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
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