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
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