Chief’s message: Week of Remembrance
Many of us have memories of people that have affected our lives and impacted our thinking. At Duke – there are so many people through the years that have been leaders in heart and vascular medicine and surgery – that it is part of our culture to pay it forward and train the next generation. This week we learned unfortunately of the passing of Dr. Jess Peter at age 90. We have the full memorial below, but for many of our cardiology faculty, graduates, fellows, and staff – it will just be the start of capturing who Jess was. Along with Drs. Behar and Kong, Jess was one of the original three physicians that brought interventional cardiology to Duke. Over a 40 year career at Duke, he brought limitless enthusiasm, skill, humor, curiosity, and drive to innovate and improved patient centered care. His lessons for those that got to work with him will be forever ingrained. For many of our fellows at graduation in the spring, I often highlight that in their career they will be faced with challenges and times during clinical care when they will need to rely on their training and character. Often at these times of stress we note that they will hear the voices and phrases of those who trained them. For many generations of cardiologists – Jess is one of those voices we still hear when faced with particularly challenging times. A memorial service will be held in the spring and we will share details when available.
News of the week:
In Memoriam: Robert Hatton “Jess” Peter, MD
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor of Medicine Robert Hatton “Jess” Peter, MD, who died on March 7, 2026, at the age of 90. Dr. Peter was a pioneering figure in interventional cardiology and a beloved part of our community.
Dr. Peter was a foundational member of our Duke team and an internationally recognized leader in cardiology whose contributions shaped the field as we know it today. These include his work toward developing new methods of opening blocked coronary arteries as an alternative to open-heart surgery. He began his distinguished academic and medical career at Duke University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957, before completing his medical training at the Duke University School of Medicine in 1961.
His early career included rigorous training at Duke University Medical Center and Yale—New Haven Medical Center, experiences that set the stage for an extraordinary trajectory in cardiovascular medicine. He served in the United States Navy at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia, where he directed the Cardiopulmonary Laboratory and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. While at Duke, he served as Associate Director of the Cardiology Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center and Professor of Medicine from 1980 until his retirement in 2005.
He possessed remarkable technical skills and clinical judgment in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, where he spent much of his professional life. Fellows loved doing cases with him, not only because of his expertise, but because he made every case a learning experience. He had a gift for teaching – he was calm, thoughtful, and always encouraging. His mentorship shaped generations of cardiologists, many of whom now lead programs across the country.
“Having trained under Jess in interventional cardiology within the Cath lab, I can personally attest to the profound impact he had on me in my career as well as generations of cardiologists, fellows, faculty, and patients alike,” said Manesh Patel, MD, chief of the division of cardiology and vice president of Duke Heart and Vascular Services. “His legacy as a giant in our cardiology group continues to inspire us, and his teachings remain a cornerstone for our fellows in training. ”
Dr. Peter was known not only for his technical expertise and pioneering spirit, but also for his humility, warmth, and unwavering dedication to patient care. He received numerous teaching awards during his career, including the Eugene Stead Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Thomas M. Bashore, MD Teaching Award, presented annually by the Duke Cardiology Fellows. The Warren S. Newman Fellowship in Cardiology Endowment Fund was established in his honor. His influence continues to resonate through the countless patients he treated, the trainees he inspired, and the innovations in interventional cardiology to which he contributed.
He was also known for his wonderful sense of humor and warm spirit.
“He brought enthusiasm, compassion, and a light-hearted sense of humor to even the most challenging situations,” said Michael H. Sketch, Jr., MD, professor emeritus of medicine in cardiology. “The Cath lab was full of his classic sayings and quick wit, which put everyone at ease. When a skeptical interventional fellow questioned a subtle lesion on the angiogram, he would calmly reply, ‘There is a lesion there. I know you may not see it, but trust me, it is there.’ And if a fellow became a little too enthusiastic with the panning during an angiogram, he would deadpan, ‘Hang on a minute… I just threw up.’ Those moments captured his humor perfectly—sharp, playful, and unforgettable.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Peter cherished his family. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Peter, RN, PhD, their children Jon, William, and Jennifer, and five grandchildren.
