Duke Heart Pulse — October 26, 2025
Chief’s message:
Hope you all are having a good weekend. As we get near the end of the year – this week we saw many continued events that point towards our future care. We were able to present some of our innovations and work to the Duke Board of Visitors group, we had faculty and fellows presenting at the TCT (Trans-Catheter-Therapeutics) meeting, and our teams have continued to work on areas where we can improve care with quality rounds and innovations in the procedures we do.
Updates and Highlights of the week:
Innovation in Duke Heart
We are excited to note that Jeff Gaca and Andrew Wang earlier this week accomplished the first percutaneous tricuspid valve replacement at Duke. The patient has recovered uneventful. These two individuals along with the entire structural heart team including our heart center staff, nurses, and administrative leaders have driven innovation in the transcatheter valve space. This work serves as an example of the type of innovation we are excited foster and committed to across the entire cardiovascular service line.
In Memoriam: E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD
Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, a pioneering physician, educator, and leader whose contributions to Duke have left an enduring legacy, passed away on October 16, 2025, after having celebrated his 100th birthday this past May.
Estes joined Duke’s faculty as a cardiologist in 1956 and served for a decade in the Department of Medicine before being named the founding chair of the newly created Department of Community Health Sciences. Under his leadership, the department (later renamed Community and Family Medicine, then Family Medicine and Community Health) became a national model for interdisciplinary care and community-focused health initiatives. In 1967, he assumed responsibility for the Physician Assistant Program — founded by his mentor Eugene Stead, MD, helping to shape a profession that has transformed healthcare delivery across the country.
“Estes was instrumental in shaping the history and identity of the Duke University School of Medicine. His vision and leadership helped define Duke’s commitment to community-based care, interdisciplinary education, and innovation in health professions training,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine, in an announcement on Tuesday.
Estes was deeply passionate about family medicine and preventive care. In the 1970s, he turned his focus to creating a family medicine residency program and building coalitions to place family physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners in underserved communities. Even after stepping down as department chair in 1985, he continued to lead the family medicine and geriatrics divisions until his retirement in 1990.
Estes’s influence also extended far beyond Duke. He authored more than 100 scientific articles and co-authored a book, and he later served as the founding director of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Community Practitioner Program. He held leadership roles in the NCMS and the NC Institute of Medicine, and he served nationally as chair of the American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, president of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine, and chair of the Institute of Medicine’s Steering Committee for Primary Health Care Workforce Policy.
A full obituary for Dr. Estes can be found on the Hall Wynne site. Our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations in his memory be made to Duke University in honor of the PA Program General Scholarship Fund.
Lung Transplant Team Has Milestone Week
Congratulations to our entire lung transplant team at Duke! The team recently completed nine lung transplants in seven days – a program record – and all patients are doing well.
“This represents an incredible devotion to our patients, said Carmelo Milano, MD, Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor of Surgery and division chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Duke. “There are few institutions in the world that can achieve such a volume. Please congratulate the members of this team when you see them.”
Duke surgeons have performed more than 2,700 lung transplants since our program launched in 1992, making ours one of the largest programs in the U.S. Additionally, our multidisciplinary faculty researchers have made significant contributions to the field of lung transplantation, notably our understanding of risk factors for chronic rejection, the impact of cytomegalovirus infection and gastroesophageal reflux on lung transplant outcomes, and the various forms of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
“Nine transplants in one week is only possible through the dedication of nursing, anesthesia, critical care, transplant pulmonology and surgery,” said Jacob Klapper, MD, associate professor of surgery and lung transplant surgeon. “This collective spirit has always made Duke special in the past and continues to this day.”
Incredible work!
Celebrating Respiratory Therapists
National Respiratory Care Week was celebrated this past week (Oct. 19-25) with a number of activities across Duke to help recognize our respiratory care staff. Our RCS team is an amazing and vital part of the care we provide throughout Duke Heart & Vascular services!
Shown here are two awards that were presented at Duke University Hospital this week – Paul Robbins, RRT, RCP was awarded the Huston R. Anderson Award in Leadership Excellence and Misty Swanger, BSRT, RRT, RCP was awarded Adult Respiratory Care Services Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award.
