Events of the week:
In Memoriam: Virginia “VA” Coe, CT Surgery SDU APP
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our colleague, Virginia Coe, on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Coe was a wonderful colleague and friend who was a vital member of the Duke Heart team for 20 years – serving our patients as a nurse since 2006, and from 2019 as a nurse practitioner on our cardiothoracic surgery step-down units.
Many thanks to Ashley Barba and Stephanie Buck for taking time to share their memories with us and for shining a spotlight on VA. May her memory be a blessing.
Virginia Coe, known to all of us as “VA”, was a beloved member of the Duke University Hospital family whose warmth, compassion, and joyful spirit touched countless lives. VA began her career at Duke University Hospital in 2006 as a nurse on 3300. From the very beginning, she brought not only exceptional clinical skill, but also unmatched kindness and humanity that made patients and colleagues feel cared for and valued. In 2019, after earning her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, she continued her career as a cardiothoracic nurse practitioner on the step-down unit, where she remained a steady, compassionate presence for patients and teammates.
VA had a gift for bringing light into every room she entered. She was always smiling, quick with a joke, and known for her infectious laugh that always had a way of lifting the spirits of everyone around her. Even on the most difficult days, VA managed to bring humor, encouragement, and comfort to those who needed it most. Her selflessness, generosity, and genuine love for people made her not just a respected colleague, but a treasured friend.
One of VA’s favorite sayings was, “Bloom where you’re planted.” She taught us just how true this statement was, living life with optimism, resilience, and grace, always making the very best of wherever she found herself. Whether caring for patients, supporting coworkers, or spending time with loved ones, she poured her whole heart into everything she did.
Outside of the hospital, VA’s world revolved around the people she loved. She was devoted to her family and friends. Additionally, she adored her dog, a three-legged pug rescue, Penny, who loved Virginia and was fiercely protective of her.
VA passed away at the age of 44 after a long, relentless battle with ovarian cancer. Her loss is felt profoundly by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Though she is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in the kindness she showed, the laughter she shared, and the example she set for all of us.
Those who had the privilege of knowing VA will carry her light forward—remembering her laughter, her compassion, and her reminder to always bloom where we are planted.
A full obituary for VA can be found here on the Hall Wynne website.
Kelsey Featured in AHA March Madness Healthier Habits
For college basketball fans, few things are as exciting as March Madness. And few college basketball rivalries stir as much excitement as the one between Duke University and the University of North Carolina.
But some things transcend even such a storied sports rivalry. Want proof? The American Heart Association asked a pair of experts from both schools: Do they actually agree it’s good to think about your health amid the hundreds of hours of basketball in the men’s and women’s tournaments?
What did our Michelle Kelsey, MD and her UNC counterpart Dr. Kelly Evenson say? Read here!
NC Walk for Victory — Support our Aortic team!
Duke Heart & Vascular is proud to again serve as the presenting sponsor of the NC Walk for Victory being held in Raleigh on Saturday, April 25. Dr. Chad Hughes is again serving as medical director for the walk, and he does a fantastic job!
This event unites our regional Marfan/LDS/VEDS community in support of patients and families affected by genetic aortic and vascular conditions. It’s a wonderful event that has grown larger each year. We love seeing our patients and their families join in all the fun — and we’d love to see you there as well!
Please join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Laurel Hills Community Center in Laurel Hills Park located at 3808 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612. This is an easy to find location with ample and free parking.
Please join our team and donate to this cause if you are able, and forward this message to anyone who may be interested in joining! Together, we walk for awareness. Together, we Walk for Victory.
Thank you!
This week! 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.
DUHS & Campus Updates
New Policy for Core Training Effective April 1
Duke Health is moving to one deadline for all team members to complete the five Annual Global Core Training modules. This new policy, effective April 1, 2026, requires completion of these modules between April 1 – May 31, 2026.
This change is a result of feedback received from team members and is part of the DUHS commitment to Adapt to Improve. The ability to now complete these trainings within a defined period of time will improve consistency across the organization, offer a more defined standard of work for this process, and reduce administrative burden for the organization through simplified tracking.
The five Annual Global Core training modules required for all team members include:
- Compliance Annual Update
- Annual HIPAA Privacy Training
- Annual IT Security Awareness
- HICS Emergency Preparedness
- Fire Safety
Completing all five core training modules takes approximately one hour, a duration that has been reduced each year as DUHS continues to refine the overall process based on employee and leadership feedback.
Please note:
- Team members whose required training is due for 2026 will receive an email from the Duke Learning Management System (LMS) around April 1 notifying them that their modules are now available. They will need to complete the modules by May 31, 2026.
- Team members who have completed their required training modules between January 1 – March 31, 2026 will be considered compliant and will not need to complete the training again until April 2027.
- Team members whose training deadline is January 1 – March 31, 2026 will be allowed to wait until May 31, 2026 to complete their modules.
- Only the five required Annual Global Core training modules listed above will be due on May 31, 2026. Compliance deadlines for all other mandatory modules will remain the same.
Thank you!
Duke Commits $203 Million to Expand Economic Opportunity in the Triangle
Duke University and Duke University Health System this week launched HomeGrown, an initiative to invest $203 million over three years to expand local hiring, spend more with Durham and Triangle businesses, and invest in affordable housing.
HomeGrown will leverage Duke’s position as one of the region’s largest private employers and a major economic driver to help people in our community get ahead — through better jobs, more opportunities for local businesses, and investments that make it easier for families to stay in the community they call home. The program builds on our longstanding existing partnerships while establishing new commitments and greater transparency around Duke’s impact in the region.
HomeGrown is an initiative we can all be proud of. It is a direct reflection of our culture commitment to Put People First — and a great example of the investments we make in the communities we serve. Learn more about HomeGrown on Duke Health Now and on the Duke Community Affairs website.
A news release can be found here.
Ongoing Campus Construction
Please find the latest summary of anticipated impacts for ongoing campus construction and renewal projects. This information is meant to keep you informed regarding campus navigation.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
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 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 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
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!
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.
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.
