Highlights of the week:
AHA Scientific Sessions & Duke Annual Reception Next Weekend
The American Heart Association 2025 Scientific Sessions is taking place later this week (Nov. 7-10) in New Orleans. This year’s theme is The Future of Cardiovascular Science Starts Here. We know a lot of you are going and we’re looking forward to seeing you there – don’t forget to join us at the annual Duke reception on Sat., Nov. 8!
We have more than 100 presentations, panels, posters, and sessions moderated by Duke faculty and fellows coming up next weekend. It promises to be a great weekend to get together, network, and celebrate the research and clinical advances made not only at Duke but throughout the cardiovascular space.
Coleman Inducted into ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators
Dawn Coleman, MD, professor of surgery and chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Duke, has been inducted into the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.
Coleman is among a group of 103 esteemed surgeon educators who received this honor on Sept. 19, 2025, in Chicago. This is the eighth cohort of members inducted into the Academy.
A dedicated surgeon educator and mentor, Coleman previously served as interim Program Director for the Duke Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Program and as Program Director for the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency and Fellowship at the University of Michigan.
Coleman additionally holds leadership positions in several professional societies and associations. She is currently the 2024-2025 President for the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery, Secretary for the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, Vice-Chair of the Program Committee for the Society of Vascular Surgery and is a member of the Society of University Surgeons and the Excelsior Surgical Society, among others.
“I’m honored to be inducted into the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and grateful to join a community so deeply committed to advancing surgical education,” says Dr. Coleman. “Throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by the educators, trainees, and colleagues who elevate our field through mentorship, innovation, and collaboration. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s mission and helping shape the future of surgical training.”
The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members, or Affiliate Members following a stringent peer review process.
Once inducted, Academy members actively engage in advancing the Academy’s programs and goals, which are to advance the science and practice of innovative lifelong surgical education, training, and scholarship in the changing milieu of health care; foster the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration; support the development and recognition of faculty; underscore the importance of lifelong surgical education and training; positively impact quality and patient safety through lifelong surgical education and training disseminate advances in education and training to all surgeons; and offer mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.
Congratulations, Dawn!
LT Team Celebrated by Pauly
Greg Pauly, president of Duke University Hospital, this week celebrated our lung transplant team in his monthly letter to team members. His message, sent Thursday, reads:
I want to recognize an exceptional accomplishment by our Lung Transplant Team who recently performed nine lung transplants in just one week – and a total of 20 for the month. This remarkable feat reflects not only the extraordinary skill of our transplant teams but their deep compassion and commitment to our patients. Dr. Jacob Klapper, Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation, shared,
“In order for us, as the surgical team, to bring nine patients to transplant, we rely on the unwavering dedication of our anesthesiologists, nurses, critical care teams, and transplant pulmonologists. Everyone involved in the care of these patients has a shared vision for what needs to be done. This spirit has always defined our institution. As the surgical director, I am immensely grateful to all who helped us care for these individuals over the last seven days. It was a special week.”
Duke’s Transplant Program is recognized for having some of the shortest wait times and highest survival rates in the country. When the national median wait for a lung transplant is 58 days, at Duke it is 15 days. This milestone is especially meaningful as we observe Healthy Lung Month.
To every member of the Transplant Program, thank you. Your work embodies the very best of Duke Health: Excellence, teamwork, and a profound commitment to hope, health and healing.
Way to go!
May Named Exec Director of Development for MSCC
Congratulations to our major gifts officer, Jessica Baga May! Following a national search, she has been selected as the Executive Director of Development for Medicine, Surgery, and Clinical Care (MSCC), effective immediately.
In this role, Jessica will lead the MSCC fundraising team supporting the Division of Cardiology and Duke Heart Center; the Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences (HNSCS), Dermatology, and Orthopedic Surgery; Duke Transplant Center; Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, and the Duke Eye Center. Her deep familiarity with Duke Health and her collaborative approach will be a great asset as she transitions into this expanded leadership role. In addition to leading the MSCC team, Jessica will continue to serve as our lead development officer for Heart services.
Congratulations, Jessica — well deserved!
Bashore Collection Celebrated
We were delighted to see several faculty members at last week’s celebration and grand opening of the Dr. Thomas Bashore Collection at the Rubenstein Library on Duke University’s west campus on Wednesday afternoon.
Bashore, with his trademark humor, delivered an excellent and informative lecture on the history of medicine and medical devices. Many thanks to all who joined us, including the Kelsey’s, Sketch’s, Califf’s, Dr. Harvey Cohen, Blue Dean, and numerous other friends.
Congratulations, Dr. Bashore!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
November 18: Deadline for flu vaccination compliance.
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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.
Nov. 11: Perioperative atrial fibrillation after noncardiac surgery with Michael Wang. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.
CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference
Nov. 5: EP Case Presentation with Verda Arshad and Rebecca Steinberg. Noon, DMP 6E39 or via Zoom.
Nov. 7: EKG Review with Neil Freedman. Noon. Zoom.
2025 Victor J. Dzau Lecture Seminar Series
Nov. 5: Mechanisms of sarcomere assembly and local translation in cardiomyocytes with Nicole Dubois, PhD, associate professor, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Mount Sinai. Noon-1 p.m., Nanaline Duke Bldg, Room 147. Sponsored by The Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis.
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.
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)
Upcoming CME Activities:
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.
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 28 — Jennifer Rymer
The Healthy
Does Daylight Saving Time Cause Heart Attacks? Not So Fast, Says New Study
October 29 — DCRI/RACE-CARS
The Richmond Observer
Improving Emergency Response: Richmond County deputies now equipped with AEDs
