Duke Heart Pulse — March 30, 2025
Chief’s message:
Hope everyone is having a great weekend. The American College of Cardiology meeting is this weekend and we will share updates and Science from the meeting in upcoming weeks. Also want to acknowledge and recognize all the amazing work and dedication of our physicians in our heart and vascular group on national doctors day. Finally, I am including a photo of Pam Morris – a past Duke Faculty member, past president of the American College and Cardiology, and proud Duke Fan who helped root the blue devils to victory Saturday night. It’s great to have Duke in the Final Four again and hopefully keep this amazing run going.
Highlights of the week:
Celebrating Doctor’s Day & the Conclusion of Ramadan
As our Muslim team members celebrate the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, we wish all our colleagues and their families a joyous and peaceful Eid al-Fitr. May this special occasion bring you moments of happiness, reflection, and gratitude.
Let us take this time to appreciate the values of unity, compassion, and kindness that this festival inspires. We extend our warmest wishes to all those observing and hope this festive season brings prosperity and joy to everyone.
Eid Mubarak!
Mathew Stepping Down as Chair, Dept of Anesthesiology
Joseph P. Mathew, MD, the Jerry Reves, MD, Professor of Cardiac Anesthesiology, is stepping down as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the end of June, 2025, after a decade in this role. He will remain on faculty, pursuing his research into cognitive outcomes after surgery.
Padma Gulur, MD, will serve as interim chair. A national search will be launched in Spring 2026 to identify the next permanent chair for the department. This announcement was made by Drs. Mary Klotman and Craig Albanese in an email to DUHS team members on Tuesday, March 25.
Dr. Mathew has been an integral part of Duke Health since 1998. His tenure as chair has been marked by numerous accomplishments that have significantly advanced the department and the field of anesthesiology. Over the last decade, Dr. Mathew has propelled the department to prominence as a national leader in clinical care, research, and education. He enhanced patient care by establishing the Preoperative Anesthesia and Surgical Screening (PASS) Clinic, a perioperative assessment program designed to optimize patients for surgery. His contributions to pain research are equally significant—he founded the Center for Translational Pain Medicine, now recognized as one of the top pain research centers worldwide. Dr. Mathew also revolutionized perioperative operations by spearheading the development of real-time data analytic tools, improving efficiency, patient outcomes, and business decision-making. Furthermore, he expanded pain services to encompass perioperative and integrated pain management, fostering a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care.
Dr. Mathew has also been deeply committed to developing students and trainees, winning numerous awards for mentorship, and his signature initiative has been cultivating the next generation of leaders. He launched a multidimensional program that includes the Academy for Building Leadership Excellence (ABLE), investing in the growth and leadership of faculty members.
Padma Gulur, MD, current executive vice chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will serve as interim chair starting July 1, 2025. Gulur’s extensive experience and commitment to excellence make her the ideal candidate to lead the department during this transition. A national search for the new chair will commence in the spring of 2026.
Please join us in thanking Dr. Mathew for his outstanding service and welcoming Dr. Gulur to her new role.
Amyloidosis Support Seminar Held
Our Amyloidosis team hosted an Amyloidosis Support seminar on Saturday, March 22, in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center. It was a resounding success with more than 100 patients attending as well as multiple faculty members from Duke and elsewhere presenting the latest information on research and care. Several Duke genetic counselors and research coordinators also presented.
Photos above: a) Michel Khouri, MD, b) (L-R) Johana Fajardo, Courtlyn Witte, Phoenix Grover, and Morgan Lewis, c) Aubrey Coburn, Dallas Sandoval, and Khouri.
The team welcomed several industry partners, and members of the Amyloidosis Support Group Association (ASGA) were on hand as well to answer questions. The ASGA sponsored the meeting.
“The feedback we received from the patients was very positive, said Johana Fajardo, clinical services director of the Duke Precision Cardiomyopathy Program. “We even had a few patients let us know they would like to volunteer their services at our next one!”
Fajardo sends special kudos to Morgan Lewis, amyloidosis program nurse clinician, and to Courtlyn Witte and Phoenix Grover, genetics counselors for the program, for their help in planning and helping make the event a success.
APPs Celebrating Career Milestones
The following Duke Heart APPs are celebrating career milestones this year:
Sandra S. Anton, Ashley M. Massengale, and Janny M. Sweetow, all of cardiology, as well as Eric E. Butteris and Adam M.Tulp of the CT ICU, are celebrating five years of service at Duke.
Mallory E. Bailey, Stacey Link and Courtney Stierwalt with the CT Stepdown Unit, and Nicolena C. D’Sola, with cardiology are all celebrating 10 years of service.
Jade Clausen and Courtney E. Young in cardiology are celebrating 15 years of service.
Miranda K. Flowers and Hayley J. Karan with the CT Stepdown Unit, Brooke L. Lewis and Payal M. Perera with cardiology, and Margaret A. Murphy of the CT ICU, are all celebrating 20 years of service.
Congratulations and thank you for being a vital part of Duke Heart!
April 2 DCRI Research Forum Features PepsiCo’s Tataranni
We hope you’ll join us for the next event in the DCRI Research Forum series, featuring Pietro Antonio Tataranni, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Research & Development Life Sciences at PepsiCo, who will join us for a fireside chat from Noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2. Tataranni will join DCRI Executive Director Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS, to discuss Pepsi’s approach to innovation, scientific research, and integrating nutrition science into its product development.
What: DCRI Research Forum: A Fireside Chat with Pietro Antonio Tataranni, MD
When: Noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Where: https://duke.zoom.us/j/99686185962?pwd=tU5PhssquZBAglXy7IaI7URKhThdSg.1
Webinar ID: 996 8618 5962
New Duke-NUS-Funded Research Opportunities
The Office of Duke-NUS Affairs is accepting applications from Duke University faculty interested in visiting and collaborating with Duke-NUS Medical School. Below are details on two Duke-NUS-funded opportunities.
Duke/Duke-NUS Research Collaboration Pilot Project 2025
Duke University and Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) are seeking applications for collaborative research pilot projects that bring together faculty from both institutions. This year’s research theme is “Comparing USA and Singapore Populations Using Novel Technologies and Strategies.”
Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) is seeking applications from Duke University faculty interested in visiting and collaborating with Duke-NUS faculty on potential research projects.
This initiative aims to foster partnerships in key basic science areas, including cancer and stem cell biology, neuroscience and behavioral disorders, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, health services and systems, emerging infectious diseases, and clinical sciences in partnership with SingHealth.
DUHS Updates
In addition to the announcement about Joseph Mathew, MD, Duke University Health System executive leadership made two additional announcements this week regarding upcoming senior leadership changes:
Debra Clark Jones, associate vice president for Community Health for Duke University Health System, has stepped down from her role. Since assuming this role in October 2021, Debra has been a passionate advocate and driving force behind numerous impactful initiatives that have strengthened our connection to the communities we serve. Ian Lee Brown, Vice President and Chief Employee Experience Officer for DUHS, will serve as interim AVP for Community Health. In the coming months, we will begin the search for a successor to fill this key leadership role. The news was announced on Monday, March 24, 2025, by Dr. Craig Albanese, CEO, DUHS, and Stelfanie Williams, Ed.D., vice president, Duke Community Affairs.