Also shown are team members prepping treats for our RCS staff. Congratulations, Paul and Misty!
Celebrating Annette Moore; Retiring Nov. 4
With deep gratitude, we announce the retirement of Annette Moore, HCA/NM, a dedicated and skilled registered nurse and manager, who has been an integral part of the Duke team for 40 years. Annette’s commitment to excellence and her unwavering dedication to patient care have made a significant impact on our organization.
Annette began her career with us in 1985 after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over the years, she has held various roles in Cardiology, including Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, and Health Center Administrator demonstrating exceptional leadership and management skills. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Friends of Nursing Award and the Nan and Hugh Cullman Heart Center Award for Excellence in Nursing.
Throughout her career at Duke, Annette’s caring demeanor and patient first focus have truly been her most influential accomplishment. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of clinical services, staff training, and care design. She has managed multiple teams, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and compliance with regulatory requirements.
As Annette embarks on this new chapter of her life, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement. Her presence will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire us all.
Annette, thank you for all your efforts, kindness, and mentorship over the years!
Please join us in celebrating Annette’s remarkable career and wishing her a happy and fulfilling retirement! Her last day with us will be November 3rd.
Kudos to Kelly!
Joe Kelly, director of Duke Heart & Vascular Informatics and Center of Excellence, received a Kudos this week for his efforts in helping the team at Lake Norman during their go-live.
“Joe shared a URL for MAP4 this morning that is a complete game-changer for Case Management and Utilization Management at DHLN. We were in a pickle where we needed MAP4 documentation to be able to plan discharges and the app had disappeared off of our CHS Citrix. He saved the day. Thank you, Joseph!” – Megan Warren
Jill Engel, service line VP for Heart & Vascular added, “I have heard from numerous people you have been invaluable during their go live. Thanks for everything you do for our patients and teams!”
Way to go, Joe!
Shout-out to Rivera and Goodwin
We received a terrific shout-out this week for Danny Rivera, RCS, ACS, echocardiographer, and for Nate Goodwin, interventional cardiology fellow, this week from Schuyler Jones as well as Sreekanth Vemulapalli regarding a challenging case they were on.
“Danny Rivera and Nate Goodwin did such an incredibly good job of echo imaging, planning/communication, and echo-guided pericardiocentesis in the MICU room. I was really impressed-which doesn’t happen that much. Wanted to give kudos to them both.” — Schuyler Jones, MD
“A good example of great teamwork between a great interventional attending, a great interventional fellow, and a great sonographer…” — Sreekanth Vemulapalli, MD
Excellent work, Danny and Nate!
Duke Heart & Vascular Welcomes Newest Family Member
Congratulations to Aarti Thakkar, MD and Eric Xie, MD, two of our cardiovascular disease fellows, on the birth of their daughter, Asha! She arrived just after Noon on Oct. 21, weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz. We are so happy for you!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
November 18: Deadline for flu vaccination compliance.
AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception
The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)
The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.
We look forward to seeing you!
Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Oct. 28: The Duke STRONGER Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Service: The Future of Personalized Prehab/Rehab for the Cardiac and Transplant Patient with Paul Wischmeyer. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and.
Nov. 4: Building a sustainable acute cardiovascular care program in western Kenya, the journey and lessons learned with Felix Ayub Barasa. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.
Medicine Grand Rounds
Oct. 31: Contemporary Issues in Transplant Allocation and Procurement with Chet Patel, Adam DeVore, Matt Ellis, John Reynolds, Lindsay King. 8 a.m., Duke South Amphitheater or via Zoom.
MMCVI Grand Rounds
Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar
Nov. 6: Multi-Modality Imaging for Infiltrative Disease with Hubie Haywood
Nov. 13: Topic TBD with Jemi Gelani
Nov. 20: Multi-Modality Imaging for LVH with Mugdha Joshi
Nov. 27: NO CONFERENCE (Thanksgiving)
Dec. 4: Echo Imaging to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing with Josh Sink
Dec. 11: RV Failure or Pericardial Disease TBD with Cosette Champion
Dec. 18: TBD with Vincent Delgado
Dec. 25: NO CONFERENCE (Christmas)
CME Activities:
17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31
This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.
Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12
The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.
Community Events:
Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29
The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please 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 me 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:
October 17 — Duke University Hospital
tctMD
Cardiac Transplant in Midst of ‘Revolution,’ but Public Trust Is Fragile
October 20 — Marat Fudim
Cardio Care Today
SCD-PROTECT: Wearable Defibrillators Key in First Months After Heart Failure Diagnosis
October 21 — Kristie Barazsu
Becker’s Health IT
GE HealthCare collaborates with 2 health systems on AI
October 22 — Renato Lopes
NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory
Rethinking Clinical Trials GR–Studying Neglected Diseases: Insights From the PARACHUTE-HF Trial
October 23 — Jennifer Rymer
Medscape
Understanding the Real Impact of Time Changes
October 23 — Duke Health
Popwire
The 10 Medical Breakthroughs You’ll See In the Next 15 Years (#6)
Duke Heart Pulse — October 19, 2025
Chief’s Message:
Hope you are all having a good weekend. We are nearing the last few meetings for cardiovascular medicine this year with TCT and the AHA. We will be sure to give you updates in the coming weeks.
Highlights of the week:
Happy Diwali
Sending everyone warm wishes for Diwali – we hope this time is filled with love, joy, and prosperity. Happy Diwali!
Shah Receives Swann Lee Award Funding
Congratulations to Svati Shah! Her team is one of five research teams from Duke University School of Medicine selected to receive a Swann Lee Award from the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Through the Swann Lee Awards, CTSI is distributing a combined $2 million across the teams to support the development of strategies aimed at reducing chronic disease risk through nutrition-focused approaches.
Shah’s team project is entitled, Dietary Effects and Modifiability of Ectopic Fat Depots and Metabolism in Heart Failure, which will investigate how GLP-1 receptor agonists and dietary ketones impact systemic metabolism in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). By integrating AI-assisted imaging and addressing barriers to care access, the study aims to refine therapies for a condition with significant clinical impact and limited treatment options. The project leader is Jenifer Allen, PhD; Shah is the principal investigator.
The Swann Lee Awards for Prevention of Chronic Diseases Using Diet and Nutrition are supported by a generous gift to Duke University School of Medicine from the estate of Swann Lee, who specified that these funds be used “solely for nutritional and laboratory research focused solely on preventive care and health maintenance” — not for medical treatment or disease cures.
In addition to funding, the teams receive project management support from CTSI project leaders for the duration of the 24-month funding cycle. The projects funded exemplify translational innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a strong commitment to healthy lifestyles.
“We are thrilled to support these researchers whose work represents the leading edge of nutrition science and chronic disease prevention,” said Susanna Naggie, MD, MHS, director of the Duke CTSI. “These projects are not only innovative but deeply rooted in the values of health promotion and community engagement.”
Congratulations, Svati!
NC Great 100 Celebrated
The 37th Annual NC Great 100 Gala was held on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at The Maxwell Center in Goldsboro, NC. Our very own Kelly Kester, DMP, senior nursing director with Duke Heart & Vascular, was one of the honorees!
Kester is one of five Duke nurses selected for the NC Great 100 Class of 2025. The others include Melinda Busi and Kathy Sandel with Duke Regional Hospital; Derrick Glymph with Duke School of Nursing; and Blaise Nieve with Duke University Hospital.
Congratulations, Kelly!
Kudos to Curtis
Kudos to Mary Curtis, a financial care counselor in the Duke Heart & Vascular cardiac catheterization lab! Jenn Rymer, MD, says, “Mary always helps the providers in the Cath lab with getting approvals for our patients and answering our questions. She is a wealth of information on financial situations and always an incredible advocate for our patients.”
Thank you for your hard work, kindness, and advocacy, Mary!
Shout-out to Vekstein
Lisa Clark Pickett, MD, sent a wonderful note regarding Andrew Vekstein, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon.
