Duke Heart Pulse — August 30, 2026
Highlights of the week:
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Joe Evans
For more than four decades, Joe Evans was part of the fabric of Duke — building a remarkable career while helping shape the cardiothoracic operating room and generations of colleagues who worked there.
Evans, a longtime CT OR nurse who died unexpectedly Aug. 15 at age 61, joined Duke on May 28, 1985. A Durham native and graduate of Hillside High School, he began his Duke career in Dining Services before moving to telemetry. He later became an operating room scrub technician, went to nursing school and became a registered nurse. During more than 41 years at Duke, he made significant contributions to Duke’s ventricular assist device (VAD), heart transplant and aortic surgery programs.
“Some people work at an institution. Others become part of the institution. Joe was one of those people,” said Chad Hughes, MD, section chief of Aortic Surgery and co-director of the Duke Center for Aortic Disease, who worked with Evans for nearly 30 years.
In the CT OR, Evans became known for his deep knowledge, meticulous preparation and high standards — and for expecting the same commitment from those around him.
As the CT OR’s VAD champion, Evans oversaw staff education and validation requirements and helped create VAD learning modules for staff, which he continued to review and update. He also helped ensure the team was prepared for accreditation visits. Evans contributed to the planning of Duke’s hybrid operating rooms, providing input regarding equipment, room configuration and the resources the clinical team would need.
“He was a very dedicated employee — dedicated to his patients, his surgeons and his fellow staff members,” said Rachel Knoll, nurse manager of operations for the cardiothoracic operating room. “He just really applied himself.”
Evans was also a preceptor, educator and trusted resource for colleagues. Younger staff members have described him to Knoll as their “work dad,” someone they sought out not only for clinical questions but also for advice regarding education, finances and life. He encouraged them to continue their education and keep challenging themselves.
Kevin Harrison, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology and a structural heart disease specialist, described Evans as “a pillar of the Duke operating rooms” who combined kindness with an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“I watched him be kind, but he did not yield on trying to make every individual live up to the high standard that he set for himself,” Harrison said.
One small ritual captured that philosophy.
At the beginning of a procedure, during the surgical timeout, Harrison remembers Evans identifying the patient as a patient of the physicians involved — and then adding four words: “and all of us.”
“That was Joe Evans,” Harrison said. “By adding those four words, he immediately engaged everybody in the operating room to achieve the best result for that patient.”
For Hughes, Evans’s preparation frequently began before the workday. Before a complicated case, Evans would text him around 6 a.m. to confirm what was needed and make certain the room was ready.
“He was already thinking ahead, making certain the room was prepared and looking after both the patient and the team,” Hughes recalled.
On the morning of Evans’s funeral, Hughes performed one of those complicated cases. This time, the familiar early-morning message did not arrive.
“I missed it,” Hughes said, “and I know I will miss it for a very long time.”
Evans brought that same devotion to his family. An avid traveler and devoted husband, father and grandfather, he regularly shared stories and photographs of his grandson with colleagues. He was also a devoted Carolina basketball fan — something his Duke colleagues knew particularly well the morning after a Tar Heel victory.
The reach of Evans’s relationships was evident at his Aug. 24 funeral at Peace Missionary Baptist Church, where family, friends and a large contingent of Duke colleagues gathered to remember him.
Back in the CT OR, his absence is already deeply felt. Knoll described Evans’s death as a loss of both a colleague and a friend. Staff members have talked about instinctively wanting to find him during the workday — the person they could approach with a question, ask for help or simply talk with.
His influence, however, remains embedded in the people he taught, the programs he supported and the operating rooms he helped shape. Members of the CT OR team are planning a memorial plaque in the control room of ORs 53 and 54, spaces Evans helped plan.
“Great institutions are built by people like Joe,” Hughes said. “People who remain for decades. People who pass their knowledge from one generation to the next.”
For more than 41 years, Joe Evans did exactly that.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Joe’s family, friends and colleagues across Duke.
Mysore Joins Duke Cardiology Faculty
Duke Heart is pleased to welcome Manu Mysore, MD, to the Duke Cardiology faculty. Mysore joins Duke as an assistant professor of medicine and will work at Duke University Hospital beginning tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 31.
For Mysore, the move marks a return to Duke. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duke University in 2012 before receiving his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center and his cardiovascular medicine fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Mysore returns to Duke from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he has served as an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine since 2022. He also served as co-director of cardio-oncology and held several roles in cardiovascular medicine education, including associate program director for the cardiovascular medicine fellowship.
His clinical and academic experience includes preventive cardiology, noninvasive cardiac imaging, and cardio-oncology, with research focused on cardiovascular risk among patients with cancer. His recent work includes studies examining cardiovascular risk and outcomes associated with cancer and cancer therapies. He also co-authored a JAMA Oncology patient education article, Caring for Your Heart During Cancer Treatment, which provides patients with an overview of cardio-oncology and ways cardiovascular health is monitored and managed during cancer treatment.
Mysore has maintained his connection to Duke over the years, serving as a Duke Alumni Admissions Committee volunteer since 2013.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Mysore back to Duke!
Duke Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Hosts Heart Team from Honduras
Our pediatric cardiac surgery team recently welcomed a group of 10 physicians from Hospital María in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, for a week-long observership focused on pediatric cardiac care.
During their visit, the physicians participated in multidisciplinary rounds, case-based discussions, and daily debriefs, culminating in a capstone session focused on identifying practices that could be adapted to strengthen pediatric cardiac care in Honduras.
The visiting team also had the opportunity to observe several highly complex cases and procedures, including a pediatric heart transplant using ex-vivo perfusion, two Norwood procedures, and the Sustained Total All-Region (STAR) perfusion procedure — developed at Duke — during complex aortic arch reconstructions.
