The Pulse – Powered by Duke Heart

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: 18^th 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.

 

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 17^th 

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: 18^th 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.

Chief’s message:  Spring Breaks and Building on Community Heart and Vascular Care

This last week saw the start of the March month for many of our community this is an important month and few weeks for clinical care, spring breaks, and of course basketball.  The women’s basketball team rallied past Louisville in overtime to repeat as ACC Champions.  Coach Kara Lawson’s women’s blue devils team is on a hot streak heading into the tournament.  The men’s team beat UNC with a strong defensive presence and now prepare for the ACC and NCAA tournament with lots of eyes on the health of point guard Caleb Foster and big-man Patrick Ngongba.  We will keep our fingers crossed.  Many in the the faculty, fellows, and staff will also have school spring breaks this week and the last week of March into April.  For those who are on Spring Break – we hope you get sometime to share with family and some rest and rejuvination for the upcoming months as we close out the calendar year.  Finally, our teams continue to work together to improve cardiovascular care and we have several stories below of people working together to deliver regional emergency cardiovascular care, specific kudos from patient’s getting care in our system, and the amazing work of our group to continue to get funding to support our research missions.  Just as with basketball, we imagine a spring to the end of the month with many grants, projects, and programs getting launched that could have impact across our groups for years to come.  Thanks to all that are working to help us meet our missions for our patients, trainees, and each other.

Highlights of the week:

International Women’s Day

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day – a day of global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. First celebrated in 1911, the annual celebration falls during Women’s History Month.

Duke Health is pleased to recognize March as Women’s History Month and to celebrate the many contributions of women throughout our nation’s history and at Duke. Their commitment to excellence and mentorship has significantly impacted our past and continues to shape and inspire our future.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the talented and dedicated women of Duke Health for the passion and professionalism you bring to work every day. You make Duke one of the best places to receive care, work, and grow.

Throughout this month, we encourage you to celebrate and recognize women’s achievements across the system. These moments of reflection, learning, and gratitude remind us of the ongoing importance of equity, representation, and inclusion in every corner of our institution.

Here are some ways you can join our support of Women’s History Month:

• Send Kudos Kards to the women who brighten your day and inspire you at work.
• Download virtual meeting backgrounds to support this important recognition.
• Read the stories of extraordinary women across the system who continue a legacy of integrity, vision, and purpose.

 

Regional Cardiovascular Summit – Strengthening Collaboration for Improved Patient Care

On February 27 in Durham, healthcare professionals from across the region gathered for the Regional Cardiovascular Summit, a collaborative event focused on improving the care of patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Hosted by Duke Heart & Vascular Services, the half-day summit brought together referring hospitals, EMS agencies, and PCI centers to strengthen regional partnerships and improve coordination of emergency cardiovascular care. Through open discussion and shared learning, participants explored opportunities to enhance communication, streamline patient transfers, and ensure timely access to life-saving cardiac interventions.

Summit Highlights & Impact

• Facilitated meaningful collaboration among EMS leaders, emergency medicine teams, cardiologists, and regional hospital systems.
• Reviewed the current state of emergency cardiovascular care and regional STEMI response processes.
• Presented STEMI case studies from multiple sites to highlight successes and opportunities for improvement.
• Identified key strategies to improve response times, interfacility transfers, and coordination between EMS and hospital teams.

The summit created a valuable forum for healthcare providers to exchange insights and strengthen the systems that support rapid, coordinated cardiac care across the region.

Participating Organizations

Representatives from the following organizations attended the summit:

• Maria Parham Health
• Durham VA Health Care System
• Sovah Health
• UNC Health
• Duke Regional Hospital
• Duke Heart Network
• Caswell County EMS
• Person County EMS
• VA EMS
• Orange County EMS
• Martinsville EMS
• American Heart Association
• Alamance County EMS
• Durham County EMS

Looking Ahead

The collaboration and dialogue from this year’s summit reinforce the importance of strong regional partnerships in delivering timely, high-quality cardiovascular care.

Planning is already underway for the 2027 Regional Cardiovascular Summit, where partners across EMS agencies, hospitals, and health systems will continue working together to advance cardiac emergency care throughout the region.

Outstanding work!

 

New Ranking Highlights NIH’s Impact on Science at Duke SOM

The Duke University School of Medicine received more than $514 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2025, ranking 9th nationally among medical schools, according to new data from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. In the latest rankings, 11 Duke clinical and basic science departments placed among the top 10 in their fields, with nation-leading programs in surgery and orthopedics. The investment accelerates Duke’s work to advance medical science, improve patient care, and train future biomedical researchers. Learn more here.

 

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.

 

 

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 17^th 

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! 

 

Kudos to Pagidipati and Jones!

We received a wonderful patient letter this week, shared with us by top leadership at Duke and Duke Health, regarding care received from our Duke Heart & Vascular team:

“Dear President Price and Dr. Owens,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the outstanding care I received at Duke University Hospital from your Cardiology team. From multiple tests to consulting on the best course of action, and the procedure in the Cath lab, my experience reflected an exceptional level of professionalism, coordination, and compassion that speaks volumes about the culture and leadership of your organization.

I would especially like to recognize two physicians whose care made a profound difference for me: Dr. Neha Pagidipati and Dr. William Schuyler Jones. Their clinical expertise, clear communication, and genuine concern for my well-being were extraordinary. At every step, they took the time to explain options, answer questions thoughtfully, and ensure I felt confident and supported. I was impressed by how closely they collaborated and made sure I was aware of all the latest data and technological developments. It is clear that their commitment goes well beyond technical excellence. They exemplify the very best of patient-centered care, collaboration, culture and teamwork. They are a tremendous credit to your institution.

Their support has continued post-procedure and now three weeks out my recovery has been extraordinary. It was everything I was hoped for and more when selecting Duke (over other well-respected institutions) at this critical juncture in my healthcare journey. I look forward to their continued care.

Please share this note and extend my appreciation to them and to the broader care team who supported my treatment and recovery. It is clear you have developed an exceptional patient-centered culture and it is hard to imagine receiving better care anywhere else.

Thank you again for leading an organization that delivers care at such a high standard. In a world where there is controversy around healthcare and politics every day in the news, Duke University stands out as a national treasure where healthcare is delivered in the best interest of patients.” — name withheld for patient privacy.

Just… wow! Way to go, Neha, Schuyler, and all team members!

 

Kudos to Bailey!

We also received a terrific note from Yoo Jin Kim, MD, one of our cardiology fellows, regarding Mallory Bailey:

“I have been on the LVAD service (Heart Failure team) this week and wanted to share a HUGE kudos for Mallory Bailey, PA on the Cardiothoracic Surgery team.