Matt Barber, MD, MHS, has been appointed president, Duke Health Integrated Practice and vice dean for Clinical Affairs, Duke School of Medicine. Barber has served as interim senior vice president of DHIP since July 1, 2024. As interim, Barber has brought a clear vision, passionate support, and strategic alignment to the critical work done by Duke departments, community practices, faculty, and staff every day. Barber has been instrumental in enhancing collaboration across Duke Health and building an infrastructure that supports the future growth of Duke Health for years to come.
As president and vice dean, Barber will oversee practice operations, strategy development, and implementation throughout DHIP. He will continue to support our team as they deliver remarkable patient care, while fostering a clinical culture of exceptional physician and team member well-being, so that DHIP is an organization where people thrive and we can continue to recruit and retain the very best. Working within the DUHS and SOM leadership team, he will play a critical role in further integration of our academic and clinical missions. Additionally, he will maintain his role as an executive sponsor for our organizational culture work to be Better Together.
The Barber announcement was made on Thursday, March 27, 2025, by Tom Owens, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, DUHS, and Mary Klotman, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, Duke University School of Medicine.
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
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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
April 2: DHP Case presentation with Hubert Haywood and Manesh Patel. Noon, DMP 2W91.
April 4: EKG Review with Michele Kelsey. Noon, Zoom.
April 9: Board Review with Paula Rambarat and Nishant Shah. Noon, DMP 7W70.
April 11: Nuclear Cardiology Physics and Radiation with Robert Reiman. Noon, Zoom.
April 16: TBD
April 18: No Conference/ Good Friday
April 23: HF/Txp with Joshua Sink. Noon, DMP 7W70.
April 25: DHP Case presentation with Jonathan Kusner. Noon, hybrid: Zoom & DMP 7W70.
April 30: EP with Jawan Abdulrahim and Aarti Thakkar. Noon, DMP 7E39.
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration coming soon; now open for April 26th and June 7th symposia.
- April 26, 2025: Duke Structural Heart Symposium (live event at Trent Semans Center in Durham). Registration is required; event is free.
- June 7, 2025: Duke Heart Failure Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center in Durham). Registration is required.
- October 4, 2025: Duke Cardiac Sonography Symposium (live event at Trent Semans Center)
- October 31, 2025: 17th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center)
Preparing for Transition from GME to DHIP Attending, April 9
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.
2025 McGovern Lecture – April 16
The 2025 McGovern Lecture will be delivered by Kimberly D. Manning, MD, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair, RYSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions Initiatives at Emory University Department of Medicine.
#HumanismAlways: Remembering the Person in Front of You
Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m., Great Hall, Trent Semans Center
Reflection and storytelling are integral pieces of medical education and patient care. How we see ourselves, the world, and our patients comes through experiential learning that is strengthened when we pause for deeper meaning. In this lecture, we will explore the importance of recognizing the human in front of us—which can sometimes be the one in the mirror—and all of the richness and growth that can happen if we just pay attention.
Kimberly D. Manning, MD, MACP is a general internist whose clinical work is provided at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s safety net facility, where she has been for over two decades.
Event is free, registration is required. To learn more, please visit: https://trentcenter.duke.edu/2025-mcgovern-lecture. A reception will follow.
This event is presented by the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and the History of Medicine and is made possible by the McGovern Prize Endowment. The McGovern Prize is awarded to an individual for outstanding contributions to the art & science of medicine.
Duke SON Global Health Lecture to Feature Sheila Davis, April 17
Duke University School of Nursing’s Office of Global and Community Health Initiatives invites you to attend the 14th Annual Dorothy L. Powell Global Health Lecture, featuring the esteemed Dr. Sheila Davis, Chief Executive Officer at Partners In Health, as the keynote speaker. This event is a unique opportunity to engage with a global leader whose work has profoundly impacted healthcare and advanced health equity worldwide.
The event will be held Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The location has not yet been announced.
Dr. Davis’s dedication to improving the lives of individuals and her extensive experience in both clinical and leadership roles make her an ideal speaker for this prestigious lecture series. Her insights will shed light on the critical role healthcare workers play in addressing social determinants of health and resolving pressing global health issues.
Registration is free, register 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:
March 24 — Robert Lefkowitz
La Nueva Espana (Spain)
March 25 — Duke Health
NC Health News
Turf war erupts over organ donation services
March 25 — Harry Severance
KevinMD.com
The hidden cost of a medical career: Is it still worth it?
March 25 — Jonathan Piccini
Medical Design & Outsourcing
Lessons from Medtronic’s Define AFib study of implantable cardiac monitors
March 26 — Senthil Selvaraj and Jessica Regan
Precision Medicine Online
New Treatments Spur Interest in Broader Genetic Screening for Rare Heart Condition
March 27 — John Alexander
HCP Live
Prior Oral Anticoagulant Use May Influence Stroke, Bleeding Risk in AF
March 28 — Robert Califf
CGT Live
Robert M Califf, MD, MACC, on Urgency of Funding and Equity in Neuromuscular Research and Care
Duke Heart Pulse — March 23, 2025
Highlights of the week:
First BrioVAD Implanted at Duke for INNOVATE Trial
A team of Duke surgeons implanted the first BrioVAD at Duke on March 14 as part of the INNOVATE research clinical trial for adult patients with advanced refractory left ventricular heart failure. The clinical trial involves randomization to receive either the investigational BrioVAD or the FDA-approved HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). It is the first clinical study to compare LVADs that belong to the same category of fully magnetically levitated LVADs.
The INNOVATE Trial is a prospective, non-blinded, randomized, controlled, multi-center, non-inferiority study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BrioVAD System by demonstrating non-inferiority to the HeartMate 3 LVAD. The study has six other U.S. sites besides Duke. They are Emory University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Henry Ford Health, Montefiore Medical Center and the University of Utah. Duke’s principal investigator is thoracic surgeon Jeffrey Keenan, MD.
“I want to congratulate Drs. Jeff Keenan and Jacob Schroder on accomplishing the first BrioVAD implant at Duke,” said Carmelo A. Milano, MD, Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor of Surgery and Division Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke. “This is a novel, durable LVAD which hopefully will provide advantages over the current FDA-approved technology.
“With this implant, Duke joins a handful of centers that have done implants in a pilot clinical trial. Our patient is doing well and approaching discharge from the ICU. Congratulations to the cardiologists, surgeons, and anesthesia team involved in the case.”
Way to go, team!
Celebration Stations for National Doctor’s Day
National Doctor’s Day is officially Sunday, March 30, but at Duke University Hospital, we will observe it on Wednesday, March 26, and Thursday, March 27. Please join us for Celebration Stations that will be set up throughout the hospital — all physicians are invited to drop in to enjoy breakfast and be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
National Doctors’ Day has a rich history dating back to 1933 when the Barrow County Alliance of Winder, Georgia held the first observance thanks to Eudora Brown Almond (the wife of a physician) who suggested a day be set aside to honor doctors. Since then, it has evolved into a national event celebrated by healthcare organizations and institutions across the U.S. This annual observance provides an opportunity to honor the dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment of physicians in providing high-quality healthcare to individuals and communities worldwide.
Celebration Stations will be located as follows:
Wednesday, March 26
- Duke North | Rooms 2000 – 2003
- 6 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Thursday, March 27
- Ambulatory Surgery – North Pavilion | Room 2125
- 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
- Emergency Department | Room CR 2619
- 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Cancer Center | Room 0N01 near Tropical Smoothie
- 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Duke South | Gorrie Conference Room 1170B Yellow Zone
- 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Enjoy — and thank you for all you do!
