Duke Heart Pulse — February 23, 2025
Chief’s message: Snow, Patient Care, and Education
Another busy week in the Duke Cardiovascular world that was notable for the mid-week snow storm that put 3-6 inches of snow throughout portions of the triangle. I wanted to be sure to thank our staff and faculty that worked hard to ensure we both saw our patients and we worked to cover the different areas where we are able to deliver care. Below in the Pulse you will see an accounting of some of the people that helped make this happen. We also continued Heart Month with great news and additions. Dr. Date, an world renown cardiothoracic surgeon will be joining our CT surgery team. We are excited to welcome him. We also had grand rounds this week with Dr. Gaudino on the Recharge trial and Dr. Khouri gave medical grand rounds on Amyloid cardiomyopathy. We will have another amazing week coming up with two talks this week. On monday, Dr. Sanjiv Shah will talk on transforming HpEF in the age of precision medicine, and on Tuesday February 25th Coach Mike Krzyzewski will give a talk and take questions on leadership and teamwork in healthcare. Finally, we want to thank Dr. Ann Reed, who will be stepping down as the Chair of Pediatrics as the end of the year, for her service and support of Duke Health, our patients, and our residents and students.
Highlights of the week:
Hiroshi Date, MD Joins CT Surgery Faculty
The Duke Department of Surgery is pleased to announce that esteemed cardiothoracic surgeon Hiroshi Date, MD, has joined the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery faculty, effective February 17, 2025.
Dr. Date is a surgeon renowned for performing the first successful living-donor lobar lung transplantation in Japan in 1998. He most recently served as Chairman and Professor in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Kyoto University.
“Dr. Date is bringing a new technique with him from Japan to Duke,” says Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Chair of the Duke Department of Surgery. “He is one of the few world authorities on living donor lung transplantation, and this new international addition to our team will serve to make our already nation-leading team even more capable.”
Having authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Date’s research interests span various fields of general thoracic surgery including thoracic malignancy and lung transplantation.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Date to the Duke Surgery team,” says Carmelo Milano, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. “I am confident that Dr. Date’s expertise as one of the world’s leaders in living-donor lung transplantation will be an important, timely addition to the life-saving care options that Duke offers to our patients.”
Please give Hiroshi a warm welcome when you meet him!
It’s GME Appreciation Week
Duke’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Appreciation Week –sponsored by the Duke GME office runs Feb. 24-28. Please join us in celebrating the amazing work of our trainees who play a vital role in shaping the future of medicine.
Our 44 cardiology fellows and 14 CT surgery residents are among the hundreds of residents and fellows throughout the Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery who contribute daily to the success of Duke University Health System. They help care for the incredibly complex patients who come to Duke for world-class care. In addition, they make invaluable contributions to our research and education missions through their collaboration with faculty. Our trainees are highly committed to community service and make a profound difference in the lives of our patients. We are immensely proud of each one of them.
Trainees: look out for meal deals and a celebratory t-shirt from the GME Office.
We invite everyone to thank and honor our amazing GME trainees during this special recognition week!
Remote Patient Care CME Held
Marat Fudim, MD led an excellent CME this week as course director for our first Remote Patient Care: A New Era in Cardiovascular Disease Management webinar. We had more than 325 attendees register from 39 states and 15 different countries – a robust mix of healthcare providers and industry representatives. Fudim’s co-course director was Dr. Theodore Feldman, head of cardiology and clinical associate professor of medicine at FIU Wertheim College of Medicine and medical director of Prevention and Community Health at Baptist Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute.
The webinar was interactive and well-received and included speakers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Prisma Health, Baptist Miami Cardiac and Vascular, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cadence Solutions, and Community Health Systems. Topics included: updates on GDMT for chronic HF, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as new technologies and modalities to incorporate remote monitoring into health system practices to improve patient care.
Nicely done, Marat!
Shout-out to Outpatient Clinical Staff for Weather-Related Rescheduling
Inclement weather this past week had a significant impact on our outpatient clinic scheduling. Our leadership team shared some of the amazing work that our clinic staff put in to help accommodate needed changes.
