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Duke Heart Pulse — February 2, 2025

February 2, 2025 / Leave a comment

Chief’s message: Awards, Leaders, New Faculty, Duke-UNC and look back at 100 years of AHA and Echo

This past week was a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities we have at Duke with cardiovascular medicine and surgery. As the country focuses on chronic health issues, our opportunity is to align and determine ways to improve CV health, improve outcomes, and potentially innovations in getting the most effective therapies as close to home as possible for our patients. The federal spending freeze (that was lifted) has galvanized conversations and ways in which we can lead.

In the pulse below you will see that we continue to be blessed with amazing people doing amazing things. There is the research award from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for Brittany Zwischenberger, MD, several heart service line winners at the Friends of Nursing celebration this weekend, the announcement of our newest Heart Failure Faculty member and past fellow at Duke – Ben Trichon, MD, the announcement of Marat Fudim, MD as our CRU director, and a touching tribute and celebration of Joe Kisslo, MD – our long-time leader in echocardiography. Please note the editorial Joe wrote in circulation on 100 years of AHA and Echocardiography. In addition, we have stories of our interventional fellows doing outreach with EMS for AMI care, and the important announcement of a Stand Alone Children’s Hospital done in partnership between Duke and UNC. The clinical services were busy again this week and we wanted to send special thanks to all the faculty, staff, and residents/fellows that stayed extended hours to help ensure we got care to all our patients.

This week also marked the start of Heart Month – with a kickoff in NYC with a go-red for women AHA event that we were lucky enough to attend. It was hosted by Sharon Stone (pictured) and Damar Hamlin from the Buffalo Bills joined AHA CEO Nancy Brown on stage. (pictured). And last but no least – the rivalry Saturday had a Duke-UNC basketball game with lots of cheer and good for the dark blue nation — hopefully this momentum continues for the blue devils.

Highlights of the week:

Heart Month

It’s February and American Heart Month – a time to celebrate all we’re doing to advance the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. It’s also a time to promote awareness of heart disease and the overall risk factors leading to its development. Please join us in wearing red on Friday, Feb. 7 – designated as National Wear Red Day to bring greater attention to heart disease as a leading cause of death for Americans.

Submit your team photos to Pulse!

Marat Fudim Named Director of Heart Center Clinical Research Unit

We are excited to announce that Marat Fudim, MD has been named the Director of the Heart Center Clinical Research Unit (CRU). Marat will work with Krista Camuglia, our research practice manager in the Duke Heart Center CRU, to ensure we continue to improve how we can offer our patients access to the latest research studies.

Since joining our faculty, Marat has been one of our most driven faculty, constantly working to ensure our patients are offered innovations / studies to improve their health . He has a unique background: often thinking innovatively and what many would call “out of the box.” His career began in the Med-Tech world, from where he moved to academic medicine due to his passion for research and scientific discovery. Marat came to Duke with the set goal to challenge existing paradigms in heart failure. His research focus is on the physiology of heart failure and its intersection with the autonomic nervous system has led to several important projects in our Heart Center.

Marat has been awarded several grants and awards to support his work, and most notably, he was acknowledged with the American College of Cardiology 2021 Douglas Zipes Distinguished Young Investigator Award. Marat has also worked to improve our Device innovation and is also helping lead that in the Heart Innovation Lab space.

As a leader of the CRU he will work with Krista and our teams to ensure across the cardiovascular service line to ensure we continue to build to becoming a leading institution in getting cutting edge therapies to our patients.

Please join us in welcoming Marat to this new role. Congrats, Marat!

Zwischenberger Receives TSF Award at STS 2025

Brittany Zwischenberger, MD was awarded the Thoracic Surgery Foundation Research Award at the STS Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA on January 24, 2025.

The award will fund a Nested Registry to study Hybrid revascularization (minimally-invasive CABG LIMA-LAD plus PCI) in women, Black and Hispanic patients with multivessel CAD. The parent study, RECHARGE, is a randomized controlled trial on women, Black and Hispanic patients with multivessel CAD and equipoise for sternotomy, CABG or multivessel PCI. The Hybrid registry and RECHARGE Trial focus on quality of life metrics as well as survival and reintervention to help tailor revascularization strategies to these understudied patient populations.

Congratulations, Brittany!