I worked with her closely on our post-LVAD patients and her attention to detail, open communication with our team, and efforts to improve and mobilize patients’ care was incredible. I had an amazing time working with her, and she truly exemplified how important teamwork is to progress patient care. I wanted to share a huge kudos as I truly loved working with her and look forward to working with her again!” – Yoo Jin Kim, MD

Excellent work, Mallory!

 

Brian Gore, HTM Professional of the Month, TechNation

Our very own Brian Gore, an engineering specialist with our invasive labs in Duke Heart & Vascular, was recently nominated for the second year in a row by TechNation magazine for its Humanitarian of the Year award.

He was nominated for his outstanding volunteer work in Honduras and Uganda. Gore is affiliated with the Duke Global Health Institute and has traveled to Kampala, Uganda for neurosurgical missions and Tegucigalpa, Honduras for cardiothoracic surgical missions that provides needed care to patients who would normally have no access to the care provided by these specialized teams. He is also involved with the REMEDY program that collaborates with Duke Health System administrators and staff to promote environmental sustainability at Duke and support Duke’s global health and community service missions by reducing waste and promoting resource sustainability through the recovery and recycling of usable surplus medical supplies. Gore also volunteers with assistance and aid in local communities throughout the Triangle.

In 2024, TechNation Magazine ran a feature about Gore, Shifting Gears: Serving the Underserved. He is featured again this month, in the March 1 issue, as their professional of the month: Professional of the Month: Brian Gore.

Although Brian was not this year’s award winner, he is certainly worthy in our estimation and we are so pleased he is a part of our team. Congratulations, Brian!

 

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 Updates:

New Paid Parental Leave Policy Now in Effect

Our updated Paid Parental Leave Policy went live on March 1. This enhanced benefit provides eligible team members with dedicated paid time following the birth or adoption of a child. The policy is designed to support families during an important transition and ensure team members have the space they need without added financial stress.

Team members who are planning an upcoming leave or want to understand how the policy applies to them can review the full details on the Human Resources intranet site.

Duke Raises Minimum Wage

This week, Duke announced that it will increase its minimum wage from $18 to $20 per hour, effective July 1, 2026. With this change, our minimum wage will have increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade — making DUHS one of the highest-paying health systems in North Carolina.

DUH Celebrates Milestone Year for Organ Donation

In 2025, Duke University Hospital (DUH) marked a milestone in its commitment to supporting lifesaving organ donation and the families of those who gave the gift of life. The hospital facilitated organ donation for 42 organ donors, the highest number of donors in a year at DUH. From those donors, 98 organs were successfully transplanted, changing the lives of recipients across the country. An additional 73 patients donated tissues. Read more.

Price Reappointed to Third Term as President

The Duke University Board of Trustees has reappointed President Vincent E. Price to a third term beginning July 1, 2027, following a comprehensive administrative review that gathered input from nearly 100 members of the Duke community. 

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Cardiology Grand Rounds

March 10: Humbling Experiences on the Journey from Academia to Industry with Dean Li, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 or via Zoom.

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.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

March 11: DHP Case Review with Dorothy Avoke. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

March 13: Cath Lab Math with Tom Bashore. Noon, Zoom only.

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   

 

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: 18^th 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.

 

Chief’s message:  Beginning of March

Hope everyone had a good weekend for the start of March – a month at Duke synonymous with tournaments and the beginning of Spring.  Below you will see the continued work from our many groups to increase our impact on our community and our scientific mission.  This last week we had an attempt to break the world record for CPR training – with the RACE CARS trial getting 19,000 people trained.  A great turn out with the world record something we will still shoot for.  We also have updates with great work by our departments and school with regards to our NIH funding, and in upcoming weeks our presentations at the upcoming American College of Cardiology meetings at the end of the month.  For those attending the ACC meeting – please note the time and location of DCRI/Duke Heart Reception on Saturday with our research colleagues and partners. Thanks to all the teams working to help make sure we continue to serve our community, our residents/fellows, and each other.

Highlights of the week:

More Than 19K People Trained in Hands-Only CPR

A team led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute’s RACE-CARS Trial this week attempted to set a world record for the number of people trained in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in one day. The goal was to train 30,000 people. Although the event did not set a new world record, participating teams trained more than 19,000 people in how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest and how to perform hands-only CPR.

EMS agencies from 30 counties across NC participated in the event, which was held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Participating counties included Buncombe, Cabarrus, Chatham, Cleveland, Cumberland, Currituck, Davidson, Forsyth, Franklin, Hoke, Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Orange, Perquimans, Person, Richmond, Robeson, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Warren, Washington-Tyrrell, and Wayne.

The RACE-CARS Trial is led by principal investigator Dr. Christopher Granger and co-investigators, Drs. Monique Starks, James Jollis, Sana Al-Khatib. The world-record attempt was spearheaded by Tyler Cope, community coordinator for the trial.

Way to go, team!

 

Duke Surgery Leads AMC Surgery Departments in NIH Funding for Fifth Consecutive Year

The Duke Department of Surgery ranked first in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical school surgery departments for the fifth straight year in 2025, according to a report compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.

Underscoring Duke Surgery’s standing as a national leader in surgical science, the department received $47.2 million in NIH funding.

“This funding enables us to advance innovative research that seeks to answer some of the world’s most complex biomedical problems, helping to save lives and improve quality of life for countless people,” said Duke Surgery Chair Peter J. Allen, MD. He added, “We’re grateful for our team of phenomenal investigators, surgeon-scientists, research administrators, and staff for their contributions to this accomplishment. I would also like to recognize the leadership of our former Chair, Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, and Vice Chair for Research Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, whose tireless commitment to the academic mission helped enable our success.”

The Duke University School of Medicine ranked ninth in total NIH funding across all disciplines, with $514.5 million received in 2025.

Congratulations to all!

 

McVeigh Delivers Duke APP Grand Rounds

Todd McVeigh, one of our cardiology APPs, delivered Duke APP Grand Rounds on Thursday, Feb. 19.

The title of his talk was “Outpatient Heart Failure Management at Duke.”

Excellent job, Todd!

 

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.

 

REMINDER: A Duke Guide to Advocacy from Duke Government Relations

The School of Medicine Office of Strategic Communications and Duke Health Government Relations would like to remind you of Duke’s Policies for Political Activity, Engagement with Government Officials, Lobbying, and Voting.

Duke recognizes and supports faculty and staff’s engagement as private citizens in public policy and the political process and does not restrict such interactions. Certain forms of government interaction involving Duke, however, are subject to federal and state regulation, e.g., attempting to influence legislative or executive action; therefore, faculty and staff must be transparent when participating in political activity in a personal capacity.