“Good morning, Andrew. I wanted to reach out and thank you for the compassionate and skilled care you delivered to a recent patient we shared. Despite the surgical complexity and her extreme illness, you beautifully managed her surgical care with a remarkable focus on her as a person. Her husband was grateful for your frequent and clear communication, and it made a difference to their family at this difficult time. Your clinical excellence and humanity are clear and appreciated.” — Very best wishes, Lisa Clark Pickett MD, assistant professor of surgery, Division of Trauma, Acute and Critical Care Surgery; assistant professor of medicine, Palliative Care
Great work, Andrew!
Kudos to Gardin
We received a terrific note this week from Mihai Podgoreanu, chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care, regarding Taylor Gardin, a critical care nurse with the Duke Heart CTICU.
“I wanted to take a moment and recognize Taylor Gardin for her exceptional leadership and dedication in the CTICU. Always proactive in coordinating complex care, supporting the team through high-acuity situations, maintaining a calm and compassionate presence, and being an asset under fire. Complemented by great communication, a desire to learn, and a focus on staff well-being – from mentoring to bringing snacks. We have some awesome charge nurses in the CTICU, and Taylor is an invaluable one.” — With great appreciation, Mihai Podgoreanu, MD, Chief, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care
“Taylor, thank you for your leadership presence creating a calm atmosphere in a complex environment. We appreciate everything you do for our patients and team.” — Mary Lindsay, DNP, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Duke Heart & Vascular
“Taylor, thank you for all you do each day to make Duke Heart such a great place for our patients, their families and our teams!” –Best, Jill R. Engel, DNP, Service Line Vice President – Heart & Vascular
APP Transplant Symposium Held at Duke
The Duke Transplant Advanced Practice Provider Symposium was held last weekend on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Duke University School of Nursing. Jade Clausen and Courtney Young – two of our amazing Heart & Vascular APPs – were part of the presentation team.
Way to go, Jade and Courtney!
Did you know? Tidbits about Duke’s Impact on Durham
Duke University pays for all city water usage through two master meters and has implemented innovative sustainability measures, including the reuse of 70 million gallons of stormwater via Duke Pond for campus cooling.
Additionally, Duke independently owns and manages more than 34 miles of water and sewer infrastructure across its campus, saving the City of Durham an estimated $10 million annually in maintenance and operational costs!
Go Duke!
DUHS Updates:
COVID vaccine update:
Resources related to the anticipated go-live date for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine administration across ambulatory practices have been posted to Sharepoint. The updated DUHS Ambulatory COVID-19 Vaccine Administration for Patients Standing Order has been finalized and approved and is now accessible on the Policy Center.
Masking Guidance:
Starting on Wednesday, October 15, masking will be strongly recommended throughout all clinical areas in addition to the areas with year-round mandatory masking. Find more details about masking at DUHS in addition to epidemiology updates, testing, treatment, and employee health guidance for team members in the 2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season Toolkit.
Leadership changes:
John Yeatts, MD, MPH, will be stepping down from his Population Health Management Office (PHMO) leadership position and leaving Duke Health on November 2, 2025, after serving for more than 13 years. In the interim, Daniel Costello, PHMO’s Chief Operating Officer, will assume primary operating responsibilities and report directly to Matthew Barber, MD, MHS, Senior Vice President, Ambulatory Services and Physician Practices, DUHS.
Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD has been appointed Physician Vice President, Cancer Services for Duke University Health System, effective November 1, 2025. She will also maintain her current role as Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology for the Duke Department of Medicine. In this expanded leadership role, Dr. Reidy-Lagunes will serve as the physician executive for the cancer service line, responsible for shaping the clinical vision and advancing strategic priorities across all cancer services. She will oversee program development, research integration, and patient-centered care across Durham, Wake, Charlotte, and new markets.
Finally, reminders:
Open Enrollment is underway through October 24. Please review your 2026 elections for medical, dental, vision, and reimbursement accounts. Duke’s annual flu vaccination campaign is also underway. The deadline for compliance is Nov. 18.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
October 6-24: Open Enrollment period for 2026 medical benefits
October 19-25: National Healthcare Quality Week
AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception
The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)
The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.
We look forward to seeing you!
Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Oct. 21: Bridging the gap between physician and patient: a view from the other side with Christopher Kontos. 5 p.m. DN 2002 and via Zoom.
Nov. 4: Building a sustainable acute cardiovascular care program in western Kenya, the journey and lessons learned with Felix Ayub Barasa. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.
MMCVI Grand Rounds
Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
Oct. 23 Topic TBD with Tess Allan
Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar
CME Activities:
17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31
This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.
Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12
The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.
Community Events:
Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29
The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please 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 me 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:
October 10 — Duke Health/CHAI
Becker’s Health IT
Tensions rise over health AI oversight and regulation
October 12 — Robert Mentz
The Economic Times
October 15 — Neha Pagidipati
Green Me
October 16 — Duke Health (partial heart tx)
Bluewin/Swisscom
Duke Heart Pulse — October 12, 2025
Chief’s Message:
It was great to see so many of the Duke Health and Duke Heart team our yesterday morning for the AHA Heart Walk. See the pictures and note below. The impact we make in our community and in our patients lives was on full display and hopefully you all will get a chance to see some of that in the stories we share about patient care, research, and training our fellows, residents, and community members in CPR and heart healthy lifestyles. You will also see HTN champions work at the Lincoln clinic and multiple different groups working with our AHA and Duke Teams to raise awareness around cardiovascular disease.
We also had the cardiac imaging symposium last weekend with great turnout. Again we provided relevant and engaging cases based discussions with advanced and routine cardiovascular imaging in ways that our local groups of patients and clinicians can appreciate.
Highlights of the week:
Triangle Heart Walk Held Yesterday
The 2025 Triangle Heart Walk took place yesterday, October 11 at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC. Thank you to all who joined us! We are so proud of each of our entity leaders, team captains, and walkers who committed time to work on behalf of raising these important funds. Combined, Duke Health’s teams raised $120,074 as of this morning for the American Heart Association and was the leading Health system and the #2 company behind Xylem,Inc. in the areas for fundraising for the AHA – great work, everyone! A special thanks to Katie Norcross and Stephanie Galloway of Duke Health marketing for arranging our activation tent, a “reflections experience” that dovetailed nicely with the launch of our new marketing campaign this past week!
Cardiac Imaging Symposium Success!
The Duke Cardiac Imaging Symposium was held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the Trent Semans Center. We had more than 150 people register to join us — nearly double from last year! Twelve companies exhibited, and we had a wide range of learners – cardiac sonographers, MDs, PAs, nurses, NPs, fellows, residents, and students. The annual symposium is dedicated to exploring the latest advancements and techniques in echocardiography through engaging presentations, interactive discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities.
The agenda and a full list of all the speakers can be found on the event website. A big shout-out to Sreek Vemulapalli, Anita Kelsey, Richie Palma, Ashlee Davis, Alicia Armour, and Christy Darnell for working to plan a very successful CME event!
Burkett, McGugan Presenters at Piedmont PA Conference
Melissa Burkett, PA-C, Team Leader of the Duke Aortic Center APPs and Lynn McGugan, NP in the CTICU 7W presented at the Piedmont Association of Physician Assistants Annual Fall Seminar on Saturday, Oct. 11. The duo shared their expertise on how APPs provide continuity of care for aortic surgery patients. The conference was held at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC.
Way to go!
Arringdon Service Access Lead Wins Impact Award
Congratulations to Tevin Wilson, Service Access Team Lead at Duke Cardiology Arringdon! Wilson is a co-winner of the 2025 Sharon L. Davis Vision Award as part of the Impact Awards given annually by the Duke Patient Revenue Management Organization (PRMO). Wilson was nominated by Sergio Membreno. His co-winner is Alison Ervin.
This year’s awards were presented on September 25, during a ceremony at Trent Semans Hall. The awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams aligning with Duke Patient Revenue Management Organization’s (PRMO) focus areas and demonstrating Duke’s values.
More than 115 people were nominated for the 2025 awards, and the top three finalists from each category were invited to the event with their nominators. Keith Stover, Vice President, Finance and Chief Revenue Cycle Officer for PRMO, kicked off the program by welcoming guests. Tom Owens, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, DUHS, joined to give the keynote address, highlighting the vital role PRMO team members play in shaping the patient experience at Duke Health.
