 3 — Nishant Shah

NBC News*

What taking melatonin could reveal about your heart health

*carried by affiliates nationally

November 3 — Nishant Shah

America Zeit

El uso crónico de suplementos de melatonina puede aumentar el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular

November 4 — Renato Lopes

Medical Dialogues

Positive results revealed from first prospective trial in heart failure due to Chagas disease

November 4 — Nishant Shah

Newsmax TV/American Agenda

Discussion : Melatonin & Your Health

November 4 — Robert Califf

tctMD

What Makes MedTech Great—or Not—and Envisioning Its Future

November 5 — Sujay Kansagra

New York Times

Is Melatonin Bad for Your Heart? Here’s What to Know.

November 5 — Nishant Shah

Juta Medical Brief

Regular melatonin use could indicate heart issues – US study

Highlights of the week:

AHA Scientific Sessions & Duke Annual Reception Next Weekend

The American Heart Association 2025 Scientific Sessions is taking place later this week (Nov. 7-10) in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here. We know a lot of you are going and we’re looking forward to seeing you there – don’t forget to join us at the annual Duke reception on Sat., Nov. 8!

We have more than 100 presentations, panels, posters, and sessions moderated by Duke faculty and fellows coming up next weekend. It promises to be a great weekend to get together, network, and celebrate the research and clinical advances made not only at Duke but throughout the cardiovascular space.

 

Coleman Inducted into ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators

Dawn Coleman, MD, professor of surgery and chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Duke, has been inducted into the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Coleman is among a group of 103 esteemed surgeon educators who received this honor on Sept. 19, 2025, in Chicago. This is the eighth cohort of members inducted into the Academy.

A dedicated surgeon educator and mentor, Coleman previously served as interim Program Director for the Duke Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Program and as Program Director for the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency and Fellowship at the University of Michigan. 

Coleman additionally holds leadership positions in several professional societies and associations. She is currently the 2024-2025 President for the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery, Secretary for the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, Vice-Chair of the Program Committee for the Society of Vascular Surgery and is a member of the Society of University Surgeons and the Excelsior Surgical Society, among others.

“I’m honored to be inducted into the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and grateful to join a community so deeply committed to advancing surgical education,” says Dr. Coleman. “Throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by the educators, trainees, and colleagues who elevate our field through mentorship, innovation, and collaboration. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s mission and helping shape the future of surgical training.”

The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members, or Affiliate Members following a stringent peer review process.

Once inducted, Academy members actively engage in advancing the Academy’s programs and goals, which are to advance the science and practice of innovative lifelong surgical education, training, and scholarship in the changing milieu of health care; foster the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration; support the development and recognition of faculty; underscore the importance of lifelong surgical education and training; positively impact quality and patient safety through lifelong surgical education and training disseminate advances in education and training to all surgeons; and offer mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.

Congratulations, Dawn!

 

LT Team Celebrated by Pauly

Greg Pauly, president of Duke University Hospital, this week celebrated our lung transplant team in his monthly letter to team members. His message, sent Thursday, reads:

I want to recognize an exceptional accomplishment by our Lung Transplant Team who recently performed nine lung transplants in just one week – and a total of 20 for the month. This remarkable feat reflects not only the extraordinary skill of our transplant teams but their deep compassion and commitment to our patients. Dr. Jacob Klapper, Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation, shared,  

“In order for us, as the surgical team, to bring nine patients to transplant, we rely on the unwavering dedication of our anesthesiologists, nurses, critical care teams, and transplant pulmonologists. Everyone involved in the care of these patients has a shared vision for what needs to be done. This spirit has always defined our institution. As the surgical director, I am immensely grateful to all who helped us care for these individuals over the last seven days. It was a special week.”

Duke’s Transplant Program is recognized for having some of the shortest wait times and highest survival rates in the country. When the national median wait for a lung transplant is 58 days, at Duke it is 15 days. This milestone is especially meaningful as we observe Healthy Lung Month.