Employees (faculty and staff) should only use personal e-mail, social media, or other online accounts (and not duke.edu accounts or other Duke electronic resources) to communicate with state and federal policymakers about legislation and legislative proposals or to circulate or distribute petitions and similar material.

When participating individually in political advocacy, faculty and staff must: 

Clearly distinguish individual, personal political activities from your Duke role, including not using Duke resources, e.g., Duke email or Duke electronic resources.

Faculty and staff should use personal e-mail, social media, or other online accounts: 

• to communicate with state and federal policymakers regarding Executive Orders, federal or state legislation/regulations, and regulatory/legislative proposals 
• to author op ed articles 
• to circulate participation in rallies, or similar events 
• to circulate or distribute petitions and similar material 

Faculty and staff should use off-hours or PTO to participate in political activities 

Faculty or staff who are identified (by themselves or with others) using their Duke titles or affiliations must indicate that their comments are purely personal and not made on Duke’s behalf.

• A disclaimer should be added, noting that “titles and affiliations are provided for identification purposes only and that any views expressed by the individual are theirs alone and do not reflect the views of Duke University or any of its constituent institutions. 

 Please reference these resources for additional information: 

• Policies for Political Activity, Engagement with Government Officials, Lobbying, and Voting – Government Relations
• Duke Health Social Media Policy

If you have any questions, please contact govrelations@duke.edu.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

March 4: ECG Review with Neil Freedman. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

March 6: HF Conference with Jonathan Taylor-Fishwick. Noon, Zoom only.

March 11: DHP Case Review with Dorothy Avoke. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

March 13: Cath Lab Math with Tom Bashore. Noon, Zoom only.

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   

 

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: 18^th 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.

Duke Heart in the News: 

February 13 — Brittany Zwischenberger

Memesita

Women & Heart Surgery: Higher Death Risk Than Men – Study

February 23 — Robert Califf

The Star

AI is making doctors answer a question: What are they really good for?

Highlights of the week:

Kudos to Keenan & Heart Transplant Team

We had a big week in heart transplant – kudos to cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jeff Keenan and to the heart transplant team – they accomplished five heart transplants, two of which were for patients that were critically ill on VA ECMO for multiple days. Several of our recipients were enrolled in clinical trials, too.

“This is an extraordinary effort which must be commended,” said Carmelo Milano, MD, the Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor of Surgery and division chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Duke. “In addition to being life-changing for our recipients, this effort enriches both our training and research missions. Congratulations to all on this extraordinary effort.”

Excellent work!

 

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 hosting an NCAA Elite Eight Watch Party during the event… so please join us from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Central in Gravier A & B of the New Orleans Marriott, Warehouse Arts District.

 

Community Outreach Success

Many thanks to Duke medical student Zakir Ahmedin, cardiologists Kevin Thomas, MD, and Larry Jackson, MD, and PGY-2 residents Ibukunoluwa Olubowale, MD, and Victor Ayeni, MD, for taking time to participate in a community outreach event on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Morehead Avenue Baptist Church in Durham.

The church participants were grateful for Duke experts coming to them directly and sitting down with them for more roundtable discussions about health.

“This outreach event gave me a lot of ideas for how we can optimize this initiative more, including having both doctors and church members share their real stories to normalize people talking about health, which can be an otherwise frequently stigmatized topic, especially in the older Black community,” said Ayeni, an internal medicine resident, PGY-2, who has been planning similar outreach events over the past couple of years.

Ayeni added that he felt reinvigorated by chatting directly with community participants, as they are the very patients the team advocates for at Duke. Rather than seeing them in a clinical setting, these interactions took place in a setting that is beloved and trusted by many people in Durham, leading to more comfortable and open conversations.

If you are interested in assisting Victor in future outreach events, please reach out to him directly. He can be reached via email at victor.ayeni@duke.edu. He says, “The more, the merrier!” and we agree!

Excellent job, Victor, and thank you so much Kevin, Larry, Zakir, and Ibukunoluwa for volunteering!

 

Duke Heart Gains Newest Family Member

We are excited to share the arrival of Sofia Emma Gray – daughter of cardiology APP team member Julie Gray and her husband, Jeremy. Born Feb. 19 weighing 8 lbs, 4 oz, and 20 inches long.

 

We are thrilled for Julie and Jeremy!

 

Heart Units Get a Visit from Heart Ma’am

As part of our Heart Month celebration, the American Heart Association’s mascot – “Heart Ma’am” (played by Katie Belusa of the AHA), and local AHA representative Allison Gubitz paid a visit Duke Hospital and the Duke Medicine Pavilion on Thursday, Feb. 19. While on-site, Alison and Heart Ma’am handed out heart-healthy snacks to Heart team members and visitors on a variety of units, talked up healthy habits, posed for photos, and worked to generate enthusiasm for coaches ahead of the 2026 Heart Walk (planned for early October).

Anyone who registers as a coach by the end of February will be eligible to win an Amazon gift card or a swag bag of AHA gift items. If you have any questions, please contact either Katie or Allison.

 

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!

 

DUHS Announcements

O’Brien Stepping Down as Chair, Dept. of Neurology

Dean Mary E. Klotman, executive vice president for health affairs for Duke, and Tom Owens, MD, executive vice president and chief operating officer for DUHS, on Friday announced that Richard J. O’Brien, MD, PhD, Disque D. Deane University Distinguished Professor of Neurology, will step down as chair of the Department of Neurology on December 31, 2026. O’Brien will continue his service on the faculty, supporting the school’s academic, research, and clinical missions.

A national search for O’Brien’s successor will be launched in the spring and will be led by Anthony Viera, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

February is Heart Month!

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Feb. 24: New Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure with Adam DeVore. 5 p.m., DN 2022 or via Zoom.

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Feb. 25: EP Case Presentation with Tess Mischler and Jemi Galani. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

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.

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening 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: 18^th 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.

Duke Heart in the News:  News coverage returns next week.

Highlights of the week:

Turek Named to TIME 100

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Turek, chief, pediatric cardiac surgery in the division of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Duke!

Turek has been named to the 2026 TIME100 Health List— recognizing the 100 most influential world leaders in health this year. The list was revealed online this past week and appears in the Feb. 23 issue of TIME magazine, which arrived at newsstands on Friday.

Turek is recognized for his and his team’s contributions toward expanding the heart transplant donor pool for infants with the use of new surgical techniques and approaches. It is believed these efforts could expand the donor pool by up to 20 percent.

“It’s wonderful to have this life-saving technique recognized with the hope that it can spread to help more babies in desperate need for heart transplant.”

Congratulations, Joe!