Guests were also welcomed by Christie Bowes, Director of Hospital Billing & Collections and Executive Champion of the awards committee, along with emcees Paula Allard, Director, Professional Coding, and Todd Beedy, Manager, Coding Operations.
Tevin is shown here with Keith Stover.
A full list of winners can be found on the Duke Sharepoint site at this link.
Congratulations, Tevin!!!
Did you know? Tidbits about Duke’s Impact on Durham
Over the past two decades, Duke University and Health System has helped create more than 1,000 affordable homes and units and invested more than $22 million with trusted local financial institutions such as Latino Community Credit Union, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and Self-Help to provide capital for affordable housing developers and local small businesses.
By working at Duke Health, you make a difference not only in the health of people we treat, but with a collective impact throughout our community. Go Duke!
DUHS Updates:
Reminders: Open Enrollment is underway through October 24. Please review your 2026 elections for medical, dental, vision, and reimbursement accounts. Duke’s annual flu vaccination campaign is also underway. The deadline for compliance is Nov. 18. Thank you!
Mitchell Named Health System Operations Center Director
As of Oct. 1, Diane Mitchell, MHA, BSN, RN, has been named Health System Operations Center Director. In this new role, Diane will oversee the team of operations administrators and coordinators across all Duke Health acute care hospitals. This transition is part of a broader DUHS initiative to centralize and unify patient flow link operations across all entities and their respective operations centers.
Since joining Duke Raleigh in 1996, Diane has held a variety of key positions—starting as a bedside nurse and progressing to her current role as director of operations administration. Join us in congratulating Diane on this leadership role expansion and thanking her for her almost three decades of service at Duke Health.
Congratulations, Diane!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
October 6-24: Open Enrollment period for 2026 medical benefits
October 9: Flu vaccination season launch
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Oct. 21: Bridging the gap between physician and patient: a view from the other side with Christopher Kontos. 5 p.m. DN 2002 or via Zoom.
MMCVI Grand Rounds
Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
Oct. 16: Quality in the Echo Lab with Ashlee Davis
Oct. 23 Topic TBD with Tess Allan
Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar
AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception
The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)
The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.
We look forward to seeing you!
Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!
CME Activities:
17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31
This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.
Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12
The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.
Community Events:
Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29
The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please 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 me 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:
October 3 — Stephen Greene
Consultant Live
Expert Perspectives: Top News in Heart Failure from HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2025
October 6 — Stephen Greene
AJMC/Commentary
Aggressive Therapy Recommendations Following the STRONG-HF Trials: Stephen J. Greene, MD
October 6 — Duke Health (Duke Children’s #3)
Cardiovascular Business
The best children’s heart hospitals in the US
October 7 — Neha Pagidipati
AARP
99 Percent of Heart Attacks and Strokes Are Linked to Modifiable Risk Factors
October 9 — Robert Califf
tctmd
What’s Going to Be Hot at TCT 2025
October 10 — Neha Pagidipati
Medscape
Considering Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Are There Fewer SMuRF-less Patients Than We Thought?
Duke Heart Pulse — October 5, 2025
Highlights of the week:
To Those Observing Recent Holidays
We hope all who observed Yom Kippur this past week had a meaningful and peaceful fast. A belated happy new year to all who celebrated Rosh Hashana Sept. 22-24. May this season foster renewal, peace and rejuvenation within you and your family.
Duke Health, Trase Systems Partner to Develop AI Health Care Tools
Duke Health and Trase Systems have entered a strategic partnership to create advanced AI agents aimed at reshaping health care delivery.
Trase Systems is a developer of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, a type of AI that can that make choices and act on its own to reach goals. Duke Health and Trase Systems plan to build a comprehensive AI-powered ecosystem that integrates automation ensuring data is brought to action for clinical care to improve outcomes and reduce cost.
The aim of the agentic AI technology is to streamline administrative assignments and optimize the allocation of resources, while also enhancing clinical functions such as patient scheduling requests, care coordination, and access to clinical studies.