The visit comes as Duke Heart teams continue to build connections in Honduras. Members of Duke’s adult cardiac surgery Heart for Honduras team are also preparing for a medical mission to Tegucigalpa this fall.
Many thanks to Rebekah Boyd, MD; Brian Clark, MD; Tracy Geoffrion, MD, MPH; Carmelo Milano, MD; Douglas Overbey, MD, MPH; and Joseph Turek, MD, PhD, MBA, for hosting and coordinating the visit, and to Maria Fryar and Sherry Gunter for managing the day-to-day logistics.
Way to go!
Minc, Heidt Receive Healthcare Disparities Award
Congratulations to Samantha Minc, MD, MPH, associate professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and Nicole “Nikki” Heidt, MD, assistant professor of surgery, who have received the inaugural Richard McCann Healthcare Disparities Award in support of the expansion of Duke’s CHAMPIONS vascular screening and outreach program.
Their proposal will support six community-based screening events over the next year, reaching an estimated 300 people in medically underserved urban and rural communities across the region.
Working with local churches, community organizations, and health fairs, the CHAMPIONS program will provide cardiovascular and peripheral arterial disease screening, culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, referral pathways for ongoing care, and longitudinal follow-up to assess health literacy and care-seeking behaviors.
Congratulations, Samantha and Nikki!
Patel Receives Pepper Center Career Development Award
Congratulations to Kunal Patel, MD, PhD, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, who has received a two-year Research Education Component (REC) career development award from the Duke Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center.
Patel’s project will examine the role of biological aging in lung transplant outcomes.
Patel is one of three Duke Surgery faculty members to receive a REC award this year, along with Rishi Kamaleswaran, PhD, associate professor of surgery, and Hadiza Kazaure, MD, MMCi, associate professor of surgery. Together, Duke Surgery faculty received three of the four REC awards granted by the Pepper Center this year.
Congratulations, Kunal!
Southerland Honored for Excellence in Vascular Surgery Education
Congratulations to Kevin Southerland, MD, associate professor of surgery, on receiving the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery’s 2026 “Bloody Apple” Award.
The award, voted on by graduating vascular trainees, recognizes the year’s most outstanding educator in the division.
Congratulations, Kevin!
Kunz Named Duke Health APP Preceptor of the Year
Congratulations to Erin M. Kunz, PA-C, MHS, a physician assistant with Duke Thoracic Surgery, who has been named the Duke Health APP Preceptor of the Year! The award recognizes her outstanding work as a preceptor and her commitment to supporting and educating APP colleagues and learners.
The news was enthusiastically shared by S. Scott Balderson, PA-C, TSU APP team lead, who says the recognition could not be more deserved.
Congratulations, Erin!
Hitting with Heart Marks 10 Years!
The annual Hitting with Heart softball tournament celebrated its 10th anniversary last weekend on Aug. 22, bringing teams from across Duke together for a fun day of friendly competition and camaraderie. Duke Engineering & Operations captured the tournament championship for the third consecutive year, completing a three-peat!
The annual event also raises funds, a portion of which supports the Triangle Heart Walk.
Thanks to everyone who played, participated, and helped make the 10th anniversary of Hitting with Heart a great one — and congratulations to E&O on the three-peat!
Join Us at the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk
Duke Health is once again serving as a lead sponsor of the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk. On Saturday, October 3, please join us again as we walk alongside our colleagues, family members, friends, and many of our cardiovascular patients to celebrate our community.
The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premier fundraising event, drawing communities together from across the U.S. to raise funds and celebrate progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This year’s Triangle Heart Walk will unite us in our commitment to living heart-healthy lifestyles and raising lifesaving funds, all while having a fun time together!
This year, the goal for Duke Health is 250 teams, with 10 people per team, and to raise $170,000. We need your help to accomplish this. Please consider signing up as a team captain to lead a Heart Walk team or simply join one as a walker.
The American Heart Association is one of the largest non-federal funding sources of cardiovascular research in the country. AHA-supported research informs the guidelines, treatments and prevention efforts our teams use every day, so the dollars we raise come back to our own patients, our colleagues and our community.
We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, October 3, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek as we walk together in support of healthier hearts and healthier communities.
Let’s support Manesh Patel – current AHA volunteer president – by making this year the most successful showing for Duke Heart & Vascular yet!
Duke Football to Celebrate Healthcare Professionals Oct. 17
Duke Football will celebrate healthcare professionals during its Healthcare Appreciation Game against North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Wallace Wade Stadium. The annual event recognizes the dedication and contributions of healthcare professionals throughout our community.
A special discounted ticket offer is available for healthcare professionals, along with their families, friends, and colleagues — and interest is already strong, with nearly 1,000 tickets sold through the promotional offer.
We’d love to see a strong Duke Heart & Vascular presence at Wallace Wade!
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Sept. 8: ESC Updates with Christopher Granger, MD. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 15: Powering Genomics with Health IT with Jeffrey Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 22: Cardiology, Immunology and Rheumatology with Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD, of UVA Health. 5 p.m., DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 23: A Primate Genetic Model Organism for Cardiovascular Disease with Stephen Chang, MD, PhD of Stanford Medicine. 5 p.m. HAFS 7683. This special CGR session will be in person only.
All Duke CGR Recordings (except for those containing PHI) can be found on Duke Warpwire by year: 2026, 2025, 2024. Questions about recordings? Contact Tracey Koepke.
Upcoming Symposia
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Registration is now open. Course directors are Sreekanth 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.
- January 9, 2027: Duke EP Symposium. Course director is Jon Piccini. Location: JB Duke Hotel.
Please save the dates!
Triangle Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh.
For more information or to register as a walker or a team captain, please visit: Triangle Heart Walk 2026.