R01 Funding Received for HFpEF Trial

Congratulations to Marat Fudim, MD, MHS, associate professor of medicine in cardiology at Duke and to Andrew Ambrosy, MD, a former Duke cardiology fellow now with Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. 

Fudim and Ambrosy have received R01 funding for the INFUSE HFpEF study, which will explore the use of intravenous iron in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using ferric derisomaltose. According to Fudim, this will be the first multicenter study to evaluate whether IV iron improves function and quality of life in HFpEF patients. IV iron showed benefit to patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, or HFrEF, in the HEART FID trial.

Fudim and Ambrosy trained together at Duke as cardiology fellows and at the Duke Clinical Research Institute where, in various capacities, they each worked on the HEART FID trial during fellowship – now, five years later, they will serve as co-PIs on INFUSE HFPEF.

The multicenter research trial will be run out of the Duke Cardiology Clinical Research Unit.

Congratulations Marat and Andrew!

 

Karra Recognized for Teaching Excellence

Congratulations to Ravi Karra, MD, associate professor of medicine and pathology! We were recently notified by the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education at Duke that his course,  CMB-710A-03: CELL & MOLEC BIO MODULE I, is one of the most highly rated courses throughout the Duke School of Medicine and that Karra is rated one of the top instructors in the School of Medicine.

His teaching efforts make a big difference to students – and therefore to the academic mission of Duke.

Outstanding work, Ravi!

 

Shout-out to Salah

A big shout-out to Dr. Husam Salah for helping to cover (in a pinch!) a busy cardiac catheterization lab on Friday — from Dr. Jennifer Rymer.

Great teamwork, Husam!

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

February is Heart Month!

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Feb 18: HF/Tx case with Krunal Amin. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Feb. 20: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, Zoom only.

Feb. 25: EP Case Presentation with Tess Mischler and Jemi Galani. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

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.

Feb. 19: LV Strain with Fawaz Alenezi

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening 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: 18^th 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.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

February 3 — Harry Severance

ACEP Now

Are Hospital On-Call Services Still Sustainable?

February 5 — Nishant Shah

Medscape

Recent Dyslipidemia Research Prompts New Guidance

February 6 — Robert Califf

STAT/Morning Rounds

Food dye, TrumpRx, gender affirming care: Morning Rounds

February 6 — Jennifer Rymer

tctMD

In-Hospital STEMI Patients Face Reperfusion Delays and Worse Outcomes

February 9 — Robert Califf

The New York Times

A.I. Is Making Doctors Answer a Question: What Are They Really Good For?

February 9 — Larry Jackson

AHA Newsroom/Heart.org

How serious are heart palpitations? Causes, symptoms and when to worry

February 10 — Nishant Shah

Medscape

Cardiometabolic Control Eludes Many Adults With Hypertension

February 10 — Stephen Greene

Medscape

Burden of Heart Failure Persists Despite Quadruple Therapy

February 11 — Nishant Shah

TIME

The New Way to Predict Your Risk of a Heart Attack

February 11 — Joseph Turek

TIME

TIME 100 Health 2026

February 11 — Duke Clinical Research Institute

The Warren Record

Warren County to participate in effort to break the CPR training world record

February 11 — Amanda Randles

The EP Edit/EP Lab Digest

From Monitoring to Prediction: How Cardiovascular Digital Twins Could Transform Arrhythmia Care

February 12 — Joseph Turek

The Advisory Board

TIME names the 100 ‘Most Influential People in Health’

February 12 — Nishant Shah

Impacto Castex

Nueva calculadora online estima el riesgo cardíaco a 30 años: una alerta temprana ante amenazas silenciosas

February 12 — Marat Fudim

The American Scholar

The Heart of the Matter

 

Highlights of the week:

Celebrating National Wear Red Day

Thank you to everyone who participated in National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6, and to those who shared photos of their teams with us! Please continue to share photos with us as you raise awareness and celebrate National Heart Month throughout February.

Great job, everyone!

 

Stokes to Serve as Nurse Manager, DUH 6 East, Effective February 16, 2026

The Duke Heart & Vascular leadership team is pleased to announce that Jason Stokes, BSN, RN, CCRN, CN IV will become Nurse Manager Operations for Duke University Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Stepdown Unit 6 East effective February 16, 2026.

Stokes earned an ADN in 2009 and began his nursing career at Maria Parham Medical Center. He then joined the Duke Heart Team in 2012 on Unit 3100, the Cardiothoracic Stepdown Unit. In 2015, he moved to the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. In 2021 he obtained his BSN from Winston Salem State University. He then transitioned into the leadership role of Clinical Lead/Assistant Nurse Manager/CN IV Leader.

During his time at Duke, Stokes advanced on the clinical ladder by becoming a CNIV and has held a variety of roles on 7 West including Preceptor, Charge Nurse, Bed Flow Charge Nurse, Duke Moves Champion, Healthy Work Environment Facilitator/Champion, and Research Committee Facilitator. He continued to grow his skills both clinically and professionally by joining the Patient Response Team.

As a leader, he has been heavily involved with safety and quality initiatives, including pressure injury prevention. In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, he helped create a first-of-its-kind lifting technique to “levitate” patients with an open chest. He went on to publish outcomes based on this initiative.

Stokes has assisted on many priorities via the research committee, including efforts to prevent delirium in ICU patients; improve patient/family satisfaction within the ICU; and to improve patient mobility using Virtual Reality technologies.

In 2024, Stokes was the recipient of the Mary Ann & Robert H. Peter award for Excellence in Nursing Practice through Duke Friends of Nursing. He has encouraged team building using the framework from the AACN to promote a Healthy Work Environment using team recognition and, with the help of the 7West HWE committee, has hosted an annual softball tournament that includes units and departments from across Duke University Health System to raise money for the American Heart Association.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Jason to his new role!

 

DUHS Updates:

Masking for Duke Heart

After discussion with our infection prevention colleagues, the Heart Center has ceased mandatory masking in the inpatient and procedural areas as of Tuesday, Feb. 3. Staff continue to have the option of masking for personal preference or per recommendation of EOHW. We will continue to monitor respiratory illnesses and communicable illness in partnership with our IP colleagues.

Thank you for your support to keep our staff and patients safe.

 

Community Organizers Must Adhere to Visitation, Solicitation Policies

The important work you and your teams do every day is closely connected to maintaining a safe, respectful, and secure environment for everyone at our facilities.

This week, community organizers were observed onsite at Duke University Hospital approaching staff, distributing flyers, and asking questions related to employment. While team members have the right to support or oppose community activism, all individuals onsite must comply with DUHS visitation and access policies. As you know, Duke has a longstanding practice of not permitting third party solicitation on our property.