Duke Heart staff will co-develop and test agentic AI products with Trase Systems aimed at enhancing clinician workflows, elevating the patient care experience, and improving health outcomes. The first phase of development will begin at the Duke Heart Center, which treats more than 65,000 people with heart disease every year.
“At Duke Health and Duke Heart, we are committed to advancing health care through innovation and research,” said Manesh R. Patel, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Duke University School of Medicine.
“AI has the potential to help our doctors, nurses, and researchers maximize the use of information to personalize cardiovascular care for our patients,” said Patel. “We strive to develop proven and trusted tools that will improve health outcomes and create a better experience for patients and care teams alike.”
Clinical leaders will be working to see whether integrating AI into everyday workflows will allow care teams to better understand each patient’s unique health history, lifestyle, and biology and lead to more personalized care.
In addition to more personalized care, the AI-powered ecosystem aims to reduce administrative burden. In a recent survey by the American Medical Association, 75% of physicians said AI could make their work more efficient, and more than half believed AI could help with stress and burnout.
“AI holds enormous potential to transform health care—whether by automating time-intensive administrative tasks, improving patient care and outcomes, or streamlining hospital workflows—yet industry-wide adoption has been slow,” said Grant Verstandig, CEO of Red Cell Partners (incubator of Trase systems), and co-founder and CEO of Trase Systems. “By collaborating directly with the doctors, nurses, and administrators of Duke Health, we’ll be rapidly developing the agents they want and that deliver the highest value. We are excited to be pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve so we can get that much closer to realizing its transformative impact on health care.”
ICYMI: SOM Leadership Town Hall Recording
Dean Klotman hosted a School of Medicine Town Hall: Financial and Operational Strategy Updates on Tuesday, Sept. 30. If you were unable to join us you can view the recording right here.
More from HFSA
We received more great photos from Heart Failure Society of America attendees this week, enjoy!
Above, left, Haya Aziz, MD, former AHFTC fellow, now AHFTC cardiologist at McGill University, presented a poster on a project she worked on with Karen Flores Rosario, MD. They are joined by Benjamin Trichon, MD, in the next photo, above right.
Above left, Jacob Schroder presenting to HFSA attendees; above center and right, Duke team members connecting! Photos courtesy of Stephanie Barnes and Karen Flores Rosario.
Campaign Launching this Week
As mentioned last month, Duke Health will launch an Access Campaign this week with three commercial spots – two of them dedicated to orthopedic and cardiovascular care. You can see the spots here: General Access; Heart, and Ortho.
AHA.25 Duke Annual Reception
The annual Duke reception at the upcoming American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions will be held on Nov. 8. (Please see email from DCRI for your official invitation.)
The upcoming Sessions will be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here.
We look forward to seeing you!
Reminder: Please let Tracey Koepke know if you are making a presentation at Sessions so that she can plan to include your findings in Pulse. Thank you!
DUHS Updates:
Agreement reached with Aetna
On Friday, Duke Health and Aetna®, a CVS Health company, announced a new multi-year agreement that provides Aetna Commercial and Medicare Advantage members continued in-network access to high-quality, affordable care at Duke Health. This agreement includes all Duke Health locations and providers and reflects a shared commitment to putting patients and members first.
“Throughout this negotiation, we have remained committed to our nonprofit mission of serving the best interests of our patients and community,” said Thomas A. Owens, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Health System. “We came to the table together to reach an agreement that covers the cost of care. Our agreement with Aetna prioritizes efficiency, promotes high-quality care, and helps drive down health care costs.”
“Duke Health is a valued partner in delivering high-quality, convenient care to Aetna members in North Carolina,” said Amelia Lee, Aetna Vice President of Network, Southeast Region. “We look forward to continuing to work together to meet the needs of our shared members and patients.”
With this new agreement, both organizations look forward to continuing their partnership to provide high-quality health care while exploring new, innovative opportunities that focus on population health, value-based care, and other areas to benefit the health of members and patients in North Carolina.
“We came together to do what is best for patients and worked together to make this positive outcome possible,” said Owens. “Patients and families will continue to have access to the Duke Health doctors and care teams they know and trust.”