A big push was made to handle the surge of patient cancellations, reschedules, template moves, patient calls, etc. It required an all-hands-on-deck approach to keep the operations afloat and everyone worked hard to help our patients with schedule changes.
Overall impact:
- Cancellations for Wed./Thurs.: 870 (including patients canceling remotely through MyChart or Avaamo)
- Reschedules as of Thursday afternoon: 644
- % Rescheduled: 74%
A big shout-out to the following team members…
From DHIP:
Alex Ayala, Mary Brame, Tracie Collins, Kristi Combs, Aaliyah Fleming, Destini Foster, Ricky Griffin, Mario Irias, Valerie Kielty, Monique Lawrence, Trish Lombardo, Rudy Petty, Maggie Robertson, Bob Schumann, Melva Strait, Robbie Strickland, Precious Trice, and Treasa Wilson.
From the Duke Float Pool:
Axel De La Pena, Marcia Streety, Brittany Robinson, and Susan Bryson.
From Triangle Heart Associates:
Leila Andrews, Alicia Armour, Carissa Bregadze, Rachael Langewicz, Maurice Marrow, Amanda Miller, Delicia Moore, Sheila Moore, Carlee Peele, Jennifer Phan-Jackson, Michelle Phung, Sarah Pickett, Laura Santiago-Irwin, Maria Talavera, and Tamra Webster.
From Raleigh:
Shirley DePietro, Octavia Fogg, Priyanka Mukherjee, Nathaska Rivera, Eddie Scott, Stephanie Sullivan, and Emily Sweet.
From the PRMO:
Dayna Fludd, Monica Johnson, Donald Little, Divya Patel, Maryann Shepard, Meha Thakore, Xzavier Walter, and Elisabeth Williams.
Many thanks to Addison Newman, Allen Stephens, and Matt Fitzsimmons for sharing this story with us. Way to go, team!
CGR Reminders: Shah & Krzyzewski to Deliver CGRs This Week
We have CGR on Monday evening with Dr. Sanjiv Shah, cardiologist and researcher from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He’ll present on Transforming HFpEF Management in the Age of Precision Medicine on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, from 5-6:15 p.m. in DN2002 and via Zoom.
And, we’ll have a very special in-person-only Grand Rounds on Tuesday. Please join us! Coach Mike Krzyzewski will be giving Cardiovascular Grand Rounds on Leadership and Teamwork.
Date: February 25th, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m., EST. (Reception with light refreshments to start at 4:30 pm)
Location: Duke North 2002
Look forward to seeing you all there!
Full Circle: Ben’s Journey from Heart Patient to Duke Perfusionist
For Ben Godfrey, heart surgery is more than just a medical procedure—it’s been a defining part of his life.
Born with a congenital heart defect, he underwent his first surgery, an arterial switch procedure, at just two weeks old. Years later, he faced another critical procedure on his aortic valve at Duke University Hospital at 19.
“I’ve always been a heart kid,” he says. “I have two heart anniversaries and grew up with other kids who had heart surgery and experienced congenital heart defects.”
These experiences not only shaped Ben’s personal journey but also sparked a passion for helping others. This calling to care is what led him to pursue training as a perfusionist and his first healthcare role saving the lives of other heart patients in the same hospital that gave him a new lease on life in 2016.
“Having surgery here had a huge impact on my decision to work at Duke Health,” Ben said. “I already had a connection to the hospital, and I understood the experience from the patient’s side. That perspective made it feel like the right place for me to work.” 
Perfusionists are critical members of the surgical team, responsible for operating the heart-lung bypass machine during heart surgery. Ben relates the task of setting up and operating the heart-lung bypass machine to piloting a plane.
“It’s like taking off and landing,” Ben explains. “Going on bypass and coming off are the most critical parts. When everything goes smoothly, it feels amazing.”
Although perfusionists don’t interact directly with patients during surgery, Ben feels his first-hand experience as a heart patient informs his work.
“I think it makes me more mindful of the emotional and physical recovery that patients undergo,” he says. “The entire process can be overwhelming, and I try to approach each case with that in mind because I know exactly what patients are going through. I can empathize with them—not just as a medical professional, but as someone who had been through it myself.”