Given this recent activity, we want to remind everyone that if you encounter individuals who appear to be onsite with no business purpose – or if something does not feel right – we ask that you follow our guidance that if you see something, say something. Concerns should be escalated through your leadership.

Thank you for continuing to show up for your people and for helping ensure our environment remains safe and focused on patient care. We appreciate your leadership and partnership.

With gratitude, DUHS Leadership

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

February is Heart Month!

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Feb. 11: DHP Case Presentation with Jonathan Kusner. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Feb. 13: Nuclear Physics with Robert Reiman. Noon, Zoom only.

Feb 18: HF/Tx case with Krunal Amin. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Feb. 20: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, Zoom only.

Feb. 25: EP Case Presentation with Tess Mischler and Jemi Galani. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

 

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.

Feb. 12: Mitral Stenosis with Jon Mark

Feb. 19: LV Strain with Fawaz Alenezi

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening 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: 18^th 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.

 

Duke Heart in the News: 

January 30 — Stephen Greene

tctMD

Even With Optimized GDMT, HFrEF Prognosis Remains Dire

February 2 — Stephen Greene

HCP Live

Addressing the Limitations of Quadruple Therapy in HFrEF, With Stephen Greene, MD

February 3 — Jay Lusk (PI/Margolis Institute)

Medscape

CGRPs for Migraine Tied to ‘Modest’ Heart Risk

February 4 — Duke University Hospital (Heart Care)

WNCN-TV (Raleigh/Durham)

Duke University Hospital ranks in the top 50 hospitals in the entire country for heart care

February 6 — Robert Califf

STAT/First Opinion

Former FDA commissioner: HHS leadership is focused on policy-based evidence, not evidence-based policy

Chief’s message:  Heart Month Begins

February kicks off Heart Month with a variety of activities and events to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease and the impact it has on so many of our communities.  We will have a wear Red day (Friday Februaary 6th), some outreach events in our community, there is a Triangle Heart ball at end of the month, and multiple CPR trainings, and BP check events.  I was also fortunate to be able to attend the Go Red – Red Dress Event in New York City this last week at the Lincoln center where Laura Linney hosted with Amy Grant and others performing.  Damar Hamlin was in attendance to raise awareness for resuscitation efforts and science, and we even had the winner of Best in Show from the Westminster Dog Show.  Some photos included from the event.

Highlights of the week:

Weather Update — Staying Safe

We hope all of you are enjoying the snow in central NC today! Looks like most of us got 3-4” of powdery snow – with some areas in the region getting nearly 10”. Stay safe and warm, and for emergency alert updates, please check the DukeALERT webpage.  

CT Surgery Team Members Receive Awards at STS 2026

The 62nd Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting is being held this weekend (Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026) in New Orleans. We are thrilled to announce that several Duke Heart & Vascular team members have received Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) awards  — these were announced during the meeting this weekend. TSF is the charitable arm of the STS, supporting research, education, innovation, and humanitarian outreach.

• Adam Williams, MD and Rebekah Boyd, MD — Every Heartbeat Matters Award. This award, made possible by the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, provides support of up to $35,000 for qualified surgeons who conduct humanitarian work in underserved regions and populations. Williams helps lead our Duke Heart in Honduras outreach mission. Boyd is an active participant in the program. 
• Gabriel Esmailian, MD — Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) Resident Research Award. The STSA award provides up to $40,000 per year for up to two years to support the research fellowship of a resident who has not yet completed CT surgical training.
• Hiba Ghandour, MD — Catalyst Award for Data Access. This award provides support of up to $10,000 to cover data access costs and other direct costs.
• Kateryna Krynychka, MD — the Nina Starr Braunwald Research Fellowship Award. Nina Starr Braunwald, MD was the first woman to be certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the first woman to conduct open heart surgery. This research award in her name supports up to $55,000 per year for up to two years for a woman resident working in a cardiac surgical clinic or laboratory research program who has not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training. Since the award’s inception, Braunwald Fellows have gone on to become established leaders within the field. The Braunwald Award is widely recognized as one of the specialty’s most prestigious research fellowships.

These awards highlight some of the great research and humanitarian efforts that are taking place within Duke’s Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

Congratulations to Adam, Kateryna, Hiba, Gabriel, and Rebekah!

 

MD-PhD Student Earns Competitive Fellowship to Advance Heart Regeneration Research

A Duke MD-PhD student has received a highly competitive American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship to support a collaborative research project aimed at understanding why the human heart loses its ability to regenerate after birth — a limitation that underlies heart failure and many cardiovascular diseases.

Ashley Williams, a fifth-year Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student now in her third year of PhD training, earned the award for a project co-mentored by cardiologist Ravi Karra, MD, associate professor of medicine and pathology, and Yarui Diao, PhD, associate professor of cell biology. The project, Modulating ERBB2 Enhancers and Downstream Effectors to Promote Human Cardiomyocyte Proliferation in Cardiac Organoids, brings together advanced genomics technologies and a human cardiac organoid model to investigate how cardiomyocytes — the muscle cells of the heart — stop dividing shortly after birth.

“Heart failure affects more than six million Americans, and one of the biggest challenges is that the adult heart doesn’t regenerate,” Williams said. “My work focuses on understanding why cardiomyocytes lose that ability and whether we can identify genetic programs that could potentially be reactivated.”

Williams’ project uses stem-cell–derived cardiac organoids to model human heart tissue and applies innovative genomic tools developed in Diao’s lab — technology recently accepted for publication in Nature Biotechnology. The approach allows the team to study the genetic mechanisms that regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation in unprecedented detail.

“This project really sits at the intersection of basic science and clinical relevance,” said Karra, a principal investigator in the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center. “If we can understand the genetic wiring that allows the heart to regenerate early in life, it opens the door to therapies that could one day be truly curative.”

The fellowship provides partial stipend and tuition support and is awarded through a highly competitive national review process. Karra noted that Williams’ application scored in the eighth percentile. The fellowship award was effective Jan. 1.

“It’s a major achievement for a trainee,” he said. “It reflects both the strength of the science and Ashley’s potential as a future physician-scientist.”

Both mentors emphasized that Williams herself initiated the collaboration.

“She came to us with this idea and was brave enough to take on an extremely complex experimental system,” said Diao. “Very few trainees — even postdocs — can do this kind of work. She learned it, and she made the collaboration work.”

That collaboration has since expanded beyond a single project. According to Karra, Williams’ work helped catalyze ongoing partnerships between the two labs, multiple joint grant submissions, and the formation of a cardiac functional genomics group involving seven labs across campus.

“What’s remarkable is that this all started with a student,” Karra said. “Ashley is really the catalyst.”

Williams said the experience reflects the broader research culture at Duke.