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 Pulse — August 23, 2026
Chief’s message: Duke Heart in the News and Week Highlights
Hopefully you all had another busy and impactful week. This weekend the NY Times Athletic and CBS Morning News featured a segment on USA Runner Jenny Simpson who, unfortunately developed a cardiac arrest during a charity race/run in Raleigh. She was transferred to the Duke CICU post-arrest where they note the exceptional care by our team that resulted in an excellent neurologic recovery as well as a definitive diagnosis of ARVC. This story highlights the care and compassion of our entire team and specifically our physicians including Dr. Albert Sun, her electrophysiologist. Her diagnosis spells the end of her running career, which has been her identity up to this point, yet she expresses profound gratitude at how our team helped her come to understand and accept her condition. It also highlights the amazing work Duke is doing in the congenital surgery front. The story demonstrates how care at Duke Heart is clearly a team effort extending across Duke Raleigh, the CICU, HF team, EP service, invasive evaluation, surgical teams, PT/OT, Respiratory therapy, residents, APPs, and Fellows. With increasing patient volume, and multiple stressors our teams face on a daily basis, we should be proud of the work all of Duke Heart does on a daily basis.
Equally important is the message on the Chain of Survival from CPR, AED use, and continued support throughout recovery. The speed of team to perform CPR, get an AED and provide lifesaving defibrillation are inspiring and the work of the amazing community and story. The American Heart Association has spearheaded the national movement on cardiac arrest survival with CPR, AED, and Nation of Lifesavers work. This chain of survival has been seen to be effective, and on-call this weekend – I have personally seen it continue to save lives in our community. Below you will see the visit from the AHA “Heart Ma’am” mascot and ability for everyone to sign up and join us for the Triangle Heart Walk. We look forward to seeing you all there as we continued to work to make a heart healthy community.
In the upcoming weeks we will share the best Science from the European Society of Cardiology.
Links are provided below.
https://youtu.be/e2xPCejolwQ?is=lldYVRs9BwVG9zHH
Highlights of the week:
Elliott Joins Duke Cardiology Faculty
David Elliott, MD, PhD, is officially joining the Duke Cardiology faculty as an associate professor of medicine tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 24.
Elliott is well known to Duke, having completed medical school, internal medicine residency, cardiovascular disease fellowship, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology fellowship here. During his residency, he was also selected for Duke’s SCI-StARR R38 Resident Physician-Scientist Program, where he conducted research in the White-McGarrah Lab with Robert McGarrah, MD, of Duke Cardiology, and Phillip White, PhD, of Duke Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition.
As an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, Elliott’s clinical interests include the care of patients with end-stage heart failure, cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support, and heart transplantation. He will see patients in Duke Cardiology clinics 2F/2G and at Duke Cardiology Arringdon.
Elliott also brings a strong research background to his faculty role. He earned a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine before attending Duke for medical school. His research interests span cardiovascular disease and transplant immunology, building on his training as both a scientist and clinician.
Please join us in welcoming David to the Duke Heart & Vascular faculty!
Jackson Recognized for National AHA/ACC Quality Measures Work
Kudos to Larry Jackson II, MD, for his contributions to the development of the 2026 AHA/ACC Clinical Performance and Quality Measures for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.
Jackson was recently recognized by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology for the time, expertise and leadership he contributed to the national performance measures development process. The AHA/ACC performance measurement sets are designed to help cardiovascular clinicians and institutions assess quality of care and identify opportunities for improvement.
In a commendation letter sent to Jonathan Piccini, MD, director of Duke Electrophysiology, leaders of the AHA/ACC Joint Committee on Performance Measures praised Jackson’s dedication to the effort and described participation in the initiative as an important example of “exceptional academic citizenship.”
Congratulations, Larry, and thank you for representing Duke Heart & Vascular in this important national work!
Kudos to Tulp
A big shout-out to Adam Tulp, who recently received a Kudos Kard from colleague Ashley Arrington recognizing his outstanding support of patients and nursing team members.
Arrington praised Tulp for his clinical knowledge, kindness, and attentiveness, noting that he listens carefully to concerns, regularly checks in with patients and nurses throughout his shift, and keeps a close eye on changes in his patients’ conditions. “He knows his patients and does not dismiss any of my concerns,” she wrote. “I really appreciate this. Thank you, Adam!”
Jill Engel, DNP, service line vice president for Heart & Vascular, also congratulated Tulp on the recognition, noting the particular significance of praise from a colleague and team member.
Kudos, Adam, and thank you for all you do each day for our patients and team!
Kudos to Emily Towery
A big shout-out to Emily Towery, who recently received a Kudos Kard from Danielle Forrest recognizing her exceptional support of patients and colleagues within the cardiac MRI space in Duke Medicine Pavilion.
When device representative coverage was limited, Towery stepped in to assist with programming Abbott cardiac implantable electronic devices into and out of MRI mode, helping ensure patients could receive their scheduled scans without unnecessary delays. Forrest described Towery’s assistance as “crucial” and thanked her for ensuring cases were completed in a timely manner.
Her efforts also drew praise from Duke Heart leadership. Jill Engel, DNP, service line vice president for Heart & Vascular, thanked Towery for her tremendous support of patients and the team, adding, “You exemplify what living the Duke values looks like.”
Jonathan Piccini, MD, director of Duke Electrophysiology, also recognized Towery for consistently going above and beyond for the EP team and Heart Center. “Our patients are very lucky to have you!” he said.
Way to go, Emily!
Heart Ma’am, AHA Torch Visit on Journey Across Triangle
The AHA mascot (“Heart Ma’am”) and the AHA Triangle Torch were at Duke Heart & Vascular this week. There were treats galore and a great deal of spirited interaction that will hopefully translate into an excellent showing at the upcoming Triangle Heart Walk on Saturday, October 3!
Let’s go, team!!!