To every member of the Transplant Program, thank you. Your work embodies the very best of Duke Health: Excellence, teamwork, and a profound commitment to hope, health and healing.

Way to go!

 

May Named Exec Director of Development for MSCC

Congratulations to our major gifts officer, Jessica Baga May! Following a national search, she has been selected as the Executive Director of Development for Medicine, Surgery, and Clinical Care (MSCC), effective immediately.

In this role, Jessica will lead the MSCC fundraising team supporting the Division of Cardiology and Duke Heart Center; the Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences (HNSCS), Dermatology, and Orthopedic Surgery; Duke Transplant Center; Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, and the Duke Eye Center. Her deep familiarity with Duke Health and her collaborative approach will be a great asset as she transitions into this expanded leadership role. In addition to leading the MSCC team, Jessica will continue to serve as our lead development officer for Heart services.

Congratulations, Jessica — well deserved!

 

Bashore Collection Celebrated

We were delighted to see several faculty members at last week’s celebration and grand opening of the Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection at the Rubenstein Library on Duke University’s west campus on Wednesday afternoon.

Bashore, with his trademark humor, delivered an excellent and informative lecture on the history of medicine and medical devices. Many thanks to all who joined us, including the Kelsey’s, Sketch’s, Califf’s, Dr. Harvey Cohen, Blue Dean, and numerous other friends.

Congratulations, Dr. Bashore!

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

November 18: Deadline for flu vaccination compliance.

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Nov. 4: Building a sustainable acute cardiovascular care program in western Kenya, the journey and lessons learned with Felix Ayub Barasa. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.  

Nov. 11: Perioperative atrial fibrillation after noncardiac surgery with Michael Wang. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Nov. 5: EP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad and Rebecca Steinberg. Noon, DMP 6E39 or via Zoom.

Nov. 7: EKG Review with Neil Freedman. Noon. Zoom.

 

2025 Victor J. Dzau Lecture Seminar Series

Nov. 5: Mechanisms of sarcomere assembly and local translation in cardiomyocytes with Nicole Dubois, PhD, associate professor, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Mount Sinai. Noon-1 p.m., Nanaline Duke Bldg, Room 147. Sponsored by The Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Nov. 6: Multi-Modality Imaging for Infiltrative Disease with Hubie Haywood

Nov. 13: Topic TBD with Jemi Gelani

Nov. 20: Multi-Modality Imaging for LVH with Mugdha Joshi

Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

Upcoming CME Activities:

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here. 

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

October 28 — Jennifer Rymer

The Healthy

Does Daylight Saving Time Cause Heart Attacks? Not So Fast, Says New Study

October 29 — DCRI/RACE-CARS

The Richmond Observer

Improving Emergency Response: Richmond County deputies now equipped with AEDs

Chief’s message:

Hope you all are having a good weekend.  As we get near the end of the year – this week we saw many continued events that point towards our future care.  We were able to present some of our innovations and work to the Duke Board of Visitors group, we had faculty and fellows presenting at the TCT (Trans-Catheter-Therapeutics) meeting, and our teams have continued to work on areas where we can improve care with quality rounds and innovations in the procedures we do.

Updates and Highlights of the week:

Innovation in Duke Heart

We are excited to note that Jeff Gaca and Andrew Wang earlier this week accomplished the first percutaneous tricuspid valve replacement at Duke. The patient has recovered uneventful. These two individuals along with the entire structural heart team including our heart center staff, nurses, and administrative leaders have driven innovation in the transcatheter valve space.  This work serves as an example of the type of innovation we are excited foster and committed to across the entire cardiovascular service line.

In Memoriam: E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD

Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, a pioneering physician, educator, and leader whose contributions to Duke have left an enduring legacy, passed away on October 16, 2025, after having celebrated his 100th birthday this past May.

Estes joined Duke’s faculty as a cardiologist in 1956 and served for a decade in the Department of Medicine before being named the founding chair of the newly created Department of Community Health Sciences. Under his leadership, the department (later renamed Community and Family Medicine, then Family Medicine and Community Health) became a national model for interdisciplinary care and community-focused health initiatives. In 1967, he assumed responsibility for the Physician Assistant Program — founded by his mentor Eugene Stead, MD, helping to shape a profession that has transformed healthcare delivery across the country.