Celebrating Rick Blake, Duke Cath Lab
Long-time Duke Heart team member Rick Blake was celebrated this past week by the Duke Cardiac Catheterization team. Thursday marked his last day at Duke after 37 years — 36 of them in the Cath Lab and one working for Duke’s central monitoring lab.
“Rick has been a valued member of our team for many years,” says Rebecca Dial, nurse manager for adult Cardiac Cath Labs. “He has embraced changes with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. In addition to the support he provided the Cath lab, he assisted with TAVRs in the OR. He will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best as he enjoys retirement!”
We particularly loved hearing him highlight how much he has loved his job and team.
Thanks for your many years of teamwork, Rick! You have helped thousands of patients over 36 years and have been an important part of what makes the Cath Lab team special. Congrats on your retirement!
Shout-out to Salah and Ingram!
We received a terrific note this week to recognize two of our cardiology fellows: Husam Salah and Damarcus Ingram.
“I am reaching out to celebrate two of our cardiovascular fellows, Husam Salah and Damarcus Ingram. It has been an incredibly busy week for us in the Cardiac Cath Lab (48 cases on Monday alone!), and these two have gone above and beyond every day, transporting patients to and from the lab, assisting in codes, and consenting patients at impressive speeds. We are beyond grateful for their generosity and absolutely could not have helped so many patients without their hard work.” — Melissa Rogan, CNIII, Adult Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Way to go, Husam and Damarcus!
Duke SON Global Health Lecture Announced
Duke University School of Nursing’s Office of Global and Community Health Initiatives invites you to attend the 14th Annual Dorothy L. Powell Global Health Lecture, featuring the esteemed Dr. Sheila Davis, Chief Executive Officer at Partners In Health, as the keynote speaker. This event is a unique opportunity to engage with a global leader whose work has profoundly impacted healthcare and advanced health equity worldwide.
The event will be held Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The location has not yet been announced.
Dr. Davis’s dedication to improving the lives of individuals and her extensive experience in both clinical and leadership roles make her an ideal speaker for this prestigious lecture series. Her insights will shed light on the critical role healthcare workers play in addressing social determinants of health and resolving pressing global health issues.
Registration is free, register here.
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
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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
March 26: EP with Jonathan Kusner and Ivan Nenadic Wood. Noon, in-person.
March 28: No conference/ACC
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration coming soon; now open for the Duke HF Symposium.
- 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). Registration is open!
- October 4, 2025: Duke Cardiac Sonography Symposium (live event at Trent Semans Center)
- October 31, 2025: 17th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center)
Gatsby Themed Fundraiser to Support Duke Heart for Honduras
There will be a Great Gatsby Casino Night on Saturday, March 29, 2025, as a fundraiser to benefit the Duke Heart for Honduras program. All proceeds will go directly to purchasing equipment and medical supplies to operate on children in need.
There will be a silent auction, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the City Lights Jazz Band will be performing live. Donations can be made and tickets can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.net/2025gatsbycasino/welcome
Thank you for supporting Duke Heart for Honduras!
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.
2025 McGovern Lecture
The 2025 McGovern Lecture will be delivered by Kimberly D. Manning, MD, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair, RYSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions Initiatives at Emory University Department of Medicine.
#HumanismAlways: Remembering the Person in Front of You
Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m., Great Hall, Trent Semans Center
Reflection and storytelling are integral pieces of medical education and patient care. How we see ourselves, the world, and our patients comes through experiential learning that is strengthened when we pause for deeper meaning. In this lecture, we will explore the importance of recognizing the human in front of us—which can sometimes be the one in the mirror—and all of the richness and growth that can happen if we just pay attention.
Kimberly D. Manning, MD, MACP is a general internist whose clinical work is provided at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s safety net facility, where she has been for over two decades.
The event is free, registration is required. To learn more, please visit: https://trentcenter.duke.edu/2025-mcgovern-lecture. A reception will follow.
This event is presented by the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and the History of Medicine and made possible by the McGovern Prize Endowment. The McGovern Prize is awarded to an individual for outstanding contributions to the art and science of medicine.
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:
March 14 — Nina Nouhravesh
Pledge Times
Eggs may not be negative for cardiovascular health, according to new research
March 17 — Duke University Health System
Reuters
US House panel launches antitrust probe of medical residency system
March 18 — Joseph Turek
American Hospital Association
One heart, three lives: How Duke Health is revolutionizing pediatric heart transplants
March 20 — Doug Overbey and Joseph Turek
Medscape
The Partial Heart Transplant Because Kids Grow, Valves Don’t
March 20 — Wilson Medical Center/Duke Lifepoint
The Wilson Times
For Your Health: Wilson Medical Center earns chest pain center accreditation
Duke Heart Pulse — March 16, 2025
Highlights of the week:
Celebrations!
Lots to celebrate this weekend — Duke MBB had an exciting win over UNC on Friday night and again last night over Louisville to clinch the ACC tournament championship game. Always great fun to watch! Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, so don a bit of green. We continue to wish those in our Muslim community a happy Ramadan, which continues through March 29, 2025, ending with Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marked by prayers, feasting and acts of generosity.
Ramadan Kareem! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Go Duke!
Jones Presented CGR
Schuyler Jones, MD presented Cardiology Grand Rounds on Thursday evening, March 13. He gave a guidelines update — Peripheral Artery Disease 2024 ACC/AHA Guidelines Update. If you missed it, the recording is available in Warpwire.
Great presentation, Schuyler!
Great Catch, Lorenzi!
One of our team members received a Great Catch Award this week – Lauren Lorenzi, CNI with DMP 7 E. Lauren was performing dual verification for an insulin order when she noticed the syringe contained less volume than was ordered. She escalated the discrepancy to her Charge Nurse and the First Call Provider. She also took extra steps to obtain a new syringe with the correct dose. Kudos to Lauren for her vigilance and willingness to “ask questions and question the answers” in the name of patient safety!
Nicely done, Lauren!
Shout-out to Duke Heart CCU Team
Duke Heart’s CCU team was recognized during a DUH Palliative Care consult team daily huddle last week. During a difficult patient case, all members of the team showed extraordinary dedication and compassion to the patient and family members.
“Despite the challenging circumstances, each person who interfaced with the patient and family was kind, hopeful, and truly did their best to meet their expressed wishes. While it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, your team did everything in your power and did it all with professionalism. Thank you for your skill and compassion. We noticed.” — With gratitude, Lisa Clark Pickett, MD
Important work, team. You’re amazing.
Ross Elected to FAHA
Congratulations to Leanna Ross, PhD, who was recently elected to be a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) conferred by the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (LIFESTYLE). Fellowship recognizes and awards premium professional members for excellence, innovative and sustained contributions in the areas of scholarship, practice and/or education, and volunteer service within the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
Way to go, Leanna!
Health System Updates:
Championing Our Missions in Times of Change
The following message from Dr. Craig Albanese, CEO, Duke University Health System, was distributed on Friday to DUHS team members.
Team,
Every day, we have the privilege of being a beacon of hope, health and healing for all who entrust us with their care. Our profession is a calling built on unwavering principles of integrity, compassion, empathy, and service to others, irrespective of backgrounds, beliefs, or circumstances.