“I had this idea, and instead of being told it wouldn’t work, people leaned in,” she said. “My mentors were open-minded, invested, and willing to build something new. That spirit of collaboration has been essential to the project’s success.”

As a future cardiologist and physician-scientist, Williams plans to continue caring for patients with heart failure and hopes to lead a research program focused on uncovering the biological mechanisms that drive disease.

“The goal is to connect discovery to patient care,” she said. “Being able to work in both spaces — the clinic and the lab — is what drew me to this path.”

For Diao, Williams represents the kind of trainee who defines the next generation of biomedical research.

“She’s not only a promising scientist,” he said. “She’s an amazing person — generous with her time, committed to mentorship, and driven by a desire to help others succeed.”

Congratulations, Ashley!

 

New Schedule for Structural Heart Inpatient Consults

The Duke Heart & Vascular Structural Heart Disease team is excited to introduce a new weekly schedule for inpatient consultations, starting Monday, February 2, 2026.

Each week, one structural attending will be assigned to staff consultations with the DHP fellow. In the event a procedure is required during the same admission, the advanced structural fellow will be involved. This new weekly schedule is designed to streamline the inpatient consult process, enhance the experience for referring providers, and provide greater access to SHD faculty for general fellows.

The full schedule is now available on Qgenda under the “SHD Consult Attending” section.

 

Great Catch Awarded to Erickson

Congratulations to Daniel Erickson, CNII, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Duke Hospital 6300! Daniel noticed that the medication barcode scan showed an incorrect dose, which could have led to a dosing error. By reporting the issue and escalating it to pharmacy, Daniel helped implement a system-wide fix so future doses scan correctly and generate appropriate warnings—preventing similar risks and improving safety for all patients.

Way to go, Daniel!

 

 

 

 

Kudos to Kim and Threadcraft

We received a wonderful note of kudos this week regarding the work of two outstanding cardiology fellows:

“I wanted to send kudos for the outstanding work Yoo Jin Kim and Marcus Threadcraft did this past week in the CICU. We had a week of great but complex pathology and physiology. The leadership of Yoo Jin and Marcus was unbelievable and their engagement really made a difference in the patients’ clinical care. They took ownership of all the patients on our side and diligently led their management. I was extremely impressed at how much they knew about the patients. In addition to extensive chart review, they also looked into the literature to help manage some complex and rare pathology. They also helped our APPs manage very tough cases and made exceptional contributions to care. Additionally, they both had amazing bedside manner and really made an effort to get to know both patients and families. They also anticipated next steps early and coordinated care between consulting and procedural teams masterfully. During code or peri-code situations I had no doubt either both would be at my side or be there before I got there. They took control of these situations effortlessly as well. Multiple patients, family members, nurses, APPs, and staff also complimented their excellent work to me during the course of the week. Both fellows certainly lived up to the standard of excellence we strive for at Duke Cardiology. I couldn’t be more proud of their work.” – Nishant Shah, MD

Way to go, Yoo Jin and Marcus!

 

Kudos to Applefeld and 7E APPs

We received a note of appreciation this week regarding care provided by Willard Applefeld, MD and the APPs on DMP 7East.

“I am writing to express my gratitude for Dr. Willard Applefeld. My mother has had a complicated admission. She was taken care of on 7East for a few days. During her time on 7East, she was cared for by Dr. Applefeld. He took time to really understand her case and listen to us. He was able to develop a good plan of care for her and get what she needs. He was always very respectful and caring. The APPs are wonderful as well, especially Taylor, Erika, Dave and Jordan.

Again, I am very thankful my mom was cared for by Dr. Applefeld. He is truly wonderful and an asset to your team.” — name withheld to protect patient privacy

Great work, Willard, Taylor, Erika, Dave & Jordan!

 

DUHS Updates

Responding to Critical Platelet Shortage

There is currently a critical nationwide shortage of platelets, primarily due to the impact of the recent winter weather disrupting donation drives and flight schedules. The American Red Cross, Duke’s primary supplier, predicts the situation will continue into the coming week. Winter weather this weekend could extend the shortage.

As a result, Duke leadership team members are closely monitoring inventory and actively reviewing the projected need for platelets within OR and clinic platforms on a daily basis. At the same time, they are working on mitigation strategies to maximize the distribution of all available product and exploring every available option for receiving additional supplies.

To ensure our ability to meet the demand for the highest priority patient cases, the team is reviewing every order for platelets. Pease only order in urgent/emergent circumstances.

We can all help improve the critical shortage by donating. The Red Cross Durham Platelet Donation Center, located on University Drive, has multiple donation opportunities in the coming days; other locations are available throughout the Triangle area. Please visit https://duke.is/4/fcs4 to visit the Red Cross website, make an appointment, and please encourage your friends and family members to donate as well. Thank you!

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

National Wear Red Day & Heart Month

February is Heart Month – and National Wear Red Day — part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women awareness campaign — is Friday, Feb. 6^th. Wear your red and get some team selfies – submit them to Tracey Koepke for inclusion in Pulse!

 

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Feb. 3: RV-PA Coupling- State of the Art with Khodr Tello, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Feb. 11: DHP Case Presentation with Jonathan Kusner. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Feb. 13: Nuclear Physics with Robert Reiman. Noon, Zoom only.

Feb 18: HF/Tx case with Krunal Amin. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Feb. 20: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, Zoom only.

Feb. 25: EP Case Presentation with Tess Mischler and Jemi Galani. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

 

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.

Feb. 5: Quality in the Echo lab with Ashlee Davis

Feb. 12: Mitral Stenosis with Jon Mark

Feb. 19: LV Strain with Fawaz Alenezi

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening with Fawaz Alenezi

 

School of Medicine Events:

Research Symposium: Metabolism and Health Across the Lifespan

February 5, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Great Hall, Trent Semans Center for Health Education

The event includes the Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Daniel Drucker: “Emerging Indications, Molecules, and Mechanisms for GLP-1 Medicines.” Scheduled speakers also include Leanna Ross, PhD and Svati Shah, MD, MHS.

Registration

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: 18^th 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.

Duke Heart in the News: 

January 24 — Nina Nouhravesh

El Debate

Cuantos huevos se pueden comer a la semana sin afectar la salud?

January 26 — Krish Dewan

Cardiovascular Business

Heavy cannabis use may not impact heart surgery outcomes

January 26 — Mugdha Joshi

tctMD

Telemedicine May Adversely Impact Care Quality for HF Patients

January 28 — Adrian Hernandez and Danny Benjamin

The Duke Chronicle

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya talks ‘replication crisis’ at Duke panel, omits funding cuts

January 28 — Stephen Greene

Cardiovascular Business

Heart failure patients on quadruple medical therapy still face considerable risks

January 29 — Matthew Hartwig

Scientific American

Doctors keep patient alive using ‘artificial lungs’ for two days

January 29 — Stephen Greene

Conexiant

Quadruple Therapy in HFrEF: What Happens Next?

