Chief’s message:
Hopefully you all have had a good weekend staying warm.
This week marks the long weekend celebrating the incredible life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. We are reminded this weekend of his statement “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Below in the pulse we have a list of some of the events celebrating his life and work, and continuing a legacy of serving our community. Our mission continues through our teams at Duke Heart that work to improve the health of all in our community.
This week the pulse below highlights some of the continued work we are doing to support the busy clinical services, innovate with education and new CME offerings on remote HF monitoring, and continue to lead in getting some of the discoveries for heart and vascular health in front of our patients.
We also had the start of some celebrations for Mike Sketch – a long standing pillar and faculty in the Duke Cardiology group – with over 30 years of leadership and service in our cath lab, clinics, and wards to our faculty, fellows, and patients. The Duke Heart Physicians group (DHP) had a celebration with Mike and Beth Sketch (see some of the photos below). We are aware that the cath lab faculty will also be have a celebration in the spring and we will share more as we thank Mike for the many years of clinical care, teaching, and dedication to our community. Congratulations Mike – on a life of impact at Duke Cardiology.
Highlights of the week:
Long Weekend
It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend — Duke University & Health System events are listed below under Upcoming Events & Opportunities. We hope you will find a way to honor the legacy of Dr. King this weekend either by participating in one of these opportunities or by finding your own way to do so. Enjoy the weekend!
Shout-out to Duke North Echo Lab!
A big shout-out to the Duke University Hospital’s Echo Lab team. We heard they wrapped up Friday, Jan. 17 with what may be a record of 21 procedures completed in a single day. Way to go!
“What an incredible day! A special shout-out to our fellow, Dr. Tess Allan, who is the true champion of the day. Thank you, Anna Lisa Chamis, for recruiting such a fantastic fellow. I absolutely loved working with her and will do my best to drag her over to imaging next time!
I also want to extend my gratitude to our nursing staff – you were absolutely amazing, as always.
The anesthesia team was phenomenal, Dr. Alina Nicoara (thank you!), and the sonographers were outstanding.
Honestly, everyone involved played a crucial role in making today such a success. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!
Have a great weekend.” — Fawaz Alenezi, MD, MSc, FAHA, FACC, FASE, Associate Professor of Medicine in Cardiology
A hat tip to all!
New AUC Published on ICD, CRT, and Pacing
The latest appropriate use criteria (AUC) regarding implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and pacing have been published. The new report was published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on January 9. 
Our very own Jonathan Piccini, MD, electrophysiologist and professor of medicine in cardiology Jon Piccini, MD, served as a member of the writing group.
Congrats to Jon and all members of the writing team!
Coaxum Joins Duke Heart as New GME CCE Program Coordinator
We welcomed a new program coordinator in cardiology last month. Please join us in welcoming Robbi Coaxum as the new program coordinator for the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology fellowship. In her new role, Robbi will also provide support to Brianna Small for the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship.
Originally from Columbia, SC, Robbi has only been here in Durham for about six weeks. She holds two Master’s degrees—one in Public Health and one in Health Education—as well as a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, gardening, and playing the piano and violin.
Please give her a warm welcome when you meet her. She’s excited to meet everyone and to be part of the team!
Feb. 18 CME Registration Now Open!
Please join us on Tuesday, Feb. 18 for Remote Patient Care: A New Era in Cardiovascular Disease Management. The CME activity will be held via Zoom from 5-7:30 p.m., EST. Course directors are cardiologist Dr. Marat Fudim of Duke and Dr. Theodore Feldman, cardiologist with Florida International University’s Wertheim College of Medicine and Baptist Health. The event is free. To learn more and to register, please visit https://duke.is/6/ne6b.
Save the Date: Coach K to Deliver Grand Rounds Feb. 25
Tuesday, Feb. 25; 5-6 p.m. — in person only. Location TBD.
Former Duke MBB Coach Mike Krzyzewski will present grand rounds discussing teamwork, leadership, and healthcare – with a question and answer period near the end. Details to come. We look forward to this special event and hope you can join us!
Post-Holiday Pics!
The Duke University Hospital CDU celebrated a very successful year with a post-holiday celebration!
“Our team enjoys spending time with each other in a non-work setting at this party every year. Thank you, especially, to our leadership (Dr. Sreek Vemulapali) for a wonderful night.” – Emily Schanze, cardiac sonographer, CDU & 2K
Great pics!
Candidates Sought for Zhu Lab, CVRC
Two positions are currently available in the laboratory of Dr. Ching Zhu, a newly recruited cardiac electrophysiologist and physician-scientist in the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center. Zhu’s team is seeking a postdoctoral associate and a research technician.
The Zhu Lab pursues interdisciplinary research centered on unraveling the mechanisms by which the sympathetic nervous system controls susceptibility to lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Postgraduate trainees or premedical students interested in dedicating 1-2 years to full-time basic/translational research are encouraged to apply.
More details on the positions and Dr. Zhu’s research can be found here: https://duke.is/5/uyut.
Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions
Respiratory illnesses throughout our community remains high. We remain in Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions.
Remember:
- Masking is strongly recommended throughout patient care areas, and continues to be required in some areas.
- Masks should be worn properly. Cover your nose and mouth at all times, do not wear masks around your chin, neck, or on your forehead.
- Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- A maximum of two visitors at a time are allowed per patient at a time.
- Visitors must check in at the hospital information desk to receive a visitor badge to enter inpatient areas.
- All visitors must be age 12+. (Visitors in some clinical areas must be age 18+.)
- Minors are required to be attended by an adult age 18+ at all times.