Duke Friends of Nursing Celebration

Duke Health staff and leaders gathered along with family and friends on Feb. 1 for the Annual Duke Friends of Nursing celebration. Pictured here are the Duke Hospital Heart Services winners (L to R: Abby Sanner, Jason Stokes, Jessie Legath, Hannah Reynolds, and Jessica Seabrooks.)

Congratulations to the winners! We are so proud to have you on our Duke Heart team.

Celebrating Dr. Kisslo: A Tribute to 50 Years of Excellence

The following was written for Pulse by Dr. Fawaz Alenezi

Last month, we joyfully celebrated the extraordinary career of Dr. Joseph Kisslo, marking an incredible 50 years at Duke University. For nearly 12 years, I have had the profound privilege of learning from him, and words cannot adequately express how deeply he has impacted my life and career. Dr. Kisslo is not just a mentor; he is a true inspiration and a guiding light in my professional journey.

When I first joined Duke 12 years ago, Dr. Kisslo graciously invited me to his home for an insightful discussion about strain echocardiography—a field that was just beginning to unfold. His passion and enthusiasm ignited a spark in me that has shaped my career over the last decade. That initial encounter opened my eyes to the vast possibilities within cardiology, and with Dr. Kisslo’s encouragement, I felt empowered to follow in his footsteps.

If I attempted to list all of Dr. Kisslo’s achievements, it would take hundreds of pages. However, I will mention a few highlights. He embarked on his remarkable journey in echocardiography in 1966, performing his first echo during medical school. After two years of service as a Navy doctor, he pursued further education at Yale, completing his pediatric cardiology fellowship in 1971 before returning to Duke for his adult cardiology fellowship in 1972. His monumental tenure at Duke included serving as the Cath Attending from 1974 to 1977, during which he developed the groundbreaking 2D phased array ultrasound technique, revolutionizing cardiac imaging and solidifying his legacy as a pioneer in our field.

As the 4th President of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), Dr. Kisslo’s influence extends far beyond our institution; he has touched lives and practices worldwide. Celebrating his 70th birthday in August 2011 was not just a milestone for him; it represented decades of dedication, knowledge, and leadership that he has selflessly shared with all of us.

One of the many things that resonate with me about Dr. Kisslo is his belief that “real change comes from chaos.” This philosophy reveals his passion for fostering a vibrant environment filled with innovation and creativity. His visionary spirit has led to incredible advancements, such as the digital scan converter introduced in 1975 and pioneering work in 3D echocardiography that emerged in the early 1990s.

Dr. Kisslo’s humor and wisdom shine through in his famous “Kisslo Rules” that guide our practice:

If you don’t point at it, you can’t see it.
If you don’t see it, you can’t diagnose it.
It’s not the heart, stupid.

These guiding principles have profoundly shaped my understanding and approach to patient assessments, particularly in congenital cases. Learning from his insights has helped me grow into a more competent practitioner, constantly striving for excellence and navigating my path in echocardiography. Due to his influence, I have taken on increasing responsibilities and challenges, shaping my development into a professional committed to quality and patient care.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, what truly sets Dr. Kisslo apart is his compassionate heart. He has a passion for pageantry and the royals, which adds a unique warmth to his character. He deeply cherishes his relationships with his team, affectionately referring to his sonographers as “stenographers.” This endearing approach has cultivated a family-like atmosphere within our department, where we all feel valued, respected, and loved.

Dr. Kisslo once remarked, “I came to Duke thinking I would have the opportunity to meet and interact with the brightest people in the world. I underestimated Duke.” This statement captures not only his humility but also the profound love he has for Duke and the community he has built here.

As we honor Dr. Kisslo for his unparalleled contributions and unwavering dedication to echocardiography, we also celebrate the deep connections he has forged and the lasting legacy he leaves behind. His spirit continues to inspire those of us who follow in his footsteps, propelling us toward excellence and innovation in our practice.

Thank you, Dr. Kisslo, for being the remarkable person you are. The knowledge and values you have imparted have paved the way for my growth in the field, and your impact on my life and the lives of so many others is immeasurable.

–Fawaz Alenezi, MD

ICYMI: Echocardiography, the AHA, and 100 Years

To further celebrate Dr. Kisslo, please see his commentary, Echocardiography, the AHA, and 100 Years, published in Circulation on Dec. 2, 2024: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.066991

Please Welcome Ben Trichon, MD to Duke Heart Faculty

Dr. Ben Trichon, a heart failure specialist, has joined our Duke Heart faculty. Trichon was a cardiology fellow at Duke from 2000-2004, during which time he received the Dr. Walter Floyd Award for Clinical Excellence.