Join Us at the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk
Duke Health is once again serving as a lead sponsor of the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk. On Saturday, October 3, please join us again as we walk alongside our colleagues, family members, friends, and many of our cardiovascular patients to celebrate our community.
The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premier fundraising event, drawing communities together from across the U.S. to raise funds and celebrate progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This year’s Triangle Heart Walk will unite us in our commitment to living heart-healthy lifestyles and raising lifesaving funds, all while having a fun time together!
This year, the goal for Duke Health is 250 teams, with 10 people per team, and to raise $170,000. We need your help to accomplish this. Please consider signing up as a team captain to lead a Heart Walk team or simply join one as a walker.
The American Heart Association is one of the largest non-federal funding sources of cardiovascular research in the country. AHA-supported research informs the guidelines, treatments, and prevention efforts our teams use every day, so the dollars we raise come back to our own patients, our colleagues, and our community.
We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, October 3, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek as we walk together in support of healthier hearts and healthier communities.
Let’s make this year the most successful showing for Duke Heart & Vascular yet!
Luggage Donations Needed for Duke Heart for Honduras
The Duke Heart for Honduras team is seeking donations of old or gently used suitcases and luggage to help transport medical supplies and equipment during its upcoming mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in September.
Duke Heart for Honduras is a volunteer cardiac surgery mission led by Duke physicians, trainees and staff in partnership with local healthcare providers. This year, the team plans to perform approximately 15 lifesaving cardiac surgeries at no cost to patients while also providing education and training opportunities for Honduran healthcare colleagues.
Donated luggage will be used to transport needed medical supplies and equipment to Honduras and will remain there for continued use by local healthcare providers and hospitals. Donated luggage will not be returned.
Have a suitcase to spare? Please bring donations to Lauren Parker in CARL Room 250 by Aug. 30. Those for whom CARL is not convenient may contact Lauren at 804-332-4723 or lep52@duke.edu to coordinate an alternate pick-up time and location.
Thank you for helping Duke Heart for Honduras prepare for another important mission!
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Sept. 8: ESC Updates with Christopher Granger, MD. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 15: Powering Genomics with Health IT with Jeffrey Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 22: Cardiology, Immunology and Rheumatology with Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD, of UVA Health. 5 p.m., DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 23: A Primate Genetic Model Organism for Cardiovascular Disease with Stephen Chang, MD, PhD of Stanford Medicine. 5 p.m. HAFS 7683. This special CGR session will be in person only.
All Duke CGR Recordings (except for those containing PHI) can be found on Duke Warpwire by year: 2026, 2025, 2024. Questions about recordings? Contact Tracey Koepke.
2026 Symposia
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Registration is now open. Course directors are Sreekanth 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.
- January 9: Duke EP Symposium. Course director is Jon Piccini. Location: JB Duke Hotel.
Please save the dates!
Triangle Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh.
The Walk is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., but that may change. Stay tuned for a more formal announcement from the AHA. Meanwhile, registration for team captains and walkers is open!
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 Pulse — August 16, 2026
Chief’s message: Highlights and some updates on the cardiology field
Hope you all had a good week. This episode of the pulse will welcome a new CT surgery faculty member, we will have a few highlights from the week, and we will be working to get everyone excited for the Triangle Heart Walk with the American Heart Association on October 3rd. Register a team, join us for the walk.
The story dominating the cardiology conversation this week continues to be ZEUS: Novo Nordisk’s trial with ziltivekimab (IL-6 ligand inhibitor) that missed its primary endpoint in the phase 3 outcomes trial — HR 0.99 for 3-point MACE in ASCVD/CKD patients with elevated inflammation, despite confirmed target engagement (hs-CRP and free IL-6 both dropped as expected). Given the inflammatory hypothesis – with evident data around relationship – it’s forcing a real reckoning with the inflammatory hypothesis of atherosclerosis less than a year after ACC’s own scientific statement endorsed factoring inflammation into risk assessment. CANTOS gave the hypothesis its first foothold in 2017; ZEUS is arguably the cleanest, largest test of direct IL-6 blockade since, and it came back neutral. Two related trials are still live — HERMES in HFpEF and ARTEMIS post-AMI — both reading out in H1 2027, so this isn’t necessarily the final word on the target in this pathway, but it’s a gut-check moment. I also think there are some upstream targets that will be important test. We will also in this upcoming week faculty meeting be discussing some prevention and science at the start of the meeting and can discuss with faculty at that time.
Other things crossing the cardiology wire this week for me:
- TAVR at 10 years — JACC published a look-back at long-term TAVR durability data (Aug 14), reopening the durability-vs-SAVR debate for younger, lower-risk patients — relevant given our structural volume.
- Some data that under 30 minutes/day of moderate-vigorous activity may be enough to offset most inactivity-related CV risk — useful soundbite for our prevention/rehab messaging.
- Continued conversations on social media and some pushback on the 2026 AHA/ACC/Multi-society dyslipidemia guideline — worth having our groups think about how we can continue to clarify for our patients.
- Smaller items: a case report on a HYROX competitor’s cardiac arrest prompting sports cardiology warnings about ignoring prodromal symptoms during competition including this high-intensity competition; new data suggesting PREVENT risk equations outperform legacy models in Native American populations; and a study noting LLMs generate inadequate dietary plans for hypertensive patients — the latter is a cautionary note for our teams working on AI management tools and evaluation systems.
Highlights of the week:
Vigneshwar to Join Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty
Navin G. Vigneshwar, MD, MPH, will join the Duke Department of Surgery faculty as an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in September, following completion of his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Duke.
Vigneshwar’s practice will include heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support — including ventricular assist devices (VAD) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — and adult cardiac surgery.
“I’m looking forward to finally practicing cardiac surgery after 10 years of training,” Vigneshwar said. He is also eager to work with Duke residents and pursue opportunities for research collaboration across the university.