Since he joined Duke Health in 2023, Ben is not just fulfilling his role on the surgical team—he’s also contributing to Duke Health’s cutting-edge advancements in cardiac care. A focus he calls one of the highlights of his career.
“Duke is always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Ben says. “We’ve been involved in some incredible innovations, from new LVADs to heart transplants and even a trial with total artificial hearts. It’s amazing to be on the front lines of such groundbreaking work.”
His commitment to helping others doesn’t stop at the operating room. At the start of the new year, Ben joined Duke’s Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) transport team, which involves on-call duties beyond his normal work to assist with the transport of patients to Duke Health for specialized care.
“It’s another way to make a difference,” he says. “Knowing that what we do has a real impact on people’s lives is incredibly fulfilling. Being able to give back after having gone through this journey myself means the world to me.”
This team member spotlight was developed for the Careers at Duke Health website.
Khouri Delivers MGR Lecture
Michel G. Khouri, MD, professor of medicine in cardiology, presented Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Model of Precision Cardiomyopathy at Medicine Grand Rounds on Friday morning, Feb. 21. A link to his presentation was not available this weekend but will be available soon. It will appear here: https://duke.is/5/psaf
CGR Welcomed Mario Gaudino to Discuss the RECHARGE Trial
This week we welcomed Dr. Mario Gaudino of Weill Cornell Medicine as our Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker on Tuesday evening, Feb. 18th. His CGR topic was Revascularization Choices Among Under-Represented Groups Evaluation: The RECHARGE Trial.
ICYMI, a recording can be found here.
Health System Updates:
Duke Health, WakeMed and Lifepoint Health Celebrate Opening of New Rehabilitation Hospital
Duke Health, WakeMed and Lifepoint Health celebrated the opening of Peak Rehabilitation Hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Apex, NC. The 52-bed rehabilitation hospital is the result of a joint venture between Duke Health, WakeMed, and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, that was announced in 2021.
“The health challenges of our communities are complex, and we are proud to partner with WakeMed and Lifepoint Health to provide patients and their families access to innovative, cost-effective and high-quality inpatient rehab care,” said Craig Albanese, MD, chief executive officer of Duke University Health System.
Duke Health and WakeMed are both home to comprehensive rehabilitation programs, accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), that support children and adults on their path to recovery and their journey to maximum rehabilitation and independence.
“This joint venture with Duke Health and Lifepoint represents our commitment to meeting the growing needs of our community while carrying out our mission to strengthen the health of our community,” said Donald Gintzig, WakeMed president and CEO.”
The two-story rehabilitation hospital spans more than 60,000 square feet and includes all private rooms, large interdisciplinary therapy gyms, therapeutic courtyards with gardens, walking paths and pickleball, specially designed rooms to treat dialysis patients and a scaled transitional living apartment to help prepare patients for their return to activities of daily living.
Lifepoint Rehabilitation will manage day-to-day operations for the hospital, providing acute rehabilitation care for patients who have experienced a loss of function from injury or illness, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, complex neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, multiple traumas, amputation and other injuries or disorders.
For more information, please visit PeakRehabHospital.com.
Reed to Step Down as Chair, Dept. of Pediatrics, End of 2025
Ann Reed, MD, will step down as chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the end of 2025. Dr. Reed, the Samuel L. Katz Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, has dedicated her career to caring for children with autoimmune disorders and immune dysfunction. Her research, which has spanned over 20 years, focuses on the genetics and causes of human autoimmune diseases, particularly juvenile dermatomyositis.
The announcement was made earlier this week by Dr. Mary Klotman, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Duke, and Dr. Craig Albanese, Chief Executive Officer of Duke University Health System.
“Dr. Reed’s leadership has been instrumental in propelling our pediatrics department to new heights, and her contributions will have a lasting impact on our Duke community,” the announcement said.
Moira Rynn, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will lead a committee through a national search to identify Dr. Reed’s successor.
Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions
Respiratory illnesses throughout our community remain high. We remain in Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions.