“Estes was instrumental in shaping the history and identity of the Duke University School of Medicine. His vision and leadership helped define Duke’s commitment to community-based care, interdisciplinary education, and innovation in health professions training,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine, in an announcement on Tuesday.

Estes was deeply passionate about family medicine and preventive care. In the 1970s, he turned his focus to creating a family medicine residency program and building coalitions to place family physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners in underserved communities. Even after stepping down as department chair in 1985, he continued to lead the family medicine and geriatrics divisions until his retirement in 1990.

Estes’s influence also extended far beyond Duke. He authored more than 100 scientific articles and co-authored a book, and he later served as the founding director of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Community Practitioner Program. He held leadership roles in the NCMS and the NC Institute of Medicine, and he served nationally as chair of the American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, president of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine, and chair of the Institute of Medicine’s Steering Committee for Primary Health Care Workforce Policy.

A full obituary for Dr. Estes can be found on the Hall Wynne site. Our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations in his memory be made to Duke University in honor of the PA Program General Scholarship Fund.

 

Lung Transplant Team Has Milestone Week

Congratulations to our entire lung transplant team at Duke! The team recently completed nine lung transplants in seven days – a program record – and all patients are doing well.

“This represents an incredible devotion to our patients, said Carmelo Milano, MD, Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor of Surgery and division chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Duke. “There are few institutions in the world that can achieve such a volume. Please congratulate the members of this team when you see them.”

Duke surgeons have performed more than 2,700 lung transplants since our program launched in 1992, making ours one of the largest programs in the U.S. Additionally, our multidisciplinary faculty researchers have made significant contributions to the field of lung transplantation, notably our understanding of risk factors for chronic rejection, the impact of cytomegalovirus infection and gastroesophageal reflux on lung transplant outcomes, and the various forms of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

“Nine transplants in one week is only possible through the dedication of nursing, anesthesia, critical care, transplant pulmonology and surgery,” said Jacob Klapper, MD, associate professor of surgery and lung transplant surgeon. “This collective spirit has always made Duke special in the past and continues to this day.”

Incredible work!

 

Celebrating Respiratory Therapists

National Respiratory Care Week was celebrated this past week (Oct. 19-25) with a number of activities across Duke to help recognize our respiratory care staff. Our RCS team is an amazing and vital part of the care we provide throughout Duke Heart & Vascular services!

Shown here are two awards that were presented at Duke University Hospital this week – Paul Robbins, RRT, RCP was awarded the Huston R. Anderson Award in Leadership Excellence and Misty Swanger, BSRT, RRT, RCP was awarded Adult Respiratory Care Services Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award.

Also shown are team members prepping treats for our RCS staff. Congratulations, Paul and Misty!

 

Celebrating Annette Moore; Retiring Nov. 4

With deep gratitude, we announce the retirement of Annette Moore, HCA/NM, a dedicated and skilled registered nurse and manager, who has been an integral part of the Duke team for 40 years. Annette’s commitment to excellence and her unwavering dedication to patient care have made a significant impact on our organization.

Annette began her career with us in 1985 after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over the years, she has held various roles in Cardiology, including Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, and Health Center Administrator demonstrating exceptional leadership and management skills. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Friends of Nursing Award and the Nan and Hugh Cullman Heart Center Award for Excellence in Nursing.

Throughout her career at Duke, Annette’s caring demeanor and patient first focus have truly been her most influential accomplishment.  She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of clinical services, staff training, and care design. She has managed multiple teams, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and compliance with regulatory requirements.

As Annette embarks on this new chapter of her life, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement. Her presence will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire us all.

Annette, thank you for all your efforts, kindness, and mentorship over the years!

Please join us in celebrating Annette’s remarkable career and wishing her a happy and fulfilling retirement! Her last day with us will be November 3^rd.