Among his early areas of focus will be helping bring a novel donor heart recovery technique to Duke known as Rapid Recovery with Extended Ultra-Oxygenated Preservation (REUP). The technique allows for recovery of hearts donated after circulatory death without reanimation before transplant and has enabled extended ischemic times. Vigneshwar is particularly interested in investigating the mechanisms underlying the approach and its potential applications in transplantation.
For Vigneshwar, remaining at Duke also means beginning his faculty career alongside the colleagues and mentors with whom he has trained.
“The mentorship from senior surgeons as I start a career in heart and lung transplant and adult cardiac surgery is the main reason I chose to stay,” he said. He also pointed to the strength of Duke’s multidisciplinary teams, including colleagues in cardiac anesthesia, heart failure and interventional cardiology, and the OR and ICU.
“I can’t imagine surrounding myself with a better group of colleagues to start my career.”
Vigneshwar earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed general surgery residency at the University of Colorado, where he also earned an MPH in applied biostatistics, before coming to Duke for cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. His academic interests include heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and organ preservation.
Outside the hospital, Vigneshwar is an avid mountain biker and enjoys playing guitar.
Please join us in congratulating Navin on completing his fellowship and in welcoming him to the Duke Heart & Vascular faculty!
Duke Among Top Enrolling Sites for RECHARGE Trial
Duke is among the nation’s leading enrolling sites for a clinical trial designed to address an important evidence gap in coronary revascularization among women and Black and Hispanic patients.
Duke has enrolled 19 participants in the RECHARGE Trial (REvascularization CHoices Among underRepresented Groups Evaluation) and is currently the second-highest enroller among approximately 96 participating sites.
RECHARGE is a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-funded research program comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in two parallel randomized trials: one enrolling women of any race or ethnicity and another enrolling Black or Hispanic patients of any sex. These populations have historically been underrepresented in randomized trials comparing coronary revascularization strategies.
The study is designed to help fill that evidence gap by examining survival and health-related quality of life following CABG or PCI. Participants are followed for a minimum of three years.
At Duke, RECHARGE is led by site co-principal investigators Brittany A. Zwischenberger, MD, MHSc, associate professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Andres M. Pineda Maldonado, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology.
Potential participants must be at least 18 years old and have multivessel or left main coronary artery disease for which revascularization is intended, and the care team determines that either CABG or PCI would be an appropriate treatment option.
The national study is led by Mario Gaudino, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, and Gregg Stone, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Recruitment is expected to continue for at least two more years or until the study’s overall enrollment goal is reached.
Help Duke keep the momentum going: Clinicians who identify a potentially eligible patient can contact Zwischenberger or Pineda, or reach out to study research coordinator Camryn Black.
Join Us at the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk
At Duke Health, nothing unites us like doing good together! It’s what each one of you does each and every day, and for that, we are so grateful.
We want to thank all those who served as Heart Walk coaches and walkers in our 2025 walk. It was a terrific event! Together, we raised more than $123,000 for the American Heart Association, with 1,013 Duke Health team members participating.
We are pleased to share that Duke Health is serving as a lead sponsor of the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk. On Saturday, October 3, please join us again as we walk alongside our colleagues, family members, friends, and many of our cardiovascular patients to celebrate our community.
We are honored to support this fun, family-friendly event again and look forward to your participation this fall. The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premier fundraising event, drawing communities together from across the U.S. to raise funds and celebrate progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This year’s Triangle Heart Walk will unite us in our commitment to living heart-healthy lifestyles and raising lifesaving funds, all while having a fun time together!
This year, we have set a goal for Duke Health to register 250 teams, with 10 people per team, and to raise $170,000. We need your help to accomplish this. Please consider signing up as a team captain to lead a Heart Walk team or simply join one as a walker.
The American Heart Association is one of the largest non-federal funding sources of cardiovascular research in the country. AHA-supported research informs the guidelines, treatments, and prevention efforts our teams use every day, so the dollars we raise come back to our own patients, our colleagues, and our community.
Register for the Heart Walk by Wednesday, Aug. 19, to receive a Duke Health Heart Walk T-shirt. Shirts will be distributed in advance of the Walk through Duke Health team captains.
We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, October 3, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek as we walk together in support of healthier hearts and healthier communities.
Let’s make this year the most successful showing for Duke Heart & Vascular yet!
Heart Ma’am, AHA Torch Back at Duke This Week
The AHA mascot (“Heart Ma’am”) and the AHA Triangle Torch will be at Duke this week – so be on the lookout! Heart Ma’am will be at Duke North and the Duke Medicine Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for visits to Heart & Vascular units. There will be treats, a lot of AHA spirit, and opportunities for photos. The Torch will also arrive Tuesday and spend the week on the 8th floor of the HAFS building.
The visits are part of generating enthusiasm and participation ahead of the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk, set for Saturday, Oct. 3. Register for the Triangle Heart Walk by Aug. 19 to be guaranteed a Duke Heart Walk T-shirt.
Let’s go, team!!!
Luggage Donations Needed for Duke Heart for Honduras
The Duke Heart for Honduras team is seeking donations of old or gently used suitcases and luggage to help transport medical supplies and equipment during its upcoming mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in September.
Duke Heart for Honduras is a volunteer cardiac surgery mission led by Duke physicians, trainees, and staff in partnership with local healthcare providers. This year, the team plans to perform approximately 15 lifesaving cardiac surgeries at no cost to patients while also providing education and training opportunities for Honduran healthcare colleagues.
Donated luggage will be used to transport needed medical supplies and equipment to Honduras and will remain there for continued use by local healthcare providers and hospitals. Donated luggage will not be returned.
Have a suitcase to spare? Please bring donations to Lauren Parker in CARL Room 250 by Aug. 30. Those for whom CARL is not convenient may contact Lauren at 804-332-4723 or lep52@duke.edu to coordinate an alternate pick-up time and location.