Navigating the Impact of Recent Executive Orders
The following resource page for the latest news and information related to the recent executive orders from the White House is being updated regularly. It includes direct links to policies and guidance documents as they are published. If you have specific questions, please escalate those to your supervisor.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- February is American Heart Month and Black History Month.
- February 24 – 28 is GME Week!
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, DN 2002. (A reception with light refreshments will begin at 4:30 p.m.)
If you missed any of our CGRs 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 26: DHP with Nishakala Shivakuma. Noon, DMP 7E39.
February 28: EKG with Neil Freedman. Noon, Zoom.
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
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)
Preparing for Transition from GME to DHIP Attending
Duke trainees who have accepted or are considering a Duke faculty position may find this event helpful.
This onboarding preparation session is for current Duke trainees who have accepted or are considering a Duke Faculty position. Members of Duke Health’s onboarding team will walk you through the process to prepare you for an efficient and successful transition. It’s an opportunity to meet leadership and network with colleagues who will also be staying at Duke.
When: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 — 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Medical Center Amphitheater @ Duke Clinics (Basement level)
Please RSVP by March 31, 2025. Contact: Kylee.Mace@duke.edu.
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:
February 12 — Marat Fudim
Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology
Data Demonstrates Favorable Impact of AVIM Therapy on Diastolic Dysfunction
February 14 — Robert Califf
Politico
February 17 — Robert Califf
Endpoints News
Former FDA chief calls job cuts ‘haphazard, poorly thought-out’
February 18 — Karen Alexander
The New York Times
New Insights Into Older Hearts
February 18 — Duke Heart study (Fudim*)
The Miami Times
A troubling trend: Rising heart failure rates in young adults
*refers to 2024 JAMA Cardiology research letter
February 18 — Marat Fudim
Cardiac Interventions Today
Orchestra BioMed’s AVIM Therapy Studied for Impact on Diastolic Dysfunction
February 18 — Robert Califf
Inside Health Policy
Califf Condemns FDA Cuts as Scope of Layoffs Still Unclear
February 18 — Gillian D. Sanders Schmidler (Pop. Health/Margolis Institute for Health Policy)
Avertix Guardian System Evaluated for Cost-Effectiveness in ACS Patients
February 19 — Karen Alexander
Juta Medical Brief
Why older patients need a different treatment for heart conditions
February 19 — Harry Severance
Becker’s ASC Review
Is the physician workforce headed towards ‘disenfranchisement and marginalization’?
February 19 — Robert Lefkowitz
The Hoya
THE INTERSECTION: The Catastrophic Health Effects of “America First”
February 19 — Robert Califf
Supermarket News
Head of FDA’s food division resigns
February 20 — Geeta Swamy (OBGYN)
NPR/The Indicator from Planet Money
What happens when billions of dollars in research funding goes away
Duke Heart Pulse — February 16, 2025
Highlights of the week:
Emory’s Sperling Presented CGR; Focused on Prevention
This week we welcomed Dr. Larry Sperling of Emory School of Medicine as our Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker. Sperling is the founder and former director of The Heart Disease Prevention Center at Emory. He is currently the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at Emory School of Medicine and Professor of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health. His CGR topic was ‘Focus on CKMH to Prevent CVD’.
ICYMI a recording can be found here.
Viola and Towery Earn IBHRE Certification
Congratulations to clinical service nurses Jody Viola and Emily Towery of Duke Electrophysiology! They both recently passed the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IHBRE) Allied Professionals Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS) exam earning certification as remote monitoring specialists.
IBHRE certification validates expertise in managing heart rhythm disorders and cardiac device implantation. The IBHRE test is recognized as a standard in the medical industry for heart rhythm competency. Candidates are expected to have broad knowledge in five general areas: rhythm recognition; device and lead function; remote serve management; diagnostic monitoring, and device technology. Certification is good for four years.
Way to go, Jody and Emily!
Duke Heart Grows Again!
We’re excited to share the happy news that Emily and Mike Towery have welcomed their second child, a daughter. Violet was born on Feb. 10. “She decided to be efficient with her hospital stay with a door-to-delivery time of 25 minutes,” according to Mike.