The recent Executive Orders have caused uncertainty across all Duke missions and earlier today, President Price shared a message with the Duke University community regarding the significant impact a reduction to federal funding would have on the University. University Executive Vice Presidents Daniel Ennis and Mary Klotman and Provost Alec Gallimore then provided additional insight in their shared message here. Mary Klotman also shared a message with the School of Medicine community about the important work that they are doing in response to these changes. As you can see, an integrated planning process, which includes involvement of DUHS, is underway to identify and plan for measures that may be needed to ensure the University’s long-term operational and financial health.
While the work underway is largely focused on the University’s operational and financial health due to changes in federal funding, our health system is also continuing to monitor and understand potential and evolving health care specific threats from legislative or executive actions (e.g. cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, HASP, 340B drug program). We recognize this is a national phenomenon and that the road ahead may introduce even more challenges that our entire Duke community may have to navigate together. Therefore, carefully evaluating the short- and long-term implications of any changes will be vitally important as we work together in support of our missions.
Now more than ever, we must redouble our focus on being good stewards of our resources in order to take care of those that come to us for care. We remain committed to our financial renewal through growth and investment in strategic partnerships, and we are continuing to hire to fulfill our strategic clinical growth plans. At the same time, we must balance our operating expenses with improvements in efficiency, elimination of waste, and innovations in our care model through people, processes, and technology. Our recent request to review open requisitions is simply good practice to ensure we are hiring for the right talent, in the right places, at the right time. Delivering on our promise to provide more care to more patients in more communities depends heavily on our ability to efficiently and effectively deliver high quality, safe patient care. Undeniably, this budget season will be challenging for us. Our leadership discipline of regularly identifying and implementing ways to be efficient and our annual budgeting process will inform the decisions we need to make in order to sustain our health system for today and tomorrow.
This all matters because we are an academic health system that in partnership with the School of Medicine delivers the most cutting-edge clinical care, inspiring the intellectual curiosity of our learners through unparalleled education, incomparable research and breakthrough discoveries. While this will be hard work, it is absolutely necessary that we engage across our diverse Duke community to champion our collective missions well into the future.
As leaders, we have a choice of how we lead during such unprecedented times. Let’s lead with courage and compassion, committed to the culture we aspire to be. By putting our people first, adapting to improve and empowering our team members to share their ideas and work as a system, we’ve shown that we’re Better Together in every circumstance. We’re practiced at leading through difficult times, and we have proven that we’re made for moments like this. We are entering this period from a position of strength, and we will link arms with our University colleagues to chart our path forward. Nearly every change, inflection point, and moment of crisis we’ve ever seen has ushered in opportunity and we’ve emerged stronger. And where there is an abundance of opportunities, we can all exceed our potential.
As we learn more, we will keep you informed by being clear about what we know, what we don’t know and what we are committed to do. We will share information when it becomes available and we’ll continue to put the well-being of our talentforce, our patients, and our communities first.
Sincerely,
Craig Albanese, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer,
Duke University Health System
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
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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
March 19: HF/Tx with Joshua Rushakoff. Noon, in-person.
March 21: Congenital with Rich Krasuski. Noon, virtual.
March 26: EP with Jonathan Kusner and Ivan Nenadic Wood. Noon, in-person.
March 28: No conference/ACC
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration coming soon; now open for Duke HF Symposium.
- 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). Registration is open!
- October 4, 2025: Duke Cardiac Sonography Symposium (live event at Trent Semans Center)
- October 31, 2025: 17th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium (live event at Durham Convention Center)
Amyloidosis Support Group, March 22
Duke Heart will host an Amyloidosis Support Group meeting for all patients and family members followed at Duke as well as other institutions throughout the region.
- When: Saturday, March 22, 2025
- Time: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Great Hall of the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education at Duke
The meeting is being organized in collaboration with the Amyloidosis Support Group Association (ASGA), a well-recognized national organization in the amyloidosis space.
Cardiologist Dr. Michel Khouri and hematologist Dr. Christiana Costa Chase, along with our genetic counselors, will be speaking at the event along with other special guests invited by ASGA.
Breakfast, lunch, and parking passes will be provided to attendees. Registration is required. There is no charge to attend. More information is available on the ASGA’s website.
Pulmonary Hypertension Community Workshop, March 22
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Community Workshop brings together individuals, caregivers, friends and family impacted by pulmonary hypertension for a free, one-day, in-person event. The workshop educates and empowers attendees through up-to-date information on living with PH, including disease management, treatments, diagnostics and clinical trials. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the local PH community for support and resources. The workshop includes complimentary parking, breakfast, and lunch.
- When: March 22
- Time: 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
- Where: Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel in Charlotte, NC.
Cardiologist Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal is a co-chair for this free educational workshop geared to patients and their caregivers. Registration required. The event is sponsored by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Gatsby Themed Fundraiser to Support Duke Heart for Honduras
There will be a Great Gatsby Casino Night on Saturday, March 29, 2025 as a fundraiser to benefit the Duke Heart for Honduras program. All proceeds will go directly to purchasing equipment and medical supplies to operate on children in need.
There will be a silent auction, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the City Lights Jazz Band will be performing live. Donations can be made and tickets can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.net/2025gatsbycasino/welcome
Thank you for supporting Duke Heart for Honduras!
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:
March 8 — Colin Duckett, et al., DUHS
Associated Press
Universities are facing big cuts to research funding. At Duke, it’s a time for ‘damage control’
March 10 — Duke Health
Reach MD
Revolutionizing Cardiac Care: The Living Mitral Valve Transplant Breakthrough
March 11 — Karen Alexander
The Telegraph (India)
Duke Heart Pulse — March 9, 2025
Chief’s Message: Opportunity for Duke Heart and Academic Medical Centers
This week we saw more challenges in our work to improve the country’s health with changes in not just research funding but also potentially how care will be delivered/covered. Unfortunately the key facts are that our community and our country needs our systems to partner to deliver better health. Some of the key data to consider are as follows:
- Health care outcomes in the US are among the worst (life expectancy) in OECD countries with highest cost of care (~18% GDP)
- US adults have the highest rate of multiple chronic conditions (~30%)
- Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease (HTN, Obesity, High Cholesterol, and Diabetes) are projected to affect 61% of Americans by 2050 without intervention and Cardiovascular Disease will remain leading cause of death and disability with stroke and coronary heart disease leading the way. (from the AHA 2050 Projections)
- The AHA estimates 14% of Medicare spending on CV disease with that estimation near 43% if all risk factor spending included
- 43% of counties in the US have no cardiologist and these regions have the worst CV outcomes.
- US Academic Medical Centers lead innovation and care and will have a 5.4% annualized growth in clinical care market by 2030 with estimated 1.5 Trillion of US health care
Taken in total – the moment is now. Our opportunity to re-imagine how we work across our community, North Carolina and the country to improve cardiovascular health and support the missions of Academic Medical Centers is now. Over this March month, we have described March Madness as the yearly tradition of our Basketball teams (Men and Women) at Duke making hopefully deep runs in the tournament. This year we also will attempt over the month to present the work Duke Health / Duke Heart and Vascular, and our training programs are doing to ensure and envision the future we need for better health. The Health system and School are working to re-imagine and partner in ways we have not before. We look to be a driving force in that future state of health care by bringing information and knowledge to our community and patients to ensure they get the right care at the right time. This will undoubtedly require better integration of our research and clinical missions. Something we are uniquely poised to do. So – see our groups continued work to accomplish our missions below and we appreciate the time, effort, and continued support of all in the Duke Heart Community. Importantly, this month is also Ramadan – and we hope all those in our community that celebrate – a happy Ramadan.