- Visitors must check out upon departure at a kiosk or with information desk staff.
- Visitors with fever, cough, or other flu-like systems should not visit.
Please note: Additional visitation and masking precautions may apply to certain patient populations, including without limitation, COVID-19/Special Airborne Contact, oncology, end-of-life, and overnight visitors. Please follow all unit guidelines. Exceptions to visitation restrictions may be granted based on special circumstances, including without limitation, to permit Compassionate Care Visitors.
Thanks for all you do to keep our patients and team members safe!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Save The Date!
National Wear Red Day is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. 
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Jan. 21 – Feb. 18: No CCR.
Feb. 24: Transforming HFpEF Management in the Age of Precision Medicine with Dr. Sanjiv Shah of the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine. 5 p.m. DN 2002 and via Zoom.
Feb. 25: Teamwork, Leadership, and Healthcare with Mike Krzyzewski. 5 p.m., in-person only (TBD).
If you missed any of our CGR’s from the past year, all Duke Cardiology Grand Rounds recordings are housed on Warpwire. To access recordings please visit:
NET ID and password are required. Enjoy!
CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference
January 22: HF/TX presentation with Hubert Haywood. Noon, DMP 7W70
January 24: Right heart cath interpretation with Imran Aslam. Noon, Zoom.
January 29: EP presentation with Joshua Sink. Noon, DMP 7E39.
January 31: PAD-Aorta with Jennifer Rymer. Noon, Zoom.
MLK Celebrations
Jan. 19: Duke University MLK Commemoration Keynote Address, 3 p.m.
The Hon. Jerry Blackwell, a member of the prosecution team that won a murder conviction for the killing of George Floyd, will deliver the keynote talk at Duke University’s annual MLK Commemoration at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 in Duke Chapel. The theme of this year’s event, which is free and open to the public, is “Hope Powered by Community: Protecting King’s Dream through Determination and Unity.”
Read more at Duke Today. A livestream will be available.
Jan. 22: Duke Health MLK Commemoration & Humanitarian Award Ceremony, Noon-2 p.m.
Join us Wednesday, January 22 from 12 – 2 p.m. in the Trent Semans Great Hall as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
LeVelle Moton, a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and men’s head basketball coach at North Carolina Central University, will give our keynote address. The event will also celebrate the recipients of the Duke MLK Humanitarian Award.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The deadline to register is Tuesday, January 14. Register here.
DCRI Research Forum to Feature Cook
We hope you’ll join us for the next event in the DCRI Research Forum series, featuring Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH, the Executive Director for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), who will join us for a fireside chat from Noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Cook will share insights from her career journey, discuss her vision and priorities for PCORI, and how the organization is fostering innovation in clinical research.
What: DCRI Research Forum: A Fireside Chat with Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH, Executive Director for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
When: Noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025
Where: Zoom
Giving Opportunity for Western NC Extended Through January 31
Please consider a contribution as part of the Duke Department of Medicine’s effort to support the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC, for its 2024 Holiday Fundraiser.
So far, the effort has received 53 gifts for a fundraising total of $13,960. The need remains great, so additional gifts in any amount are welcome. Thanks to all who have already donated!
The donation website will remain open for the rest of January 2025 for anyone who may still want to contribute. To donate online, visit https://duke.is/9/g2gr or send a check payable to “MAHEC” to:
MAHEC Department of Philanthropy
121 Hendersonville Road Asheville, NC 28803
Memo: Duke
MAHEC has been a lifeline for Western North Carolina, delivering health care and training the next generation of providers who serve its rural and underserved communities. Some learners were forced to relocate to continue their education while visiting medical students scheduled to train in the area had to be turned away.
For some perspective on the needs there and to read about the effort please see the full story here.
2025 Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
Tues., Feb. 18: Remote Patient Care: A New Era in Cardiovascular Disease Management; 5:00-7:30 p.m., EST. Zoom. Free. Registration, now open, is required. Please visit this link for details and to register.
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration is not yet open, but stay tuned for additional information.
- April 26, 2025: Duke Structural Heart Symposium (live event at Trent Semans Center in Durham)
- June 7, 2025: Duke Heart Failure Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center in Durham)
- October 31, 2025: 17th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center)
The following event is being planned for Fall 2025; date has not yet been set:
- October: Duke Cardiac Imaging Symposium (live event, location TBD)
Women’s Health Symposium – Feb. 21, 2025
A women’s health symposium will be held on Feb. 21, 2025 in the Trent Semans Center’s Great Hall.
Organized by the Duke/NCCU BIRCWH Career Development Program, the Women’s Health Symposium “Scientific Meeting on All Aspects of Women’s Health and the Influence of Sex as a Biological Variable on Health Conditions” will be held on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at the Trent Semans Center Great Hall. The featured speakers are Sharonne Hayes, MD, a cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at the Duke University School of Medicine.
Featured events include an interactive session on navigating the “bumps” along your research path and a poster session. For more details about the event, or to register and submit your poster topic click here.
2025 Duke Safety & Quality Conference
The Duke Safety & Quality Conference will be held on April 17, 2025. The abstract deadline was extended until today, Sunday, January 12, by 5 p.m.
Click here to learn more and to review the submission criteria.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership 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 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:
January 8 — Jonathan Piccini
tctMD
J&J Halts Varipulse Pulsed-Field Ablation Cases in the US
January 13 — Harry Severance
MSN/MedPage Today
Economic ‘Shrinkflation’ Strikes Healthcare
January 17 — Jonathan Piccini
Cardiac Rhythm News
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