Chief’s message:  Winter storms  

 Hope everyone is staying warm as winter storms come across the east coast.  Please note our Health systems activation of essential services until 11:30 AM currently Monday.  We will continue to re-assess over the weekend. As we get ready for February and heart month we will be sure to share updates and work of our teams across the multiple areas that we connect with our community.  Stay warm.

Highlights of the week:

Weather Update — Staying Safe

We hope all of you are staying safe and warm as winter storm Fern approaches our area.

As a result of expected hazardous conditions resulting from accumulations of ice, Duke University and Duke University Health System has activated the severe weather and emergency conditions policy from 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 through 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26. A decision will be made on Sunday, Jan. 25, on whether to extend the policy based on conditions across the region.

During times of severe weather, some staff positions require on-site presence to continue operations. All jobs should be assigned a service category by their manager to ensure continuous operations of patient care, student support, and research functions. The three categories are:

• Essential Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, essential service staff report or remain at work. Transportation service and childcare services may be provided for those required to work during severe weather/emergency conditions.
• Reserve Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, reserve service staff are assigned a status at the time of severe weather/emergency conditions.
• Delayed Service: during severe weather/emergency conditions, delayed service staff do not report to work or remain at work.

Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, are likely to become slick and hazardous during this time as overnight temperatures are projected to drop into single digits Monday night into Tuesday morning. Individuals should also avoid walking under trees that may be stressed with ice accumulations.

Duke crews are pre-treating and applying brine solution to campus streets, outdoor stairways, walkways, and entries to parking facilities. Crews will be on-site ready to respond during the weekend.

Operational Updates:

• Parking: medical staff should avoid parking in surface lots throughout the weekend so that crews can safely remove snow and ice. Access to all Medical Center garages (PG1, PG2, PG3, and Research Drive Garage) began on Friday with any parking permit.
• Bus routes: continued operation will depend on weather and road conditions. Every effort will be made to maintain service on the C-1 route; Duke community members should monitor Duke TransLoc for real-time updates on transit routes.
• Downed trees: Downed trees or large limbs should be reported to the Facilities Snow Desk (919-660-4280), and crews will be prepared to respond, as needed.

Duke community members are encouraged to stay informed by checking the DukeALERT website (https://emergency.duke.edu), as well as the Campus Service Updates web page for additional updates on parking lots, bus routes, dining facilities, and stores.

Thank you to everyone who is staying on-site to care for inpatients during the storm – we appreciate you!

 

December Funding Awards — Cardiology

Congratulations to the following cardiology faculty for receiving sponsored and industry-sponsored research awards in December 2025.

Sponsored Research

• Sudarshan Rajagopal has received a sub-award (1UG3HL180990-01) through Stanford University for a project entitled “1/2 A Phase 2 Study of Elafin (Tiprelestat) for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).” Total funding will be $82,989.

Industry-Sponsored Research

• Stephen Greene has received an award from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP for a project entitled “REFOCUS-HTN US.” Total funding will be $2,022,948.
• Neha Pagidipati has received an award from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH for a project entitled “BI OBESITY+ DESIGN STUDIO – MASLD, Switch, Women’s Health.” Total funding will be $100,685.
• Sean Pokorney has received an award from Biotronik, Inc. for a project entitled “Independent Core Lab.” Total funding will be $584,644.
• Nishant Shah has received an award from Kardigan Inc. for a project entitled “Biomarkers in Acute Severe Hypertension (ASH): Analysis of Clinical Blood Samples from patients presenting to the ED and/or admitted with a diagnosis of Acute Severe Hypertension or recorded SBP � 180 mmHg.” Total funding will be $219,675.
• Sreekanth Vemulapalli has received an award from the American Heart Association for a project entitled “AHA AI HCM.” Total funding will be $543,793.

Congratulations to all!

 

Join Pagidipati and Research Goes Red

Neha Pagidipati, MD, is serving as a 2026 Clinical Lead for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Research Goes Red initiative. Let’s help her with her recruitment push so that Duke can have a great showing this year!

What is Research Goes Red?

Historically, clinical studies haven’t included enough women, particularly women of color. As of 2020, women represent only 38% of research participants. We need women to be equally represented, allowing us to understand their specific risks, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Research Goes Red is an AHA-led initiative calling on women across the United States to contribute to health research. The AHA’s vision for Research Goes Red is to create the world’s most engaged and largest women’s health registry and research platform designed to put women directly in the driver’s seat to accelerate our understanding of how cardiovascular disease uniquely impacts women.

Both healthy women and those with an episodic or chronic health condition are encouraged to participate in research. The more we know about women and their overall health and well-being, the better we can treat, beat, and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Be on the lookout for flyers, posters, and postcards in the clinics. It’s easy for anyone to sign up for Research Goes Red – just look for the QR code and scan it. If you have any questions regarding how best to support Neha in this recruitment drive, please let her know.

 

Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Arrhythmias Support Meeting Held

Our Duke Heart Sarcoidosis team held a successful second gathering of their Sarcoidosis Patient Support Group this week. The event, Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Arrhythmias, was held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with excellent presentations — including one by electrophysiologist Daniel Friedman, MD, who was the key presenter on heart abnormalities that can be seen in this patient population. Johana Fajardo, one of our excellent Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Nurse Practitioners, planned and moderated the meeting, which had more than 40 patients registered to attend.

Great job, everyone!

 

 

ICYMI: Duke Network Services Becomes Duke Health Affiliations & Networks

For more than 30 years, Duke Network Services has supported a wide range of community-based specialty and hospital affiliations by connecting them with the world-class expertise of Duke Health. However, the department’s name caused many people to think it was responsible for IT or technology at Duke.

As a result, Duke Network Services is now known as Duke Health Affiliations & Networks – a new name that better conveys the department’s mission to collaborate with community hospitals that advance patient safety and clinical quality, improve community health, and facilitate access to expert care and research.

We look forward to our continued partnership with the team!

 

Mandatory Masking on Heart Units; Tier 2 Visitation Restrictions

As of Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, Duke Heart has implemented mandatory masking for staff and is strongly recommending them for visitors. Meanwhile, Duke has moved to Tier 2 Visitation Restrictions as of Jan. 6. Complete information is available on Duke Health Now.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

National Wear Red Day & Heart Month

February is Heart Month – and National Wear Red Day — part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women awareness campaign — is Friday, Feb. 6^th. Wear your red and get some team selfies – submit them to Tracey Koepke for inclusion in Pulse!