Mom, Violet, and Dad are all doing well! She’s excited to be a great sister to her brother, Amos.
Congratulations, Mike and Emily!
News You Can Use: Community Engagement Updates
Earlier this month, during an event held at the Durham Convention Center, Duke officially launched the Duke Center for Community Engagement as a way to bolster partnerships with the city of Durham and throughout the region.
In creating the center, Vincent Price, president of Duke University, said it will enable the university to amplify existing community work. Central to the center is the idea that community groups will be full partners in identifying critical areas of research. Duke teams will listen and work with the community groups in developing the project, then turn the data over to them to implement solutions.
Cardiologist Gerald Bloomfield, MD is a member of the steering committee. To learn more about the Center, please see A Front Door to Community-Engaged Research That Benefits Durham and Duke.
Additionally, Duke Community Affairs launched an online resource in December to enable more efficient collaborations between Duke and Durham community organizations. The Partnership Platform is designed to better connect faculty, staff, and students from across Duke University and the Health System with community engagement resources, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Duke officials hope all university academic programs, student groups, and employee efforts involved in community engagement and partnerships will contribute information to the platform. Each program and opportunity added makes the site more meaningful to community organizations.
To learn more, please see A New Platform to Build Stronger Community Partnerships.
Preparing for Transition from GME to DHIP Attending
Duke trainees who have accepted or are considering a Duke faculty position may find this event helpful.
This onboarding preparation session is for current Duke trainees who have accepted or are considering a Duke Faculty position. Members of Duke Health’s onboarding team will walk you through the process to prepare you for an efficient and successful transition. It’s an opportunity to meet leadership and network with colleagues who will also be staying at Duke.
When: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 — 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Medical Center Amphitheater @ Duke Clinics (Basement level)
Please RSVP by March 31, 2025. Contact: Kylee.Mace@duke.edu.
Too Many Books at Home? Help Stock the DUH Patient Book Cart!
The Arts & Health at Duke program is seeking book donations to help fill their Reading Cart for adult inpatients. The Arts & Health program provides entertainment, comfort, and a way to pass the time for adult inpatients during their hospital stay. Your donations can make a meaningful difference!
Book Donation Guidelines:
- New or gently used in good condition
- No mold, smoke, or liquid damage
- No missing, torn, or loose pages
- No torn spines or excessive markings
Audience: Donations are for adult patients only. We are not collecting children’s materials at this time.
Donation Drop Box Locations:
- Duke Clinic: near Pink Elevators
- Duke North Lobby: near the Elevator area
Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions
Respiratory illnesses throughout our community remain high. We remain in Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions.
Navigating the Impact of Recent Executive Orders
The following resource page for the latest news and information related to the recent executive orders from the White House is being updated regularly. It includes direct links to policies and guidance documents as they are published. If you have specific questions, please escalate those to your supervisor.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- February is American Heart Month and Black History Month.
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 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)
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.