 

Kudos to Kelly!

Joe Kelly, director of Duke Heart & Vascular Informatics and Center of Excellence, received a Kudos this week for his efforts in helping the team at Lake Norman during their go-live.

“Joe shared a URL for MAP4 this morning that is a complete game-changer for Case Management and Utilization Management at DHLN. We were in a pickle where we needed MAP4 documentation to be able to plan discharges and the app had disappeared off of our CHS Citrix. He saved the day. Thank you, Joseph!” – Megan Warren

Jill Engel, service line VP for Heart & Vascular added, “I have heard from numerous people you have been invaluable during their go live. Thanks for everything you do for our patients and teams!”

Way to go, Joe!

 

Shout-out to Rivera and Goodwin

We received a terrific shout-out this week for Danny Rivera, RCS, ACS, echocardiographer, and for Nate Goodwin, interventional cardiology fellow, this week from Schuyler Jones as well as Sreekanth Vemulapalli regarding a challenging case they were on.

“Danny Rivera and Nate Goodwin did such an incredibly good job of echo imaging, planning/communication, and echo-guided pericardiocentesis in the MICU room. I was really impressed-which doesn’t happen that much. Wanted to give kudos to them both.” — Schuyler Jones, MD

“A good example of great teamwork between a great interventional attending, a great interventional fellow, and a great sonographer…” — Sreekanth Vemulapalli, MD

Excellent work, Danny and Nate!

 

Duke Heart & Vascular Welcomes Newest Family Member

Congratulations to Aarti Thakkar, MD and Eric Xie, MD, two of our cardiovascular disease fellows, on the birth of their daughter, Asha! She arrived just after Noon on Oct. 21, weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz. We are so happy for you!

 

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

November 18: Deadline for flu vaccination compliance.

 

AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception

The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)

The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Oct. 28: The Duke STRONGER Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Service: The Future of Personalized Prehab/Rehab for the Cardiac and Transplant Patient with Paul Wischmeyer. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and.

Nov. 4: Building a sustainable acute cardiovascular care program in western Kenya, the journey and lessons learned with Felix Ayub Barasa. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

Medicine Grand Rounds

Oct. 31: Contemporary Issues in Transplant Allocation and Procurement with Chet Patel, Adam DeVore, Matt Ellis, John Reynolds, Lindsay King. 8 a.m., Duke South Amphitheater or via Zoom.

 

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar

Nov. 6: Multi-Modality Imaging for Infiltrative Disease with Hubie Haywood

Nov. 13: Topic TBD with Jemi Gelani

Nov. 20: Multi-Modality Imaging for LVH with Mugdha Joshi

Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)

Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink

Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion

Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado

Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)

 

CME Activities:

17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31

This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.

 

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.

 

Community Events:

Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29

The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

October 17 — Duke University Hospital

tctMD

Cardiac Transplant in Midst of ‘Revolution,’ but Public Trust Is Fragile

 

October 20 — Marat Fudim

Cardio Care Today

SCD-PROTECT: Wearable Defibrillators Key in First Months After Heart Failure Diagnosis

 

October 21 — Kristie Barazsu

Becker’s Health IT

GE HealthCare collaborates with 2 health systems on AI

 

October 22 — Renato Lopes

NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory

Rethinking Clinical Trials GR–Studying Neglected Diseases: Insights From the PARACHUTE-HF Trial

 

October 23 — Jennifer Rymer

Medscape

Understanding the Real Impact of Time Changes

 

October 23 — Duke Health

Popwire

The 10 Medical Breakthroughs You’ll See In the Next 15 Years (#6)

Chief’s Message:

Hope you are all having a good weekend.  We are nearing the last few meetings for cardiovascular medicine this year with TCT and the AHA.  We will be sure to give you updates in the coming weeks.

Highlights of the week:

Happy Diwali

Sending everyone warm wishes for Diwali – we hope this time is filled with love, joy, and prosperity. Happy Diwali!