Thank you for helping Duke Heart for Honduras prepare for another important mission!
Kudos to Shah, Team for Outstanding Patient Care
Kudos to Nishant Shah, MD, and a multidisciplinary Duke Heart team for their exceptional teamwork and dedication to patient care during a recent unexpected situation.
A patient with stable but sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) was scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and direct-current cardioversion (DCCV), but the procedure could not be completed during regular operating hours. When notified, Shah and team quickly coordinated to perform the procedure after hours, successfully cardioverting the patient.
Janny Sweetow, DNP, recognized the team for their initiative, professionalism, and collaboration, noting that their response exemplified Duke University Hospital’s core values.
Team members recognized include:
- Nishant Shah, MD
- Jordan Franklin, MD, Cardiology fellow
- Hedva Katz, RN
- Emily Luis, RN
- Caroline Burchett, RN
- Jeff Mills, CRNA
- Anne Cherry, MD, Anesthesiology
- Crosby Culp, MD, Anesthesiology
- Danielle McCarthy, Sonography
Thank you to the entire team for going above and beyond to ensure this patient received the care they needed. Great job!
Kudos to CVICU Team for Exceptional Care
A heartfelt shout-out to members of our Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and Heart teams for the exceptional care they recently provided to a patient and her family during a frightening and uncertain time.
The patient’s family member, who is also a nurse, shared her gratitude for a team that not only provided outstanding clinical care, but also recognized and supported her needs as both a loved one and a healthcare professional.
She particularly recognized Clara, her family member’s primary nurse, who patiently answered questions, talked through assessments and other aspects of care, and understood her need to remain involved.
“She spoke with me as though I was a colleague and a family member,” she shared. “Her allowing me to ask questions and talk with her gave me a sense of purpose and control in a time where I had no control and felt helpless.”
She also recognized Taylor for her confident and compassionate care and for helping make transitions in care feel seamless, and Cheryl, whose “wit and humor” and comforting confidence came at just the right time.
She expressed gratitude to Dr. Etter and team for keeping the family involved in care and decision-making, listening to concerns and making themselves available to answer questions. She also thanked Jason Koontz, MD, and the EP team, as well as the many others who cared for her family member during the hospitalization.
“I cannot thank the team enough,” she wrote.
Thank you to everyone involved for providing this patient and family with skillful, compassionate care — and for demonstrating how much communication, kindness, and inclusion matter during some of our patients’ and families’ most difficult moments.
Way to go!
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
Sept. 8: ESC Updates with Christopher Granger, MD. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 15: Powering Genomics with Health IT with Jeffrey Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 5 p.m. DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 22: Cardiology, Immunology and Rheumatology with Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD, of UVA Health. 5 p.m., DN2002 and via Zoom.
Sept. 23: A Primate Genetic Model Organism for Cardiovascular Disease with Stephen Chang, MD, PhD of Stanford Medicine. 5 p.m. HAFS 7683. This special CGR session will be in person only.
Until then, please enjoy past recordings. All Duke CGR Recordings (except for those containing PHI) can be found on Duke Warpwire by year: 2026, 2025, 2024. Questions about recordings? Contact Tracey Koepke.
2026 Symposia
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Registration is now open. Course directors are Sreekanth 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.
- January 9: Duke EP Symposium. Course director is Jon Piccini. Location: JB Duke Hotel.
Please save the dates!
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.
Triangle Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh.
The Walk is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., but that may change. Stay tuned for a more formal announcement from the AHA. Meanwhile, registration for team captains and walkers is open!
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 Pulse — August 9, 2026
Chief’s message: Heart walk and impactful science – ongoing story of White Blood Cell Count and Acute MI
Please see the notes below about the AHA Heart Walk. We will be setting up teams and sending a note to the broader community tomorrow. We are really looking forward to a tremendous local Duke Turnout at the Heart walk this year and have some fun competitions and videos coming to engage everyone.
In the science of CV this week – I was interested by a continuing story around immune cell interactions around Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Worth a read this week: A paper worth your attention is the STEMI neutrophil progenitor work out of the Richter group, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research with a News & Views from Thurston and Mills on August 3rd. The core finding: emergency granulopoiesis after STEMI pushes genuinely immature preneutrophils — not just the usual left-shift neutrophilia we already track — into peripheral blood, and the degree of that mobilization outperforms our established biomarkers for predicting 30-day mortality. Detectable on a standard automated blood counter, this isn’t a research-only assay sitting years from the bedside.
Worth noting: this is really the third act of a story our own institution helped write. Our DCRI teams and colleagues (Barron, Cannon, and later Chris Granger, Paul Armstrong and others via CARDINAL and APEX-AMI – a trial I was a DCRI Fellow on) established over 20 years ago that elevated WBC count on admission independently predicts in-hospital and 30-day mortality after AMI, and later tied that signal mechanistically to reduced epicardial flow and larger infarct size. That descriptive WBC-mortality association is what motivated our complement-inhibition push with pexelizumab — the hypothesis that blocking C5 activation upstream would blunt the leukocyte-driven reperfusion injury we were seeing in the WBC data. APEX-AMI (we were fortunate to also have the MRI substudy with biomarkers) ultimately didn’t move the needle on clinical outcomes, and Martel/Granger’s substudy gave us the mechanistic postmortem: pexelizumab suppressed C5a but failed to inhibit terminal complement complex (sC5b-9) assembly, which likely explains why downstream leukocyte activation, and mortality, weren’t meaningfully affected. In hindsight, we were looking at the right signal (leukocyte burden as a marker of injury severity) but intervening at the wrong node, and with a drug that didn’t fully hit its target.