Highlights of the week
Celebrating Ramadan
We wish all those in our Muslim community a happy Ramadan. May this fasting period bring much reflection and spiritual growth to all who observe. Ramadan began the evening of Feb. 28, 2025 and will continue through March 29, 2025, ending with Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marked by prayers, feasting and acts of generosity.
Ramadan Kareem!
Regional Cardiovascular Emergency Care Summit Held
On February 28 in Durham, healthcare professionals from across the region gathered for the Regional Cardiovascular Emergency Care Summit aimed at improving the care of patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (MI). The half-day event sponsored by Duke Heart & Vascular Services brought together referring hospitals, EMS agencies, and PCI centers to discuss challenges, share best practices, and strengthen coordination efforts to enhance patient outcomes.
Summit Highlights & Impact:
- Facilitated networking and collaboration among EMS, emergency medicine, cardiology, and hospital systems
- Reviewed the current state of emergency cardiovascular care across the region
- STEMI Case Studies from various sites
- Identified key opportunities for improving response times, patient transfers, and overall coordination between EMS and hospitals
The event successfully brought together hospitals and EMS agencies, fostering stronger partnerships and leading to valuable discussions on optimizing patient care. The summit helped lay the groundwork for more efficient, life-saving interventions for cardiac emergencies by uniting healthcare providers across the state and region.
Participating organizations:
- Duke University Health System
- Duke Heart Network
- UNC Health
- Maria Parham Health
- Durham VAMC
- Person County EMS
- Duke Life Flight
- Alamance County EMS
- Durham County EMS
- Sovah Health
- Cone Health
- American Heart Association
The collaborative efforts from this summit will have a lasting impact, reinforcing the importance of seamless communication and coordination in cardiovascular emergency care. Stay tuned for details on the 2026 CV Summit as we continue to build on this year’s success and strengthen collaboration across our regional network.
Great job everyone!
CTSI Welcomes Clinical Research Equity Scholars in Partnership with Durham Tech
A unique collaboration launched four years ago between Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Durham Technical Community College continues to thrive and recently welcomed the latest cohort of the Clinical Research Equity Scholars Program.
The two-semester program provides Durham Tech students the opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative strategies for improving equitable practices in clinical research. Scholars receive a stipend and are matched with a Duke mentor — often an affiliate CTSI faculty member — on a clinical research project.
“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Durham Tech and provide scholars with special training activities and hands-on experience working with clinical research teams,” said Amanda McMillan, MPH, MA, co-director for CTSI’s Workforce Development Pillar. “Through the program, scholars also learn to address disparities in clinical research by engaging with communities that are underrepresented in studies and clinical trials, helping to make research accessible to everyone.”
Nadine Barrett, PhD, former director of the CTSI Center for Equity in Research, partnered with Sharleen Traynor, PhD, at Durham Tech to create the program.
The three students in this year’s cohort are:
Michelle Ko
A second-year clinical research student at Durham Tech, Ko has a background in art and design. Passionate about addressing health disparities, Ko is eager to collaborate with others in the clinical research field to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
“Through my participation in the Clinical Research Equity Scholars Program, I’m honing the skills needed to promote health equity, particularly for women and other underrepresented groups,” she said.
Ko will complete her equity scholar internship with the OneDukeGen Medicine Study under the guidance of cardiologist Svati H. Shah, MD, MHS, director of the Center for Precision Health within CTSI.
Mackenna Moore
Moore has a Bachelor of Science in applied sociology and has worked as a chemist for four years. She enrolled at Durham Tech to make the career change from laboratory science to clinical research.
“I aspire to make meaningful and positive contributions to improving overall public health. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I’m hoping my experience in this program will help me bridge the gap a bit,” Moore said. “I’m really excited to be part of this program and learn more about how to address disparities in clinical research.”
She will complete her equity scholar internship under the guidance of Kimberly G. Johnson, MD, at the Duke Aging Center, a part of the Duke-UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Joab Odera
Odera is studying clinical trial data management at Durham Tech. He has several years of experience in health disparities cancer research, with a doctorate in integrated biosciences from North Carolina Central University and postdoctoral research experience at Duke. He also has a certificate in applied data science from MIT.
“Since high school, I have had a great interest in translational research. My research experiences up to this point have been preclinical,” Odera said. “Through this program, I will have the opportunity to observe clinical research in the field and utilize the skills I’ve gained at Durham Tech and from my previous experience to improve health care in a clinical setting.”
Odera will complete his equity scholar internship with Opeyemi Olabisi, MD, PhD, a Duke nephrologist who serves on the leadership team for the CTSI Center for Precision Health.
Kudos to Hanna!
We received a nice note this week from Terry Fortin regarding cardiology fellow Jonathan Hanna:
“Wanted to give a shout out to Jonathan Hanna. He was on the other side of the CICU this last week, but many interactions with him when covering fellow at clinic or day off, etc. He was very engaged, did great job of answering STEMIs, multiple phone calls and seemingly endless triage. Was on top of everything.
Especially however called to ED to see pt with LVAD having VT symptoms. I went down to bring the interrogation device and he did a beautiful job of organizing the ED folks and working out very difficult ATP issues and getting sedation on board in case had to emergently shock. Very skilled — like an upper EP fellow would be. Successfully paced out and did a really great job.” — Terry Fortin, MD
Way to go, Jonathan!
Shout-out to Research, Care Teams
We received a thoughtful note this week from a married couple who have participated in clinical research at Duke via the MUSIC HFpEF1 trial and wanted to share it with our Pulse readers:
“To Marat, Kay, and all the support personnel…
Thanks to all the people who support research today that often leads to improving and saving lives tomorrow. Your work is often outside the public view and the results of your efforts are generally years or decades in the making. We have felt your interest and support for us as participants and “real people” in your studies and trials.
Again, our thanks.” – names withheld for privacy
Nicely done, everyone!!
From Duke Government Relations: Guide to Advocacy
Duke recognizes and supports faculty and staff engagement as private citizens in public policy and the political process and does not restrict such interactions.
Certain forms of government interaction involving Duke, however, are subject to federal and state regulation, e.g., attempting to influence legislative or executive action; therefore, faculty and staff must be transparent when participating in political activity in a personal capacity.
Employees (faculty and staff) should only use personal e-mail, social media, or other online accounts (and not duke.edu accounts or other Duke electronic resources) to communicate with state and federal policymakers about legislation and legislative proposals or to circulate or distribute petitions and similar material.
When participating individually in political advocacy, faculty and staff must:
Clearly distinguish individual, personal political activities from your Duke role, including not using Duke resources, e.g., Duke email or Duke electronic resources.
- Faculty and staff should use personal e-mail, social media, or other online accounts:
- to communicate with state and federal policymakers regarding Executive Orders, federal or state legislation/regulations, and regulatory/legislative proposals
- to author op-ed articles
- to circulate participation in rallies, or similar events
- to circulate or distribute petitions and similar material
- Faculty and staff should use off-hours or PTO to participate in political activities
Faculty or staff who are identified (by themselves or with others) using their Duke titles or affiliations must indicate that their comments are purely personal and not made on Duke’s behalf. A disclaimer should be added, noting that “titles and affiliations are provided for identification purposes only and that any views expressed by the individual are theirs alone and do not reflect the views of Duke University or any of its constituent institutions.