 

 

 

 

 

Shah Receives Swann Lee Award Funding

Congratulations to Svati Shah! Her team is one of five research teams from Duke University School of Medicine selected to receive a Swann Lee Award from the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Through the Swann Lee Awards, CTSI is distributing a combined $2 million across the teams to support the development of strategies aimed at reducing chronic disease risk through nutrition-focused approaches.

Shah’s team project is entitled, Dietary Effects and Modifiability of Ectopic Fat Depots and Metabolism in Heart Failure, which will investigate how GLP-1 receptor agonists and dietary ketones impact systemic metabolism in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). By integrating AI-assisted imaging and addressing barriers to care access, the study aims to refine therapies for a condition with significant clinical impact and limited treatment options.  The project leader is Jenifer Allen, PhD; Shah is the principal investigator.

The  Swann Lee Awards for Prevention of Chronic Diseases Using Diet and Nutrition are supported by a generous gift to Duke University School of Medicine from the estate of Swann Lee, who specified that these funds be used “solely for nutritional and laboratory research focused solely on preventive care and health maintenance” — not for medical treatment or disease cures.

In addition to funding, the teams receive project management support from CTSI project leaders for the duration of the 24-month funding cycle.  The projects funded exemplify translational innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a strong commitment to healthy lifestyles.

“We are thrilled to support these researchers whose work represents the leading edge of nutrition science and chronic disease prevention,” said Susanna Naggie, MD, MHS, director of the Duke CTSI. “These projects are not only innovative but deeply rooted in the values of health promotion and community engagement.”

Congratulations, Svati!

 

NC Great 100 Celebrated

The 37^th Annual NC Great 100 Gala was held on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at The Maxwell Center in Goldsboro, NC. Our very own Kelly Kester, DMP, senior nursing director with Duke Heart & Vascular, was one of the honorees!

Kester is one of five Duke nurses selected for the NC Great 100 Class of 2025. The others include Melinda Busi and Kathy Sandel with Duke Regional Hospital; Derrick Glymph with Duke School of Nursing; and Blaise Nieve with Duke University Hospital.

Congratulations, Kelly!

 

 

 

Kudos to Curtis

Kudos to Mary Curtis, a financial care counselor in the Duke Heart & Vascular cardiac catheterization lab! Jenn Rymer, MD, says, “Mary always helps the providers in the Cath lab with getting approvals for our patients and answering our questions. She is a wealth of information on financial situations and always an incredible advocate for our patients.”

 

Thank you for your hard work, kindness, and advocacy, Mary!

 

Shout-out to Vekstein

Lisa Clark Pickett, MD, sent a wonderful note regarding Andrew Vekstein, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon.

“Good morning, Andrew. I wanted to reach out and thank you for the compassionate and skilled care you delivered to a recent patient we shared. Despite the surgical complexity and her extreme illness, you beautifully managed her surgical care with a remarkable focus on her as a person.  Her husband was grateful for your frequent and clear communication, and it made a difference to their family at this difficult time. Your clinical excellence and humanity are clear and appreciated.” — Very best wishes, Lisa Clark Pickett MD, assistant professor of surgery, Division of Trauma, Acute and Critical Care Surgery; assistant professor of medicine, Palliative Care

Great work, Andrew!

 

 

Kudos to Gardin

We received a terrific note this week from Mihai Podgoreanu, chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care, regarding Taylor Gardin, a critical care nurse with the Duke Heart CTICU.

 

“I wanted to take a moment and recognize Taylor Gardin for her exceptional leadership and dedication in the CTICU. Always proactive in coordinating complex care, supporting the team through high-acuity situations, maintaining a calm and compassionate presence, and being an asset under fire. Complemented by great communication, a desire to learn, and a focus on staff well-being – from mentoring to bringing snacks. We have some awesome charge nurses in the CTICU, and Taylor is an invaluable one.” — With great appreciation, Mihai Podgoreanu, MD, Chief, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care

“Taylor, thank you for your leadership presence creating a calm atmosphere in a complex environment. We appreciate everything you do for our patients and team.” — Mary Lindsay, DNP, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Duke Heart & Vascular

“Taylor, thank you for all you do each day to make Duke Heart such a great place for our patients, their families and our teams!” –Best, Jill R. Engel, DNP, Service Line Vice President – Heart & Vascular

 

 APP Transplant Symposium Held at Duke

The Duke Transplant Advanced Practice Provider Symposium was held last weekend on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Duke University School of Nursing. Jade Clausen and Courtney Young – two of our amazing Heart & Vascular APPs – were part of the presentation team.