Duke Heart in the News:
February 6 — Reid Chamberlain
WFMY News 2
‘God’s got this.’ Boy with congenital heart defect clings to faith on quest for cure
February 8 — Leanna Ross
The Hearty Soul
The Truth About Burning Belly Fat – What Works
February 10 — Robert Lefkowitz
Environmental Health News
Trump administration slashes medical research funding, threatening progress on disease treatments
February 10 — Duke University/DUHS
Triangle Business Journal
Trump policy would pummel UNC, Duke research funding
February 10 — Duke University/DUHS
The New York Times
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Cuts to Medical Research Funding
February 10 — Gavin Yamey (Margolis Center)
The News & Observer
NIH cuts will cost Triangle universities millions. Now NC is suing Trump to block action
February 10 — Michael Pencina
JAMA Network/Viewpoint
February 10 — Robert Lefkowitz
Vanity Fair
Donald Trump’s Slash-and-Burn Second Term
February 11 — Robert Lefkowitz & Gavin Yamey
The Chronicle (Duke University)
February 11 — Robert Lefkowitz
Axios Raleigh
NIH cuts could deal a blow to the Triangle and North Carolina’s economy
February 12 — Marat Fudim
MyChesCo (Chester Co., PA)
Orchestra BioMed Unveils Groundbreaking Data on AVIM Therapy’s Potential to Prevent Heart Failure
February 12 — Manesh Patel
The Island News (Beaufort, SC)
Why ‘cough CPR’ is not the lifesaver it’s made out to be
February 13 — Robert Mentz
Medscape
Shunt System Still Improving HF Symptoms at 2 Years
February 13 — Tommy D’Amico
CTS Net
The Beat With Joel Dunning Ep. 92: Oligometastatic Disease
Duke Heart Pulse — February 9, 2025
Chief’s message:
This week we had a busy week caring for patients, educating our residents and fellows, and continuing our research missions across the basic, translational, and clinical realms. We had Go-Red day on Friday to raise awareness for Heart Disease – see the photos below. We are also excited to have Dr. Robert Califf join us at Duke again – you will see the announcement below. Finally, Friday evening the NIH announced a change to the indirect rate for institutions doing NIH funded research. This has real impact on the ability for organizations like ours to continue life-changing medical research. There has been quite a bit of misunderstanding and misinformation on the rate and how this funding actually supports the research at Universities. We will be devoting some upcoming weeks to describe this for our community. You will see that Dr. Lefkowitz from our own cardiovascular research center (CVRC) and Nobel Prize winner comments on it for the New York Times. He highlights the value of basic research, as evidenced by the many therapeutics that have been developed by his groundbreaking description of G-protein coupled receptors. As with a lot of ongoing changes – there will be real challenges and opportunities that we will work to better understand and align as we continue to improve the health of our community and country.
Highlights of the week:
National Wear Red Day
Thanks to everyone who supported National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 7! Please continue to submit your photos to Pulse. We’re happy to run them throughout February.
Shown here are members of 2K CDU, Cath Lab, and Heart Step-Down leadership team members.
Happy Heart Month!
Califf Returns to Duke Heart
We are delighted to share that Dr. Robert Califf has returned to Duke Health as a faculty member in the Division of Cardiology. He’s excited to be back at Duke and looking forward to working in a role that he described as a sort of ‘free agent’ – not necessarily running a program or taking on responsibilities for a specific group, but working on a variety of important issues and helping others if they need guidance or someone to bounce ideas off, and perhaps helping support younger faculty as they navigate the early stages of their career.
Califf has always been passionate about issues that matter to him. At 73, Califf says he no longer wants to work at the pace he has been working for the past decade, but that he’s looking to contribute his time, talents, and understanding to areas he sees as critical, particularly as they relate to healthcare. He’s very concerned about the information ecosystem – one that is proliferating misinformation.
“I think part of what we need to work on are names and words we can use that are not so polarizing,” Califf said. “We’ve been losing the battle on misinformation because people are more and more influenced by unreliable information due to all these factors related to social media and purposeful manipulation.”
The second area he’s concerned about it cardiometabolic disease. “Throughout the world, but also very specifically, in the U.S., North Carolina and Durham, the combination of obesity, diabetes, vascular disease, use of tobacco – these are the primary risk factors that are the basis for cardiometabolic disease,” Califf added. “So, we’ll be working on approaches to health improvement in that regard and how our faculty and the health system can deal with it.”
His experience heading up the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under former Presidents Obama and Biden has given him a great deal of experience with policy-making at the national level and he hopes to continue to impact healthcare policies where possible. As for his time at the FDA, Califf says it was a great experience for him and that he gained a lot of appreciation for what the government can do.
Ultimately, Califf is happy to be back at Duke and looks forward to helping support faculty members by being a supportive listener, offering guidance based on his career experiences, and to working on critical healthcare issues that impact all Americans.
Please give him a warm welcome when you see him!
Trump Administration Cuts Put Medical Progress at Risk, Researchers Say
Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, cardiologist and Duke Health Distinguished Professor of Medicine was quoted in Friday’s issue of The New York Times in a story regarding Trump Administration cuts to National Institute of Health grants and the impact it will have on research universities. ICYMI, please see: https://duke.is/4/62b6 (story is also highlighted below under news coverage.)