The Richter paper essentially picks up where we left off — swapping a crude WBC count for a maturation-stage-resolved readout (preneutrophils specifically) that’s mechanistically closer to the bone marrow stress response itself, which may be why it’s outperforming legacy markers. Given our own history here, I think there’s a natural translational angle for Duke Heart, Precision Health, and DCRI to revisit: could preneutrophil fraction identify the subgroup of STEMI patients who would benefit from a complement- or neutrophil-targeted therapy, in a way unselected enrollment in APEX-AMI couldn’t?
The clinically relevant core finding: emergency granulopoiesis after STEMI pushes genuinely immature preneutrophils — not just the usual left-shift neutrophilia we already track — into peripheral blood, and the degree of that mobilization outperforms our established biomarkers for predicting 30-day mortality – is something that we could both follow, test, and target therapies for today. I write this with the knowledge that this last week also saw a study in patients with chronic Kidney disease not get benefit from IL-6 inhibiiton (the Zeus) trial. Lots of reasons for that – that we can discuss. All of this is for our teams to think about with ESC coming up at the end of the month.
Highlights of the week:
Davis Leads New ASE Guideline on Sonographer Safety
Congratulations to Ashlee Davis, chief technologist for the Cardiac Diagnostic Unit at Duke University Hospital, who served as chair of a new American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) guideline focused on protecting the long-term health of cardiac sonographers.
Guidelines for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders for Cardiac Sonographers: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography provides evidence-based recommendations for addressing a significant occupational health concern: work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) affect up to 90% of cardiovascular sonographers.
The guideline addresses ergonomic equipment and workplace design, safe scanning practices, scheduling strategies, early recognition of symptoms, and emerging technologies that may help reduce injury risk. Importantly, it emphasizes that preventing these injuries is a shared responsibility among sonographers, healthcare organizations and administrators, educators, and equipment manufacturers.
“For too long, musculoskeletal injury has been viewed as an expected part of being a cardiac sonographer,” Davis said. “This guideline challenges that mindset by demonstrating that many of these injuries are preventable through thoughtful design, education and organizational commitment.”
Congratulations to Ashlee on her national leadership in this important work to support the health, safety and longevity of the cardiac sonography workforce. Excellent work!
Heart Ma’am Brings Heart Walk Spirit to Duke Heart
Heart Walk season is underway, and a familiar red friend helped spread the word across Duke University Hospital this week!
Heart Ma’am joined Duke Heart team members for visits to 7100, 7200, 7300 and 6300, bringing plenty of Heart Walk spirit — along with opportunities for photos and selfies with teams across the units.
The visits are part of Duke Heart’s efforts to build excitement and participation ahead of the 2026 Triangle Heart Walk, set for Saturday, Oct. 3.
Missed her this time? Heart Ma’am will return to DUH on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for another round of visits with Duke Heart & Vascular units.
Ready to join us? Register for the Triangle Heart Walk by Aug. 19 to be guaranteed a Duke Heart Walk T-shirt!
Let’s go, team!!!
DUHS & SOM Updates:
Brandon to Retire as DUHS Chief People Officer
Rhonda Brandon, senior vice president and chief people officer for Duke University Health System, has announced plans to retire at the end of June 2027 after more than a decade of leadership at Duke Health.
Since joining Duke Health in 2016, Brandon has led the transformation of the DUHS Human Resources function, including the development of systemwide approaches to recruitment, performance coaching, employee engagement and HR business partnerships. She also championed affinity groups, Duke Health’s Culture Commitment work and efforts to foster an inclusive workplace centered on the belief that “we are people taking care of people.”
DUHS will launch a national search for its next senior vice president and chief people officer. Additional opportunities to celebrate Brandon and her contributions to Duke Health will be shared in the months ahead.
Paulson to Step Down as Chair of Radiology
Erik K. Paulson, MD, Robert J. Reeves Distinguished Professor of Radiology, will step down as chair of the Duke Department of Radiology on March 31, 2027, after 13 years of leadership. He will remain at Duke as a faculty member, continuing to contribute to the School of Medicine’s academic, research and clinical missions.
During Paulson’s tenure, the department experienced significant growth, with the number of clinical faculty more than doubling and imaging services expanding across Duke Health. The department also strengthened its education and research programs and is recognized as an international leader in laboratory and clinical investigation.
A national search for the next chair will be led by Ben Alman, MD, chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Meet Our Newest Colleagues: Flobot, R2-DU and Wall-D
This fall, three new team members join Duke University Hospital — though you won’t find them on the schedule. Flobot, R2-DU and Wall-D are autonomous delivery robots, introduced through the Duke Care Innovation Collaborative, that will carry medications and supplies throughout the hospital.
Tasks like these can take up to 30% of nurses’ time each shift. By taking them on, the robots are designed to give frontline teams more time for what matters most: caring for patients.
“Every minute a nurse spends walking across the hospital for supplies is a minute not spent with a patient,” said Chantal Howard, chief nursing and patient care services officer. “Flobot, R2-DU, and Wall-D are here to give that time back, so our teams can focus on what they do best.”
Thank you to everyone who helped name our new colleagues and to the teams preparing to pilot them across DUH.
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
CGRs have concluded for the summer. We will return in the fall! Meanwhile, please enjoy past recordings.
All Duke CGR Recordings (except for those containing PHI) can be found on Duke Warpwire by year: 2026, 2025, 2024. Questions about recordings? Contact Tracey Koepke.
2026 Symposia
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Registration is now open. Course directors are Sreekanth 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.
- January 9: Duke EP Symposium. Course director is Jon Piccini. Location: JB Duke Hotel.
Please save the dates!
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.
Triangle Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh.
The Walk is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., but that may change. Stay tuned for a more formal announcement from the AHA. Meanwhile, registration for team captains and walkers is open!