Trichon officially joined the Duke Heart team on January 27. His first few weeks will involve attending Duke courses and preparing to see patients. Additional information on templates will be shared soon. He’ll be seeing patients at Duke Cardiology of Raleigh and will round on patients at Duke University Hospital. He joins us from Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Some fun facts about Dr. Trichon:

He is married to Jill, and they have 22-year-old twins, Andrew and Gabrielle, who will graduate college this spring.
They have a dog named Ginger.
Trichon has a love for peanut butter and coffee, often together.
The family enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and running, and they are big dog lovers.
He has lived in Asheville for almost 21 years and is excited to join the Raleigh team.

Dr. Trichon is shown here with his son, Andrew.

Welcome back to Duke, Ben!

Person County EMS Continuing Education Update

Dr. Schuyler Jones, Dr. Dennis Narcisse, and Dr. Daniel Loriaux provided education to Person County EMS as part of their continuing education series on January 28th and 30th. This interactive session covered key topics essential to the transfer process for STEMI patients to Duke.

Natalie Horseman, MSN, RN, CNOR is an Associate Clinical Director with the Duke Heart Network. She works closely with Drs. Christopher Granger and Schuyler Jones on regional STEMI collaboration. She worked closely with Dr. Jones on planning this event.

The agenda included:

General ECG Education – Cardiology-focused topics, including 12-lead ECG interpretation
Case Studies on Recent STEMI Activations – Review of ECGs and patient outcomes from activation to hospital discharge
Expectations & Communication – Best practices during STEMI consults and activations
Terminology Review – Understanding and applying Code STEMI protocols

This session reinforced critical skills and strengthened collaboration between EMS providers and Duke’s cardiology team to improve patient outcomes and we received great feedback from the attendees.

Nicely done, team!

UNC Health, Duke Health Partner to Build NC’s First Stand-alone Children’s Hospital

UNC Health and Duke Health, two of the world’s top academic health systems, are uniting to create a new children’s health system in North Carolina, featuring the state’s first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

The two institutions filed articles of incorporation on Jan. 28, 2025, with the State of North Carolina to establish NC Children’s, a private, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Plans for NC Children’s feature a 500-bed children’s hospital, a children’s outpatient care center, and a children’s behavioral health center.

A freestanding children’s hospital in North Carolina has been a decade-long goal for both institutions. An initial $320 million investment into N.C. Children’s made by the state of North Carolina in early 2024 advanced discussions for a collaboration between both entities.

The comprehensive children’s health campus will be located at a yet-to-be-identified site in the Triangle and will include a robust research and education enterprise backed by the medical schools of both universities.

The partnership aims to provide a higher volume of highly specialized pediatric care, enabling families from across the state to remain in North Carolina when seeking complex care.

“This is an unprecedented partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, aimed at elevating the care that’s available for all children in North Carolina,” said Wesley Burks, MD, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “I’m delighted to work with our colleagues at Duke to create something that will make all North Carolinians proud and change lives for generations to come.”

“Children are the heart of our future, and families across North Carolina deserve access to the most comprehensive, highest quality care for their children,” said Craig Albanese, MD, CEO of Duke University Health System. “This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature.”

“This dedicated children’s hospital will reflect our commitment to providing the best possible care for children – not only now but for generations to come,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for Health Affairs at Duke University, chief academic officer of Duke Health and dean of Duke University School of Medicine.

“It will foster groundbreaking pediatric research and first-class education and training for health care professionals,” Klotman said. “By uniting our institutions and disciplines, we can give children the healthy lives they deserve, achieve remarkable breakthroughs, and nurture the future leaders of health care.”

The partnership between both health systems will allow each of the clinical teams to expand their existing children’s clinical programs and research portfolios. The combined organization will create a destination for top pediatric subspecialists, researchers, residents, and fellows.

“There is a great deal of mutual respect between our institutions, and we both want the same thing for the children of North Carolina – the best care, close to home,” Burks said.

The partners plan to break ground together on the new NC Children’s campus by 2027, with construction of the campus expected to take approximately six years.