Please reference these resources for additional information:
If you have any questions, please contact govrelations@duke.edu.
Health System Updates:
Duke Medical School’s NIH Funding Sustains Scientific Discovery
Duke University School of Medicine received $455 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2024, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. The federal funding advances medical science and improves patient care.
In the new rankings, Duke School of Medicine is 13th among the nation’s medical schools based on grants awarded during the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024. Duke University received $580 million in NIH grants and contracts, ranking 11th in NIH support among research institutions.
Behind the numbers is a broader story of scientists tackling pressing questions about aging, disease, and mechanics of human health, all driven by a shared pursuit of discovery.
“NIH funding is the backbone of transformative scientific discovery,” said Mary E. Klotman, M.D., executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the School of Medicine.
“These investments empower our researchers to push the boundaries of medicine,” Klotman said. “However, research isn’t just about bold ideas — it requires laboratories, data infrastructure, and skilled teams who bring science to life. NIH support of these essential foundations has been critical in turning these discoveries into real and lasting improvements in human health.”
The Blue Ridge ranking is an annual, independent analysis of NIH research funds to colleges and universities. In 2024, the organization listed nine clinical and basic science departments at Duke School of Medicine that ranked in the nation’s top 10:
Clinical Departments
- Surgery 1st
- Orthopedics 2nd
- Anesthesiology 4th
- Internal Medicine 8th
- Neurosurgery 9th
- Ophthalmology 9th
Basic Science Departments
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics 2nd
- Genetics 9th
- Pharmacology 7th
As the largest public funder of biomedical research globally, the NIH plays a crucial role in advancing health for all. By investing in institutions like Duke, the NIH fuels scientific research and translates knowledge into tangible improvements for patients.
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
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Thursday, March 13: ACC/AHA Guidelines for Peripheral Artery Disease with Schuyler Jones. 5 p.m. via Zoom.
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
March 12: DHP with Michael Cosiano. Noon, in-person.
March 14: Management of PE with Imran Aslam. Noon, virtual.
March 19: HF/Tx with Joshua Rushakoff. Noon, in-person.
March 21: Congenital with Rich Krasuski. Noon, virtual.
March 26: EP with Jonathan Kusner and Ivan Nenadic Wood. Noon, in-person.
March 28: No conference/ACC
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration coming soon.
- 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)
Amyloidosis Support Group, March 22
Duke Heart will host an Amyloidosis Support Group meeting for all patients and family members followed at Duke as well as other institutions throughout the region.
- When: Saturday, March 22, 2025
- Time: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Great Hall of the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education at Duke
The meeting is being organized in collaboration with the Amyloidosis Support Group Association (ASGA), a well-recognized national organization in the amyloidosis space.
Cardiologist Dr. Michel Khouri and hematologist Dr. Christiana Costa Chase, along with our genetic counselors, will be speaking at the event along with other special guests invited by ASGA.
Breakfast, lunch, and parking passes will be provided to attendees. Registration is required. There is no charge to attend. More information is available on the ASGA’s website.
Pulmonary Hypertension Community Workshop, March 22
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Community Workshop, brings together individuals, caregivers, friends and family impacted by pulmonary hypertension for a free, one-day, in-person event. The workshop educates and empowers attendees through up-to-date information on living with PH, including disease management, treatments, diagnostics and clinical trials. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the local PH community for support and resources. The workshop includes complimentary parking, breakfast, and lunch.
- When: March 22
- Time: 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
- Where: Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel in Charlotte, NC.
Cardiologist Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal is a co-chair for this free educational workshop geared to patients and their caregivers. Registration required. The event is sponsored by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Gatsby Themed Fundraiser to Support Duke Heart for Honduras
There will be a Great Gatsby Casino Night on Saturday, March 29, 2025 as a fundraiser to benefit the Duke Heart for Honduras program. All proceeds will go directly to purchasing equipment and medical supplies to operate on children in need.
There will be a silent auction, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the City Lights Jazz Band will be performing live. Donations can be made and tickets can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.net/2025gatsbycasino/welcome
Thank you for supporting Duke Heart for Honduras!
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 28 — Douglas Overbey and Joe Turek
People magazine
February 28 — Douglas Overbey
Cardiovascular Business
Surgeons make history, perform world’s first living mitral valve replacement
March 2 — Douglas Overbey and Joe Turek
Southeast Missourian
March 3 — Douglas Overbey and Joe Turek
HealthDay
Duke Doctors Perform First Living Mitral Valve Transplant
March 4 — Douglas Overbey
Times Now (India)
Doctors perform first ever living mitral valve transplant saving lives of three young girls
March 4 — Robert Califf
Muscular Dystrophy News
MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference starts on March 16
March 4 — Joe Turek
American College of Surgeons/ACS Brief
Surgeon Performs First Living Mitral Valve Replacement
March 4 — Douglas Overbey
Physician’s Weekly
Duke Doctors Perform First Living Mitral Valve Transplant
Duke Heart Pulse — March 2, 2025
Chief’s message: March Madness – Duke Heart and Vascular on a Run…
This weekend started March – a month for our institution that for many years has been synonymous with college basketball and runs to the final four. Our Heart and Vascular Team – also seems to be making a run on innovation, patient care, and partnerships. You will see stories below about Duke’s First fully robotic Lung Transplant, and our Pediatric Heart Surgeons, Douglas Overbey and Joe Turek, doing the first living mitral valve replacement in the setting of Heart Transplant and domino procedures (a story carried nationally by NBC news). We aslo welcome Tracy Geoffrion, our new congenital heart surgeon. On the partnership front, Duke announced a partnership with Novant health to build several ambulatory health centers throughout the state. This represents an important opportunity for us to get closer to our patients and partner to deliver CV care and improve the health of our community and state. We also congratulate Jeff Gaca, MD, who was named triangle business journal Surgeon of the Year. Great recognition for the work that Jeff does.
We were also lucky this week to have Coach K end heart month with cardiovascular grand rounds on Tuesday to a packed house of faculty and residents/fellows on teamwork and leadership. Some great stories and interactions, but most importantly he highlighted for all of us the opportunity and impact our group could have with teamwork and leadership in health. We gave Coach K a Duke Heart fleece that he was kind enough to wear to the game Saturday night against Florida State. We appreciate Coach K’s support of our group. Some pictures from the game below.
Highlights of the week:
Duke’s First Fully Robotic Lung Transplant Performed
Congratulations to our Duke Lung Transplant team! On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, a team of Duke surgeons performed Duke’s first fully robotic lung transplant at Duke University Hospital. It is also the first such procedure to be performed in the southeast United States, after a team at New York University Langone Health performed the first in the nation in September 2024; the NYU Langone team then performed the world’s first fully robotic double lung transplant in November.
All four of Duke’s lung transplant surgeons from the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery were involved in the cutting-edge procedure: Matthew Hartwig, MD, MHS, Professor of Surgery; Jacob Klapper, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery; Kunal Patel, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery; and Hiroshi Date, MD, Professor of Surgery, who joined the faculty at Duke two days prior.
“Fully robotic lung transplants are not being done everywhere,” says Klapper, who serves as surgical director of the Duke Lung Transplant Program. “We are one of the first to do it and I think it continues our tradition at Duke of being among the first to do innovative things that advance the field.”