Way to go, Jade and Courtney!

 

Did you know? Tidbits about Duke’s Impact on Durham

Duke University pays for all city water usage through two master meters and has implemented innovative sustainability measures, including the reuse of 70 million gallons of stormwater via Duke Pond for campus cooling.

Additionally, Duke independently owns and manages more than 34 miles of water and sewer infrastructure across its campus, saving the City of Durham an estimated $10 million annually in maintenance and operational costs!

Go Duke!

 

DUHS Updates:

COVID vaccine update:

Resources related to the anticipated go-live date for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine administration across ambulatory practices have been posted to Sharepoint. The updated DUHS Ambulatory COVID-19  Vaccine Administration for Patients Standing Order has been finalized and approved and is now accessible on the Policy Center.

Masking Guidance:

Starting on Wednesday, October 15, masking will be strongly recommended throughout all clinical areas in addition to the areas with year-round mandatory masking. Find more details about masking at DUHS in addition to epidemiology updates, testing, treatment, and employee health guidance for team members in the 2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season Toolkit.

Leadership changes:

John Yeatts, MD, MPH, will be stepping down from his Population Health Management Office (PHMO) leadership position and leaving Duke Health on November 2, 2025, after serving for more than 13 years. In the interim, Daniel Costello, PHMO’s Chief Operating Officer, will assume primary operating responsibilities and report directly to Matthew Barber, MD, MHS, Senior Vice President, Ambulatory Services and Physician Practices, DUHS.

Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD has been appointed Physician Vice President, Cancer Services for Duke University Health System, effective November 1, 2025. She will also maintain her current role as Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology for the Duke Department of Medicine. In this expanded leadership role, Dr. Reidy-Lagunes will serve as the physician executive for the cancer service line, responsible for shaping the clinical vision and advancing strategic priorities across all cancer services. She will oversee program development, research integration, and patient-centered care across Durham, Wake, Charlotte, and new markets.

Finally, reminders:

Open Enrollment is underway through October 24. Please review your 2026 elections for medical, dental, vision, and reimbursement accounts. Duke’s annual flu vaccination campaign is also underway. The deadline for compliance is Nov. 18.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

October 6-24: Open Enrollment period for 2026 medical benefits

October 19-25: National Healthcare Quality Week

AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception

The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)

The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Oct. 21: Bridging the gap between physician and patient: a view from the other side with Christopher Kontos. 5 p.m. DN 2002 and via Zoom.

Nov. 4: Building a sustainable acute cardiovascular care program in western Kenya, the journey and lessons learned with Felix Ayub Barasa. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

MMCVI Grand Rounds

Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.

Oct. 23 Topic TBD with Tess Allan

Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar

CME Activities:

17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31

This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.

Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12

The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.

 

Community Events:

Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29

The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart & Vascular 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 team. Please call me with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged. Submissions by Noon on Wednesdays will be considered for weekend inclusion.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

October 10 — Duke Health/CHAI

Becker’s Health IT

Tensions rise over health AI oversight and regulation

October 12 — Robert Mentz

The Economic Times

Are eggs on your plate damaging your heart health? Study claims higher consumption of eggs may lead to early death; here’s what you need to know

October 15 — Neha Pagidipati

Green Me

Heart attacks and strokes: major global study reveals that 99% of cases are linked to these 4 risk factors (all 4 modifiable)

October 16 — Duke Health (partial heart tx)

Bluewin/Swisscom

Novel heart transplant applied in Europe for the first time