Speaking of Lefkowitz…
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.
Great Catch, Lorenzi!
Lauren Lorenzi, a nurse on 7 East in Duke University Hospital who was performing dual verification for an insulin order, noted 16 units of glargine insulin was ordered and Syringe filled by pharmacy included the correct labeling with patient identifiers and ordered dose, however the actual syringe only contained 11 units of insulin. Lauren escalated this discrepancy to her Charge Nurse for support and notified the First Call Provider who was not concerned about the discrepancy. Ultimately to ensure she followed the orders for this patient, Lauren took extra steps to obtain a new syringe with the correct dose. This great catch, which required vigilance and ‘asking questions and questioning the answers,’ was reported via SRS as a mechanism to ensure awareness of the right team members to support learning and continuous improvement.
Way to go, Lauren!
Shout-out to Night Shift Fellows!
Thank you to all the fellows who worked nights recently which included record numbers of overnight consults for many fellows. Nate Goodwin sent the following observation to Anna Lisa Chamis, who shared it with us:
“It was definitely a record for me. But also worth noting that Hubie and Jon Hanna were in the ICU – Hubie did a whole floor consult on a patient the oncology team approached him about in the CCU, and Jon took care of triaging and caring for a sick patient in the ED who ultimately came to the floor with me while I was off seeing other patients on a busy floor night. Just another example of selfless work from my great co-fellows at Duke.” – Nate Goodwin
Great job Hubie, Jonathan, Nate and the rest of the recent overnight teams!
Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions
Respiratory illnesses throughout our community remain high. We remain in Tier 2 Visitor Restrictions.
Navigating the Impact of Recent Executive Orders
Recent Executive Orders filed by the White House Administration have led to some uncertainty as well as a range of opinions and emotions. It is vital to remember that Duke Health remains committed to the compassionate care, safety, and well-being of our patients, our team members, and the communities we serve. Our commitment to be an organization where all are seen, heard, and valued – regardless of background – remains unchanged.
We have assembled a team of leaders who are working diligently to evaluate and understand the potential impacts of these orders. We have also created this resource page, where you can find the latest news and information, including direct links to policies and guidance documents as they are published. If you have specific questions, please escalate those to your supervisor.
As an organization, we will continue to put people first and demonstrate the integrity and empathy that define our work, and strengthen the relationships that are core to our organizational culture. Thank you for all you do each and every day.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- February is American Heart Month and Black History Month.
- February 9-15 is Cardiac Rehab Week and CV Professionals Week
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Feb. 11: Focus on CKMH to Prevent CVD with Laurence Sperling, MD of Emory University School of Medicine. 5 p.m., Zoom only.
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 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.
Duke Heart in the News:
February 3 — Karen Alexander
Verywell Health
Cholesterol-Lowering Statins May Reduce Dementia Risk by 63%, Study Says
February 7 — Robert Lefkowitz
The New York Times
Trump Administration Cuts Put Medical Progress at Risk, Researchers Say
Duke Heart Pulse — February 2, 2025
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.
Duke Heart in the News:
January 17 — Jonathan Piccini
Medical Product Outsourcing
Medtronic Announces Primary Results from the DEFINE AFib Clinical Study of the LINQ Family
January 17 — Jonathan Piccini
Cardiovascular Business
Medtronic heart rhythm technologies on full display at AF Symposium 2025
January 21 — John Alexander
Street Insider
January 22 — Manesh Patel
SF Gate
Why ‘cough CPR’ is not the lifesaver it’s made out to be
*this story also appeared in the Herald-Sun, Houston Chronicle, and other McClatchy news outlets
January 23 — Duke Health
Becker’s Hospital Review
Top-ranked hospitals for stent placement, by state
January 23 — Audrey Blewer (Family Medicine & Comm Health)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
You’re unlikely to survive cardiac arrest. How Tarrant County wants to change that
January 29 — Jonathan Piccini
Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology
Study Shows Medtronic ICM Accurately Predicts Risk Thresholds for AFib Patients Using AI
January 30 — Adrian Hernandez
tctMD
Early Actions by Trump Administration Sow Uncertainty for CV Research
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