The robotic procedure involves utilizing smaller incisions compared to traditional open chest transplant procedures, allowing for improved recovery processes for the patient with less pain and quicker healing. This is important because two-thirds of Duke lung transplant patients are over the age of 65 — a much older patient population than the national average, he added.
After communicating with other centers around the world and within the U.S. that had done fully robotic lung transplants, Klapper says the Duke team – surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses – went through an extensive period of pre-planning and creating a written protocol to ensure their success.
A large team of people was involved in the planning, intake, and post-surgical care of the patient. Klapper highlights his fellow surgeons on the team, Drs. Hartwig, Patel, and Date, as well as anesthesiologists Dr. Brandi Bottiger and Dr. Bryan Chow, who are intimately involved in the lung transplant team and who helped design the anesthesia plan for the procedure. Franklin Dominno, thoracic team lead, and Danielle Buckles, a thoracic nurse specializing in robotics; Stacy Williams “who is terrific about making sure we have everything we need all the time,” and Ken Boccaccio, PA, who is our bedside-assist for all robotic cases.
“A big, big thanks to all those folks who were so integral to this process,” Klapper says.
The patient, 71-year-old Dennis Ihnat of Wilmington, NC, was extubated, walking, and eating less than 48 hours post-operation, with plans to be discharged on Friday, February 28.
“Dennis has been a star patient, and we are thrilled that he has been recovering so well and is headed home for further recovery,” Dr. Klapper adds.
Shown here are members of the care team with the patient and his wife. From L-R are: Dr. Thomas Bunning, anesthesia fellow; Dr. John Reynolds, transplant pulmonologist; Julie Kellermeier, lung transplant social worker; Dr. Kunal Patel, lung transplant surgeon; Diane Ihnat, patient’s wife; Dennis Ihnat; Dr. Carlos Leon, transplant fellow; Dr. Romel Holmes, anesthesia resident; Dr. Brandon Menachem, transplant pulmonologist; Dr. Brandi Bottiger, anesthesiologist; Abigail Hinson, 6E RN.
Duke University Hospital has performed more than 2,500 lung transplants to date, the most of any lung transplant program in the U.S., and performed 94 lung transplants in 2024 alone.
Amazing work, team!
Duke Health Performs the World’s First Living Mitral Valve Replacement
A team at Duke Health was able to perform the world’s first living mitral valve replacement after an adolescent girl received a full heart transplant and donated the healthy valves from her original heart.
The valves were then used to save the lives of two other girls; one of whom received the new procedure. All three girls who were part of the case are from different parts of North Carolina.
The current standard of care for pediatric heart valve replacement uses preserved non-living tissue or mechanical valves, which do not grow along with the child. As a result, recipients require multiple future valve replacement surgeries and blood thinners for mechanical valves, which both carry risks.
“There’s not a good valve option for kids,” said Douglas Overbey, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine and one of the team members behind the pioneering procedure.
“They all require multiple surgeries, and we know they’re going to fail down the road,” Overbey said. “That’s something that’s really hard to talk to parents about, knowing that you’re going to have to do the same surgery with a new valve, maybe six months later because they’re going to outgrow it.”
The first living mitral valve replacement was performed on 14-year-old Margaret Van Bruggen, from Charlotte. She received the valve from 11-year-old Journi Kelly, from Wilson, after Journi received a full-heart transplant. Journi also donated another valve to now 9-year-old, Kensley Frizzell from Pembroke.
The living mitral valve replacement is a type of partial heart transplant, which Duke pioneered in 2022. Partial heart transplant was studied in Duke research labs before the procedure was done, and research shows the living valves do continue to grow. Duke has now performed 20 partial heart transplants under the guidance of the FDA. 
The idea behind partial heart transplant is to make use of the healthy valves from donated hearts. The procedure expands the number of lives that benefit from a limited number of donated hearts and has enabled domino heart transplant procedures, in which valves are used from a failing heart after it’s removed for transplant.
“To think that the lives of three girls could be saved after one full-heart donation is amazing,” said Joseph Turek, MD, PhD, Duke’s chief of pediatric cardiac surgery, who performed the procedure alongside a vast team, after research in the lab.
Doctors at Duke said the living mitral valve replacement was challenging due to the valve’s position and structure, and it carries risks commonly associated with heart surgery. The mitral valve is located inside and toward the back of the heart, making it difficult to access. Its parachute-like structure with various chords and muscle grouping makes it more difficult to suture in.
The procedure became a possibility in a unique confluence of circumstances, starting with Journi, who went into sudden heart failure and needed a transplant.
The youngster complained of a stomachache, but when her parents took her to the emergency room, they learned her heart was failing. Two days later she was transported by aircraft to Duke for transplant, where she waited on the list for a new heart.
“Before Journi’s surgery, we were told the doctors were hoping to try a new procedure and asked if we were willing to donate Journi’s old heart,” said Rachel Kelly, Journi’s stepmom. “They explained to us that they could use the healthy parts of it to help other kids. Our next question was, ‘Where do we sign?’”
As a donated heart became available for Journi, the valves from her original heart were serendipitously a match for both Margaret and Kensley. Margaret, a cross-country runner and high school freshman, needed the valve replacement suddenly and urgently after she contracted a bacterial infection (endocarditis) that created large holes in her mitral valve.
“She was in the hospital, and we could’ve lost her,” said Margaret’s mother, Elizabeth Van Bruggen. “But she was so brave, so I knew I had to be brave too. She’s got a lot left to give the world.”
Kensley’s family was excited to hear it may be the last surgery she could need. The 9-year-old is familiar with long hospital stays, having already experienced her first two operations before her first two months of life after being diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Turner’s syndrome.
“We were expecting she would need surgery, but we never knew this would be an option,” said Kenan Frizzell, Kensley’s father. “The whole situation is extraordinary, whether you look at it from the standpoint of a scientific breakthrough or the average person’s point of view. I can’t imagine all the coordination that’s needed for something like this to take place, but as one of the families that benefited, we can’t be anything other than grateful.”
Research leading to the surgical innovation was supported by the Brett Boyer Foundation and the Graeme McDaniel Foundation.
This story has been featured in hundreds of news outlets, including the Today show. Several links appear to additional stories appear below in our news coverage section.
Nicely done, team!
Geoffrion Joins CTS Faculty
Please join us in welcoming Tracy Geoffrion, MD, MPH, associate professor of surgery, as she starts her practice here at Duke. Tracy has joined the congenital heart surgery group within the division of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and will have a major focus on adult congenital cases.
Tracy joins us from the Medical College of Wisconsin where she worked in these areas. She completed fellowship training in congenital heart surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and residency in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern. Tracy completed medical school at University of Texas San Antonio and undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University.
Welcome to the Duke Heart team, Tracy!
Holley to Present MGR This Week
Christopher Holley, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine in cardiology will present Medicine Grand Rounds on Friday morning, March 7, at 8 a.m., in Duke North 2002 and via Zoom. His topic will be the Role of Novel RNA Modifications in Cardiometabolic Disease.
Good News for Gaca; Harbison Family
We learned this week that CT surgeon Jeff Gaca, MD has been named Surgeon of the Year by the Triangle Business Journal as part of their efforts to recognize healthcare leaders from throughout the Triangle. The award will be presented on April 10. Congrats, Jeff!