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 Pulse — August 2, 2026
Chief’s message: Improving CV Care in North Carolina
A proud week for Duke Heart. Duke University Hospital and our partners across the state earned the AHA’s 2026 Mission: Lifeline® Systems of Care Regional Award for STEMI care — recognition that means a lot given that our own Chris Granger and Jimmy Jollis and many others built the RACE program here in 2005, the model that became Mission: Lifeline nationally. Two decades later, that collaborative spirit between hospitals and EMS across North Carolina is still delivering results. Duke University Hospital also earned the AHA’s Commitment to Quality Award, one of only 222 hospitals nationwide to hit Silver-level or higher across at least three Get With The Guidelines® programs — a real marker of consistency, not a single good quarter. And we’re sending off Paige Rossman, PA-C, who retired this week after 32 years caring for Duke Heart patients since 1994. Three decades of steady, compassionate care and mentoring the next generation of APPs — that’s a legacy. Congratulations and thank you, Paige. As is the case every academic year – we have entered August and will be introducing our new fellows and residents to our community. Finally – that American Heart Association work will be highlighted in coming weeks as we get ready for the local Heart Walk – so get your teams registered and ready for this year.
Highlights of the week:
North Carolina STEMI System Earns Mission: Lifeline Regional Award
Congratulations to Duke University Hospital and its partners across North Carolina on earning the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2026 Mission: Lifeline® Systems of Care Regional Award.
The recognition honors regional collaboration among hospitals, EMS agencies, and other healthcare partners to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), one of the most serious types of heart attacks. The award recognizes the region’s collective achievement in meeting AHA Get With The Guidelines®–Coronary Artery Disease quality standards.
The recognition is especially meaningful for Duke. The AHA’s national Mission: Lifeline initiative grew from the Regional Approach to Cardiovascular Emergencies (RACE) program, developed at Duke in 2005 by cardiologists Christopher Granger, MD, and James Jollis, MD. The pioneering North Carolina program became the model for Mission: Lifeline, transforming how hospitals, EMS agencies, and healthcare systems coordinate heart attack care across the country. Today’s recognition reflects the continued strength of that collaborative approach across North Carolina.
Congratulations to everyone across Duke and our regional partners whose continued commitment to collaboration and quality improvement made this recognition possible. Way to go!
Duke University Hospital Earns AHA Commitment to Quality Award
Congratulations to Duke University Hospital for earning the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Commitment to Quality Award, a national recognition introduced just last year to honor hospitals that demonstrate sustained excellence across multiple Get With The Guidelines® quality programs.
To receive the award, hospitals must achieve Silver level recognition or higher in at least three Get With The Guidelines programs. Only 222 hospitals nationwide earned the distinction this year, recognizing Duke’s ongoing commitment to delivering evidence-based, high-quality cardiovascular care.
Congratulations, everyone!
Rossman Retires After 32 Years of Caring for Duke Heart Patients
Congratulations to Paige Rossman, PA-C, who retired July 31 after an extraordinary 32-year career at Duke.
After graduating from Duke’s Physician Assistant Program in 1994, Paige began her career at Duke and made the institution her professional home for more than three decades. Throughout her career in cardiology, she provided compassionate care to patients while earning the respect of colleagues and helping educate the next generation of advanced practice providers.
“Her commitment, expertise, and steady presence have touched countless lives and helped shape the practice and culture of our team,” said Diane Sauro, MSN, ANP, NEA-BC, director of advanced practice for the Duke Heart Center. “We are deeply grateful for her many years of service and wish her all the best as she begins this well-deserved new chapter.”
Please join us in thanking Paige for her outstanding contributions to Duke and the Duke Heart Center and congratulating her on a remarkable career. We wish her every happiness in retirement!
DUHS Updates:
Duncan Named Sr. Administrative Leader for Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation
Duke Health leaders announced yesterday that James Duncan, DPT, MBA, has been named senior administrative leader for Duke’s Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation Service Line and executive administrative leader for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
Duncan joins Duke Health from Penn Medicine, where he served as chief operating officer for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. In his new role, he will partner with physicians and executive leaders to advance the service line’s strategic priorities, strengthen operational excellence, and support Duke’s clinical, research, and educational missions across musculoskeletal care. He will work closely with Tyler S. Pidgeon, MD, who was recently named physician vice president for the Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation Service Line, to help lead the service line’s continued growth and integration across Duke Health.
Congratulations, James!
Pidgeon Named Physician VP for Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation
Duke Health leaders recently announced that Tyler S. Pidgeon, MD, has been appointed physician vice president for Duke’s Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation Service Line, effective Aug. 1.
A hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgeon, Pidgeon joined the Duke faculty in 2018 after completing fellowship training at Duke and has served as clinical associate vice chair for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery since 2024. In his new role, he will provide physician leadership for the Musculoskeletal & Rehabilitation Service Line, partnering with clinical, operational, and executive leaders to advance strategic priorities and strengthen patient care across the service line.
Congratulations, Tyler!
Upcoming CME Events & Opportunities
Cardiology Grand Rounds
CGRs have concluded for the summer. We will return in the fall! Meanwhile, please enjoy past recordings.
All Duke CGR Recordings (except for those containing PHI) can be found on Duke Warpwire by year: 2026, 2025, 2024. Questions about recordings? Contact Tracey Koepke.
2026 Symposia
The dates for the following 2026 Duke Heart symposia have been set. We will announce others as they are added.
- September 26: Duke Case-Based Multimodality Imaging Symposium – Registration is now open. Course directors are Sreekanth 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.
- January 9: Duke EP Symposium. Course director is Jon Piccini. Location: JB Duke Hotel.
Please save the dates!
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.
Triangle Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s 2026 Triangle Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh.
The Walk is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., but that may change. Stay tuned for a more formal announcement from the AHA. Meanwhile, registration for team captains and walkers is open!
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.
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