Jess and Mary Ann created many traditions over the years that reflected their warmth and generosity. For many years, they hosted the cardiology fellows for an end-of-year dinner at their farm – an unforgettable lobster feast that everyone looked forward to. Those evenings captured the essence of who they were: welcoming, joyful, and deeply committed to the community around them. He was, of course, an enthusiastic and loyal Duke fan.
His legacy is profound and enduring and he will be deeply missed. His impact on Duke and the field of cardiology will continue to guide and inspire us for years to come. In his memory, flags across Duke University and Duke Health were lowered on Friday, March 13.
A memorial service will be held this spring, and details will be shared once finalized. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Orange County Emergency Services, Attn: EMS Community Giving Fund, P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278. His online obituary can be found here.
Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Dr. Peter’s family, friends, and colleagues.
16-Year Study Finds Major Health Burden in Single‑Ventricle Heart
Children born with single‑ventricle heart disease, a rare and serious heart defect, often undergo multiple surgeries in their first years of life. A new study shows the challenges for these children can last well into adolescence and sometimes throughout their lives.
Researchers from Duke Health and the Pediatric Heart Network followed 549 children with single ventricle heart disease for 16 years and found that 87% either died or developed a major health problem over time. Only 12% reached adolescence without a significant complication.
These findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology March 11, give families a clearer picture of what to expect and offer the medical community a new direction for improving care.
“Now that we understand these trajectories and the risk factors for suboptimal outcomes, we can counsel families more clearly and tailor therapies to each child,” said Kevin D. Hill, MD, corresponding author, chief of the division of pediatric cardiology and professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.
The study introduces a new way of evaluating long-term health called a global rank score. It’s a measure developed with input from families that captures what matters most to them, including daily functioning, quality of life, and heart performance.
One of the most important findings for families is that most children will continue to need specialized care long after surgery. The study found high rates of adaptive behavior delays, quality of life challenges, and reduced heart function in many patients, often emerging gradually as they grow.
Researchers also found that premature babies faced the steepest uphill climb. More than 60% of premature infants in the study died, and only 3% reached adolescence without major problems. The data suggest that supporting healthy pregnancies and preventing preterm birth could make a meaningful difference.
For clinicians, the study provides new clues that may help tailor early surgical decisions. Although the two main shunt types used in infancy showed similar long-term outcomes overall, babies who had moderate or severe tricuspid valve leakage before surgery did worse with the right ventricle shunt, a finding that could guide future decision making.
Just as importantly, the study revealed substantial differences among hospitals. Some centers had lower early mortality, while others excelled in long-term follow-up and rehabilitation. This variation highlights opportunities to share best practices and improve care, no matter where a child is treated.
“These children need lifelong comprehensive care, including medical, developmental, and school support,” Hill said. “It’s not like they get surgery and are ‘fixed.’ Ongoing, coordinated services are essential to help them thrive.”
The study emphasizes that children with single-ventricle heart disease often face challenges in multiple areas of life. The research team hopes these findings will help families feel better prepared, while giving healthcare teams a roadmap for improving outcomes through physical therapy, mental health support, school accommodations, exercise programs, and strong long-term monitoring.
In addition to Hill, study authors include Lillian Kang, Qiao Wang, Jane W Newburger, J. William Gaynor, Kristin M. Burns, Richard Williams, Felicia Trachtenberg, Brian W. McCrindle, Eric M. Graham, Christian Pizarro, Awais Ashfaq, Andrew Souza, James A. Kuo, Dawn Ilardi, Kurt R. Schumacher, Hwanhee Hong, and Caren S. Goldberg.
This work was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL135680, HL135685, HL135683, HL135689, HL135646, HL135665, HL135678, HL135682, HL135666, and HL135691) with additional support from the Miracle Miley Research Fund.