We’re thrilled to also share that Donavon and Lindsey Harbison have welcomed a daughter – Zephaniah — to their family. Last summer, Donavon Harbison became the second person in the world to receive a BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to transplant. He lived with the device for 10 days before undergoing a heart transplant at Duke University Hospital. 
“Because of all you and the team did — her daddy was there to catch her,” said Lindsey Harbison in an email to Duke surgeon Dr. Jacob Schroder.
Such a beautiful reminder that what we do in Duke Heart matters to so many. Great job, team!
Heart Team Members Care for Patients in Mexico
Duke Heart nurse practitioners Dayana Ramos and Shelley Thompson volunteered at a medical clinic in Reynosa, Mexico from February 19-23. They served with Isaiah 55 Ministries and a care team from San Antonio. The team saw more than 150 people in two days and provided much needed medical care, medications, and support to the people of Reynosa — including migrants at two shelters.
Shelley is planning to return as a volunteer for another clinic in October. If anyone is interested in joining her, please reach out to her directly.
We are so proud of you both for volunteering your time and talent. Way to go, Dayana and Shelley!
CGR Welcomed Shah, Krzyzewski This Week
On Monday evening we had a terrific presentation by Dr. Sanjiv Shah, cardiologist and researcher from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, our DCRI fellows visiting professor. His topic was Transforming HFpEF Management in the Age of Precision Medicine.
We also had a special catered grand rounds on Tuesday with retired Duke MBB Coach Mike Krzyzewski who presented on teamwork, leadership, and healthcare.
Thanks to all who joined us!
Cardiac Rehab Team Celebrates Rehab Week
Cardiac Rehabilitation Week was celebrated nationally from February 9-15. Our team did an excellent job of engaging patients in both education and fun activities all week!
Back row (L to R): Angel Dowden, Hope Miles, Lindsay Goolsby, Jessica Taube, Jordan Cottle, Cathy Ritchey, and Anne Kenyon. Front row (L to R): Lisa Skowronek (kneeling), Katie Altieri, Michelle Branson, Janet Aiken (kneeling), and Kim Duren. Photos courtesy of Erica Rao.
Great work!
Health System Updates:
New Partnership With Novant Expands Duke Health’s Reach and Impact
Duke Health is taking another bold step to advance our growth and deliver hope, health, and healing to more communities. In partnership with Novant Health, we are moving forward with plans to develop new ambulatory sites throughout the region. This exciting collaboration reflects our shared vision for a healthier North Carolina and our commitment to making it easier for patients to obtain the high-quality care we provide.
We have long recognized the need to scale our growth and broaden access to Duke Health’s world-class expertise. Our partnership with Novant Health will help us achieve growth at a faster pace than we could working on our own. That means more North Carolina communities will be able to access Duke Health’s expert clinicians and teams faster than ever before.
Please watch a special message from DUHS leaders Drs. Craig Albanese, Mary Klotman, and Matt Barber to learn more about why this partnership matters and what we’ll be able to achieve together.
For additional information, please visit https://duke.is/4/5aje. (NET ID required)
Watts College of Nursing to Relocate to Duke Health’s Interprofessional Education and Care Center
Watts College of Nursing (WCON), a pillar of nursing education in Durham for more than a century, will relocate to the Duke University campus in July 2025.
This move establishes the next chapter in WCON’s long and distinguished history, ensuring that students and faculty have access to world-class resources while maintaining the college’s independent identity.
For 18 years, WCON has been headquartered at its Croasdaile location, providing nursing education and training for the next generation of health care professionals. As part of its continued growth, WCON will move to the Interprofessional Education and Care Center within the broader Duke Health community to co-locate with the Duke University School of Nursing and the Duke Health Clinical Education & Professional Development team.
This strategic relocation strengthens the connection between academic and clinical nursing education, nurturing a stronger nursing workforce pipeline within Duke Health and beyond.
The full story can be found here.
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
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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
March 5: Fellows Forum with Paula Rambarat. Noon, in-person.
March 7: EKG with Michele Kelsey. Noon, virtual.
March 12: DHP with Michael Cosiano. Noon, in-person.
March 14: Management of PE with Imran Aslam. Noon, virtual.
Upcoming Duke Heart CMEs
The following CME activities, sponsored by Duke Heart, have been scheduled. Registration coming soon.
- 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)
Amyloidosis Support Group, March 22
Duke Heart will host an Amyloidosis Support Group meeting for all patients and family members followed at Duke as well as other institutions throughout the region.
- When: Saturday, March 22, 2025
- Time: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Great Hall of the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education at Duke
The meeting is being organized in collaboration with the Amyloidosis Support Group Association (ASGA), a well-recognized national organization in the amyloidosis space.
Cardiologist Dr. Michel Khouri and hematologist Dr. Christiana Costa Chase, along with our genetic counselors, will be speaking at the event along with other special guests invited by ASGA.
Breakfast, lunch, and parking passes will be provided to attendees. Registration is required. There is no charge to attend. More information is available on the ASGA’s website.
Pulmonary Hypertension Community Workshop, March 22
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Community Workshop, brings together individuals, caregivers, friends and family impacted by pulmonary hypertension for a free, one-day, in-person event. The workshop educates and empowers attendees through up-to-date information on living with PH, including disease management, treatments, diagnostics and clinical trials. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the local PH community for support and resources. The workshop includes complimentary parking, breakfast, and lunch.
- When: March 22
- Time: 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
- Where: Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel in Charlotte, NC.
Cardiologist Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal is a co-chair for this free educational workshop geared to patients and their caregivers. Registration required. The event is sponsored by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Gatsby Themed Fundraiser to Support Duke Heart for Honduras
There will be a Great Gatsby Casino Night on Saturday, March 29, 2025 as a fundraiser to benefit the Duke Heart for Honduras program. All proceeds will go directly to purchasing equipment and medical supplies to operate on children in need.
There will be a silent auction, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the City Lights Jazz Band will be performing live. Donations can be made and tickets can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.net/2025gatsbycasino/welcome
Thank you for supporting Duke Heart for Honduras!
Gatsby Themed Fundraiser to Support Duke Heart for Honduras
There will be a Great Gatsby Casino Night on Saturday, March 29, 2025 as a fundraiser to benefit the Duke Heart for Honduras program. All proceeds will go directly to purchasing equipment and medical supplies to operate on children in need.
There will be a silent auction, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the City Lights Jazz Band will be performing live. Donations can be made and tickets can be purchased here: https://one.bidpal.net/2025gatsbycasino/welcome
Thank you for supporting Duke Heart for Honduras!
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 24 — Robert Califf
CNN
Ex-FDA commissioner on implications of agency’s ‘unreasonable’ jobs cuts
February 25 — Jennifer Li
Amazing Health Advances
Chest Pain in Children and Adolescents
February 27 — Doug Overbey and Joe Turek
Today show/NBC
EXCLUSIVE: 1 heart saves 3 girls in a unique surgery that could help other children
February 27 — Doug Overbey and Joe Turek
WRAL
How one life changing heart donation kicked off chain of events
February 27 — Doug Overbey and Joe Turek
Becker’s Hospital Review
Duke Health team performs world’s 1st living mitral valve replacement
February 27 — Doug Overbey and Joe Turek
NBC News Daily (100+ affiliates & streaming online)
Doctors at Duke are celebrating a successful, unique kind of surgery
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