Duke Heart Pulse — February 23, 2025 – The Pulse

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 25^th, 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

Battle of the journals

February 17 — Robert Califf

Endpoints News

Former FDA chief calls job cuts ‘haphazard, poorly thought-out’

February 18 — Karen Alexander

The New York Times