ACC Scientific Sessions Annual Reception
Please join us on Saturday, March 28 at the Duke Annual Reception at the 2026 ACC Scientific Sessions. We’ll be having an NCAA Elite Eight Watch Party as well… join us from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., CT, in Gravier A & B of the New Orleans Marriott, Warehouse Arts District. For questions about the event, please reach out to Elizabeth.evans@duke.edu or natalie.sayewich@duke.edu.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
March 17: M&M ECPR with Dennis Narcisse, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 or via Zoom.
March 24: The Rise of DCD Heart Transplant: Is the DCD Era Meeting Expectations? with Joshua Rushakoff, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 or via Zoom.
April 7: On the Way to Advanced Heart Failure with Paula Rambarat, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.
CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference
March 18: HF/TX Case Review with Rebecca Steinberg. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
March 20: AFib 101 with Jonathan Piccini. Noon, Zoom only.
March 25: ECG Review with Neil Freedman. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
March 27: NO CONFERENCE/ACC Annual Sessions
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.
March 19: Assessment and Decision-making in Multivalvular Heart Disease with Alina Nicoara
March 26: Chest Pain Imaging with Fawaz Alenezi
April 2: Assessment and Interventional Planning for Tricuspid Disease with Jon Kusner
April 9: Heart Transplant Rejection Surveillance with Merna Hussein/Joe Lerman
April 16: CANCELLED
April 23: Cardiac Masses with Fawaz Alenezi
April 30: HOCM with Fawaz Alenezi
May 7: Imaging Approach to Congenital Heart Disease with Bharathi Upadhya
May 14: Pericardial Diseases with Fawaz Alenezi
May 21: Imaging TOF Patient with Bharathi Upadhya
May 28: HFpEF Imaging Modalities with Rebecca/Harriet
June 4: Endocarditis with Fawaz Alenezi
June 11: CT Fractional Flow Review and Akshay Pendyal
June 18: D-Trans vs L-Trans Congenital Heart Disease with Fawaz Alenezi
June 25: Systemic and Pulmonary Hypertensive Heart Disease with Fawaz Alenezi
Ultrasound Vendor Fair, March 17
The Department of Emergency Medicine is hosting their second annual Ultrasound Vendor Fair on March 17 and all are invited to attend, specifically all those who use point of care ultrasound.
This fair will highlight the latest cart-based and handheld technology from a variety of POCUS vendors. It will be an ideal opportunity for hands-on demos of the latest software and hardware offerings from these companies. There will be a small raffle giveaway as well.
When: Tuesday, March 17th
Where: Trent Semans 3025 (Classroom 3)
When: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Questions? Please reach out to Shawn Sethi, MD at shawn.sethi@duke.edu.
Please stop by at any point!
Support Ramos & Visionaries of the Year Campaign
Please consider supporting our amazing team member, Dayana Ramos, DNP, a critical care nurse practitioner in cardiology (and cancer survivor) during this year’s Visionaries of the Year campaign with Blood Cancer United.
“I’m currently raising funds for this year’s Visionaries of the Year campaign with Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) as part of Team Don’t Give Up!” said Ramos. “This cause is incredibly personal to me, as a leukemia survivor who recently celebrated five years cancer-free, I know firsthand how critical research funding and patient support truly are.”
The 10-week fundraising competition kicks off on March 9, and her goal is to raise $25,000 to help advance lifesaving treatments and support families facing blood cancer.
Please support Dayana in any way you can, even if only with words of encouragement! Her fundraising page for Blood Cancer United can be found here.
Upcoming CME Activities:
2026 Duke Heart CMEs
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- June 6: Duke Heart Failure Symposium — Course directors are Marat Fudim, Rob Mentz, Richa Agarwal, and Stephanie Barnes. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
- October 30: 18th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Hypertension Symposium – Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
Please save the dates!
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.