Patients who may have rescheduled or canceled any appointments are encouraged to call their provider’s office to resume care.
Pencina Heading to UnitedHealthcare
Dean Mary Klotman announced this week that Michael J. Pencina, PhD, chief data scientist for Duke Health and vice dean for data science, director of Duke AI Health, and professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at the Duke University School of Medicine, will be leaving Duke to take a position with UnitedHealthcare as their chief AI scientist.
Pencina joined the Duke faculty in 2013. He co-founded and co-chaired Duke Health’s Algorithm-Based Clinical Decision Support (ABCDS) Oversight Committee and served as co-director of Duke’s Collaborative to Advance Clinical Health Equity (CACHE). He spearheaded Duke’s role as a founding partner of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), whose mission is to increase trustworthiness of AI by developing guidelines to drive high-quality health care through the adoption of credible, fair, and transparent health AI systems.
We wish him all the best in his new role – he will be missed here at Duke!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
October 6-24: Open Enrollment period for 2026 medical benefits
October 9: Flu vaccination season launch
MMCVI Grand Rounds
Multi-Modality Cardiovascular Imaging Grand Rounds: A multi-imaging approach to cardiovascular disease cases. Thursdays, Noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
Oct. 9: RV Guidelines with Fawaz Alenezi
Oct. 16: Quality in the Echo Lab with Ashlee Davis
Oct. 23 Topic TBD with Tess Allan
Oct. 30: Cardiovascular Imaging in Pregnancy with Nish Shivakumar
CME Activities:
17th Annual NC RTP Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium — October 31
This symposium will explore optimal diagnostic strategies for treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment selection, and timely referrals to specialized PH centers. Clinically challenging presentations, including CTD-PAH, CPPC PH, CTEPH, PH associated with ILD, COPD, portopulmonary hypertension, and PH in end-stage renal disease, will be addressed — with a focus on frontline providers — through interactive lectures and robust case-based discussions. Durham Convention Center. Register here.
Duke Cardiovascular MR Practicum & Board Review – December 8-12
The Fall 2025 course will be held December 8-12 in the Penn Pavilion at Duke University. For more information, contact Michele Parker. The full course brochure and registration link are available here.
Community Events:
2025 Triangle Heart Walk – October 11 at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610. Festivities begin at 7:30 a.m.; Duke Health Team Photo will be at 8:15! The welcome program will begin at 8:45 a.m. with the Walk immediately following. The event venue will be open through 11 a.m.
Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection Opening – October 29
The collection opening celebration is scheduled for October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Holsti Anderson Family Assembly Room, Room 153, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, West Campus.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please 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 me 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:
September 28 — Stephen Greene
HCP Live/Don’t Miss a Beat podcast
Don’t Miss a Beat: Debating Oral Diuretic Intensification as an Endpoint in Heart Failure Trials
September 28 — Stephen Greene
HCP Live
Understanding Residual Risk and Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure, With Steve Greene, MD
September 29 — Neha Pagidipati
STAT News
Warning: Serious cardiovascular events don’t come out of the blue
September 29 — Sreekanth Vemulapalli
The Cardiology Advisor
Idorsia Collaborates With Stanford, Duke to Update Difficult-to-Treat Hypertension Care
September 30 — Adam DeVore
Becker’s Health IT
Digital health boosts medication adherence: Duke study
September 30 — Duke Health
Medpage Today
Constipation and CVD; Lp(a) Testing Still Rare; New Echocardiography Guideline
September 30 — Duke Heart
Becker’s Health IT
Duke Health developing agentic AI tools
September 30 — Manesh Patel
Healthcare Innovation
Venture Capitalists See Big Opportunity for Agentic AI in Healthcare
October 1 — Jennifer Rymer
European Medical Journal
ACS Unplugged: PCI and Antiplatelet Therapy
October 2 — Monique Starks, Christopher Granger, and Lisa Monk
The Clemmons Courier
October 2 — Michael Pencina
Stat News
UnitedHealth taps Duke scientist to lead AI efforts
October 3 — Stephen Greene
Medscape
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