Highlights of the week:
Al-Khatib Now President of HRS
Congratulations to Dr. Sana Al-Khatib as she begins her term as President of the Heart Rhythm Society today, at the conclusion of Heart Rhythm 2026 — the annual meeting of HRS taking place April 23-26 in Chicago.
“Many thanks for all of your support in getting me to this very moment of my career,” said Al-Khatib via email. “I am thankful to all my Duke colleagues, mentees, trainees, and staff, and I am looking forward to building collaborations and advancing science.”
We are so excited for you, Sana – congratulations! We recognize the amazing effort and work you have put into the field of Electrophysiology and the Heart Rhythm Society over the years. Duke Heart is proud to have another national cardiovascular leader representing us.
We expect to have additional HRS coverage in next week’s edition of Pulse.
Owensby Now President of NCUS
Congratulations to cardiac sonographer Jon Owensby, ACS, RDCS, RRT! He is now serving as President of the North Carolina Ultrasound Society (NCUS). He replaces Richard A. Palma, who just completed his term. Palma is director of the Duke Cardiac Ultrasound Certificate Program.
The presidential handover to Owensby occurred last weekend during the 2026 NC Ultrasound Society Spring Symposium held April 17-18 at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort in Cherokee, NC.
The NC Ultrasound Society (NCUS) works to advance the professional development of members involved in the diagnostic application of ultrasound in the healthcare setting. Duke’s Division of Cardiology was well represented at the spring meeting and had four presenters there including:
- Alicia Armour presented Aortic Stenosis during the ECHO track.
- Ashlee Davis presented Artificial Intelligence during the abdomen extended track, and Strain during the ECHO track.
- Richard Palma presented Interesting ECHO Cases during the ECHO track and Managing Clinical Sites during the Educator Track.
- Bharathi Upadhya, MD, presented Congenital Heart Disease during the ECHO track.
Congratulations, Jon! This was an excellent showing from Duke Heart!
Heart Transplant Retreat Held
Congratulations to our heart transplant team for hosting the recent Heart Transplant Retreat on April 13, 2026. Special thanks to Amanda Rooney, Adam DeVore, Joe Lerman and Jade Clausen for coordinating a robust event – we had 56 attendees!
The agenda for the day included the following:
- Introduction and welcome by Adam DeVore.
- Chet Patel, MD, Community Approach to Supporting Patients with Advanced Heart Failure
- Joe Lerman, MD, Overview of Program Metrics –Volume, Status 2, Pre-Txp Waitlist Mortality, DCD, Post-Op
- Stephanie Barnes Philanthropy Update
- Sarah Casalinova New Coolers; ENHANCE Trial
- Jade Clausen Consult Service
- Amanda Rooney Potential Donor Derived Transmission Event (PDDTE) Workflow
- Madeleine Heldman, MD, MS, Infectious Disease – Toxo
- Joshua Rushakoff, MD, Research Updates and ISHLT
The team also took time to recognize Donate Life Month by taking a group photo of some of the heart coordinators on the lawn of the Duke Medical Pavilion, which has been painted with the Donate Life logo and decorated with green pinwheels.
Way to go, everyone!
NC Walk for Victory
The North Carolina Walk for Victory was held yesterday, April 25, 2026 at Laurel Hills Park and Community Center in Raleigh. The weather held and we had an excellent turnout!
The NC Walk for Victory is a fundraising event held to support people with aortic and vascular conditions, including Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, VEDS, and related syndromes. Overall, 17 teams have officially raised $97,200!
Duke Heart has been the presenting sponsor of the Walk for Victory since its inception — and we are so proud that the NC walk is among the Top 5 Walk for Victory locations in the U.S.!
Special thanks to cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Chad Hughes and Melissa Burkett of the Duke Aortic Center for helping make the walk such a terrific event for our patients and their family members.
Kester Departs Heart & Vascular; Pena to Serve as Interim COD
After 18 years of dedicated service to Duke University Hospital, Kelly Kester has transitioned out of her role as Senior Director, Heart and Vascular. Her last day at Duke was April 22. Kester’s career at Duke University Hospital reflects a journey of growth and service—from her early days as a staff nurse, to nurse manager, director, and ultimately senior director.
Throughout her tenure, she has exemplified exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment, creativity, innovation, and a deep dedication to our patients, teams, and mission. Her thoughtful guidance, strategic vision, and steadfast support have made a lasting impact on our organization, and we are grateful for her many contributions.
Please join us in thanking Kelly for her outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to Duke University Hospital. We are deeply grateful for all she has given, and we wish her continued success and fulfillment in her next chapter.
Heather Pena, Nurse Manager, 6300, will serve as interim Clinical Operations Director. She brings strong experience and familiarity with our teams and operations, and we are confident in her ability to provide continuity, support, and leadership during this time.
Thank you, Kelly, and best wishes!
