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Duke Heart Pulse — March 23, 2025

By Tracey Koepke in Uncategorized on 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