NC Children’s Facts

Campus: NC Children’s will include 100+ acre campus in the Triangle, anchored by a ~500-bed hospital along with an ambulatory surgical center, medical office building, and behavioral health hospital. The campus will include play areas and rehabilitation facilities, translational research capabilities with a dedicated innovation/collaboration zone, and a mixed-use infrastructure including the potential for hotels, retail, dining, etc.
Organization: NC Children’s is a North Carolina private, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
Services: UNC Health and Duke University Health System will transfer all pediatric-related clinical services, programs & operations to NC Children’s.
Pediatric Research and Education: Pediatric research and education functions will remain with the UNC School of Medicine and Duke School of Medicine for the foreseeable future, although they may be conducted at NC Children’s once operational, particularly clinical teaching and research.
Affiliations: NC Children’s will have perpetual academic affiliations with the Duke and UNC schools of medicine, serving as both organizations’ pediatric teaching hospital.
Practice Model: NC Children’s will develop a practice model for providers from both Duke and UNC, allowing them to retain their existing academic appointments. NC Children’s will have an open medical staff, meaning that qualified providers may apply for privileges, even if they are not affiliated with either school.
Timeline: The hospital is expected to open in the early 2030s. Other core services such as the children’s behavioral health hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or medical office building may open several years earlier.

2025 Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, Distinguished Lecture, Feb. 11

The 2025 Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, Distinguished Lecture will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Noon in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center for Health Education. Carl H. June, MD, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at Perelman School of Medicine will deliver the lecture, The Long and Winding Road Traveled by CAR T Cells.

The event is being held in conjunction with the Duke School of Medicine’s Charting New Horizons for Discovery & Translational Science event. To learn more, please visit: https://duke.is/4/wryg.

Duke Heart Grows Again!

Please join us in congratulating cardiology physician assistant Kelsey Rouse and her family on the arrival of Archie “AJ” Rouse last week. Rouse is a PA at our Cary Clinic. All are doing well!

Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions

Respiratory illnesses throughout our community remain high. We remain in Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions.

Duke Health Leadership Response to White House Executive Orders

Following the signing of executive orders by the new White House Administration, the Duke Health Leadership team stated the following reminder of our key principles:

We will continue to honor our culture commitment to put people first. We are steadfast in our commitment to make Duke Health a place where all are seen, heard, and valued – where every person feels respected and that they belong.
Our missions call on us to serve those who depend on us with compassion and excellence. We will continue to provide the highest quality care to all who come to us for hope, health, and healing, regardless of background.
We have existing policies, procedures, and protocols to inform our operational decision-making. Please guide your team members to continue our process to follow our policies, procedures, and protocols.
As always, we will continue to abide by state and federal law, ensuring that we meet regulatory requirements for healthcare delivery.
As leaders, our team members are counting on us to guide our teams through unsettling moments. We are grateful to each of you for modeling respect, inclusivity, and empathy for all.

Remember the resources available to help you and our team members if you need them: Personal Assistance Service (PAS), Duke Employee Access Clinic, and Caring for Each Other. As always, you can also seek support from your Human Resources representative.

As additional information becomes available on if and how the executive orders will impact our teams, it will be shared with team members.

Thank you for all that you do for our team members and those we serve.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

February is American Heart Month and Black History Month.
National Wear Red Day is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.

Cardiology Grand Rounds

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

February 5: Ventilator Management with Willard Applefeld. Noon, DMP 7E39.

February 7: Nuclear Cardiology with Olga James. Noon, Zoom.

February 12: EP with Cosette Champion and DaMarcus Ingram. Noon, DMP 7E39.

February 14: Antiplatelet Therapy with Jimmy Tcheng. Noon, Zoom.

February 19: HF/Tx with Husam Salah. Noon, DMP 7E39.

February 21: Heart and Diabetes with Nishant Shah. Noon, Zoom.

February 26: DHP with Nishakala Shivakuma. Noon, DMP 7E39.

February 28: EKG with Neil Freedman. Noon, Zoom.

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 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 planned for Fall 2025; the date has not yet been set:

October: Duke Cardiac Imaging Symposium (live event, location TBD)

SOM Charting New Horizons for Discovery & Translational Science

Monday, Feb. 10, 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. Great Hall, Trent Semans Center for Health Education.

Join us for this research symposium to celebrate our tapestry of scientific achievements. This event promises to be a cornerstone for fostering innovation and advancing our understanding across various scientific disciplines.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend
Food and refreshments will be available on both days

This event will be followed by the 2025 Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, Distinguished Lecture at Noon. Dr. Carl H. June of Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania will deliver the lecture.

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.

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.

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