Radulovich Named Interim NMO for CTSSU, April 23
Duke Heart is pleased to announce that Jason Radulovich, BSN, RN, CNIV is serving as Interim Nurse Manager Operations for Duke University Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Surgical Stepdown Unit 6300 effective April 23, 2026. Jason earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University School of Nursing in 2022. He joined the Duke Heart team as a new graduate nurse on 3300 (now 6300) in January 2023 and has served as CNIV Leader since January 2025.
During his time at Duke, Jason advanced up the clinical ladder by becoming a CNIII and has held a variety of roles on 6300, including: Preceptor, Charge Nurse, LVAD Superuser, Scheduling Committee Member, and POCT Trainer. As CNIV Leader, Jason has been a part of many team building and leadership activities throughout the Heart Center. Specifically, he has collaborated with the Heart Center Stepdown Unit Research team in implementing their Moving Hearts Mobility project.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Jason to his new role.
Shout-Out to Steinberg
One of our cardiovascular disease fellows, Rebecca Steinberg, MD, was featured in Duke’s GME News on April 23 thanks to a submission from Karen Young, MD, a GI/hepatology fellow.
Young wrote, “Rebecca Steinberg, MD, MSc, PGY-4, Cardiovascular Disease, has been on DHP during one of the busiest blocks of the hepatology service and endured nearly 20 consults for cardiac clearance for liver transplant evaluations from me and did so with a positive attitude, excellent communication, and timely patient care! I am grateful to work with her!”
Great work, Rebecca!
DUHS Policy Updates
The Breach of Protected Health Information – Patient Privacy Policy has been updated and renamed the DUHS HIPAA Investigation and Corrective Action Policy. The changes reinforce our commitment to non-retaliation and encourages good faith reporting, including self-reporting, as part of our shared responsibility to protect patient privacy.
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
April is National Donate Life Month and National Arab American Heritage Month. It is also National Workplace Violence Prevention Month.
Cardiology Grand Rounds
April 28: The Modern Cardiac Intensivists: Who they Treat and How They Train with Michael Cosiano, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.
CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference
April 29: EP Case Conference with Krunal Amin and Verda Arshad. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
May 1: ECG Review with Tom Bashore. Noon, via Zoom.
May 6: Board Review with Nishant Shah and Anthony Lin. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
May 8: ACS Guidelines with Jenn Rymer. Noon, Zoom only.
May 13: DHP Case Conference with Rebecca Steinberg. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
May 15: Line Day in CCU with Willard Applefeld & other CCU faculty. Noon, DMP 7E39 only.
May 20: TBD. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
May 22 Board Prep Tips & Tricks with fellows who have recently taken the Boards. Noon, Zoom only.
May 27: EP Case Conference with Vincent Delgado and Nishkala Shivakumar. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.
May 29: EP Case Conference with Yoo Jin Kim and Rebecca Steinberg. Noon, Zoom only.
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.
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
2026 Symposia
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.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Course directors are Sreek Vemulapalli and Anita Kelsey. Location: Trent Semans Center, Great Hall.
- October 30: 18th Annual NC Research Triangle Pulmonary Vascular Symposium – Course directors are Terry Fortin, Sudar Rajagopal, and Jimmy Ford. Location: Durham Convention Center, Durham, NC.
Please save the dates!
Victor J. Dzau Cardiovascular Seminar Series
May 27: G-Protein Coupled Receptors with Dr. Robert Lefkowitz. Noon, Auditorium of the Nanaline Duke Building, Duke University. Sponsored by Duke Cardiovascular Research Center and the Edna and Fred L. Mandel Jr. Foundation.
Support Ramos & Visionaries of the Year Campaign
Dayana Ramos, DNP, a critical care nurse practitioner in cardiology (and cancer survivor) continues to work toward her fundraising goal of $25,000 to help advance lifesaving treatments and support for families facing blood cancer during this year’s Visionaries of the Year campaign with Blood Cancer United.
She is hosting a virtual raffle as well as a “Sip to Save Lives” cocktail event this week at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 at The Velvet Hippo, 119 W. Orange Street, in downtown Durham. Half of the proceeds from sales of the “spicy mango margarita” will benefit Blood Cancer United.
The virtual raffle is for three prizes: a $25 Starbucks gift card; a $50 Amazon gift card, and a Grand Prize — a brewery tour and tasting at Ponysaurus Brewery in Durham. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased directly from Dayana. Winners will be announced on May 16.
Ramos’ fundraising finale is a 5K — and registration is open! The Race for a Cure 5K (run/jog/walk) will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, starting at Durty Bull Brewing Company, 206 Broadway St. #104, Durham, NC 27701. Recommended donation of $15 to register. All donations go to Blood Cancer United.
We hope you will consider supporting Dayana in any way you can, even if only with words of encouragement! Her fundraising page for Blood Cancer United can be found here. Her fundraising deadline is May 16.
Hitting with Heart Softball Tournament
The 10th Annual Hitting with Heart Softball tournament will be held on Saturday, August 22 at Valley Springs Park, 3805 Valley Springs Road, in Durham. The tournament raises funds that will, in part, support the American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk.
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.