 

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Feb. 3: RV-PA Coupling- State of the Art with Khodr Tello, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Jan. 28: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 30: DHP Case Presentation with Jon Taylor-Fishwick. 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.

Jan. 29: NO CONFERENCE

Feb. 5: Quality in the Echo lab with Ashlee Davis

Feb. 12: Mitral Stenosis with Jon Mark

Feb. 19: LV Strain with Fawaz Alenezi

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening with Fawaz Alenezi

Medicine Grand Rounds

Jan. 30: Quality and Safety at Duke: The Integral Role of the Department of Medicine with Drs. Mike Pignone and Rick Shannon. 8 a.m. Trent Semans Great Hall.

 

DCRI 30^th Anniversary Forum Series

Jan. 27: A Fireside Chat with Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, 18th Director, National Institutes of Health. 2 p.m., Zoom.

Bhattacharya will share insights on the NIH’s priorities for the nation’s healthcare and research initiatives as part of this fireside chat, which will be held virtually.

School of Medicine Events:

School of Medicine Forum

January 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Join leadership to discuss strategic priorities for education, research, clinical care, and community partnership. Your input is essential as we shape the future together.

Join the Webinar  |  Add to Your Calendar

Research Symposium: Metabolism and Health Across the Lifespan*

*Speakers include Leanna Ross, PhD and Svati Shah, MD, MHS

February 5, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Great Hall, Trent Semans Center for Health Education

Includes the Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Daniel Drucker: “Emerging Indications, Molecules, and Mechanisms for GLP-1 Medicines.”

Registration

 

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: 18^th 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.

Duke Heart in the News: 

January 20 — Nishant Shah

Everyday Health

Heartburn or Heart Attack? How to Tell the Difference

January 21 — Neha Pagidipati

Science Friday podcast

Looking Beyond Statins For New Ways To Lower Cholesterol

January 22 — Duke Health

Becker’s Hospital Review

100 hospitals and health systems with great heart programs (2025)

Highlights of the week:

CVRC Mandel Awards

We’re excited to share the Duke Cardiovascular Research Center’s latest Mandel Award winners. These awards have a one-year project period starting January 1, 2026.  The awards include five Mandel Seed Awards at $51,656 and two Mandel Bridge Awards at $53,178.

Our Mandel Seed Award winners are:

Rohit Singh, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics and Cell Biology, with Charles Gersbach, PhD, John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, for the project: Comprehensive Characterization of the Genetic Contributions to Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure is a major public health burden and is projected to affect nearly 8 million Americans by 2030. Hypertension is known to cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which accounts for 30– 40% of all heart failure cases. DCM has a strong genetic basis, with both familial and sporadic forms linked to pathogenic variants or mutations in genes. However, only ~25% of all DCM cases have a genetic cause that has been identified. Moreover, large-scale studies recently identified over 100 genetic regions and sequences associated with increased risk of developing DCM, though the vast majority of causal genetic variants within these regions and others remain unmapped. Together these data provide strong evidence that there are many unknown genes and related sequences yet to be discovered that cause DCM. The goal of our study is to establish a comprehensive genetic map of drivers of DCM, providing novel insights into disease processes, new tools for evaluating patient risk, and a foundation for developing genetically informed therapies.

 

Stephanie Kereliuk, PhD, a Mandel Fellow and post-doctoral associate in surgery, with Walter J. Koch, PhD, professor in Surgery, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology for the project: Heart to Fat Communication: Defining the Cardiac Secretome in Obesity and Beyond

Obesity is a key risk factor in the development of heart disease, yet the mechanisms linking excess body fat to cardiac dysfunction remain poorly understood. Recent research shows that the heart releases signaling molecules that allows it to communicate with other organs, especially during metabolic stress such as obesity. However, the identity of these cardiac signaling molecules, and how they change in disease are still unknown. Our lab has developed a novel mouse that allows us to tag and identify proteins secreted by heart cells. This powerful tool allows us to map, for the first time, the molecules that the heart releases, known as the cardiac secretome, under both healthy and diseased conditions. With support from the Mandel Foundation and this Seed Grant, we will use our innovative mouse to identify the cardiac secreted factors altered by obesity and determine how they affect fat tissue and metabolism. By uncovering these molecular signals, we aim to reveal new ways the heart communicates with fat and other organs, leading the way for the development of future treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

 

Guofang Zhang, PhD, associate professor in endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition, with Deborah Muoio, PhD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Disease for the project: Exploring the interplay between ketolysis and heme biosynthesis in hypertrophied and failing hearts

Due to its vital role as a continuously working muscle that pumps blood to all other organs in the body, the heart requires an enormous amount of energy. Accordingly, cardiac muscle is densely packed with tiny biological batteries called mitochondria–cellular powerhouses that transform energy from the food we eat to a form of biochemical energy that keeps the heart pumping. When the heart is healthy, its mitochondria are metabolically omnivorous, feeding indiscriminately off sugar, fat, and/or fat-derived ketones. By contrast, when hearts become abnormally enlarged due to high blood pressure, their mitochondria become less metabolically flexible and more heavily dependent on ketones. Concomitantly, in an effort to adapt to new physiological circumstances, stressed hearts attempt to expand and remodel their mitochondria via a process that requires an essential building block known as heme. Recently, our lab uncovered new evidence that a high rate of heme synthesis, needed to bolster mitochondrial power output, is incompatible with heavy dependence on ketone metabolism. This setting of metabolic inflexibility, ketone dependency, and a simultaneous need for the heart to rebuild its electrical grid appears to create an energy crisis that triggers a downward spiral towards cardiac decline and heart failure. The proposed SEED project aims to develop new research methods and tools that will help us fully understand and ultimately combat the foregoing mitochondrial energy crisis, thereby advancing our long-term goal of guiding novel therapeutic strategies for treating and preventing cardiometabolic diseases.

 

Andrew Cangelosi, PhD, post-doctoral associate in the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, with Christopher Newgard, PhD, W. David and Sarah W. Stedman Distinguished Professor of Nutrition in the School of Medicine and professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology for the project: Investigating Chchd5 as a novel regulator of cardiovascular disease through a liver-heart axis

To better prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases (CVD) – the top cause of death worldwide – we must find new ways to improve heart health. Heart function is closely connected to and influenced by other organs, particularly the liver. For instance, liver disease caused by obesity is increasingly common and is strongly associated with CVD. Our lab has recently discovered a gene (Chchd5) that controls the health of liver cells during obesity. Blocking this gene alters liver metabolism and improves liver health, but the potential impact on heart health and disease is unknown. This project will study how Chchd5 affects heart metabolism, and how this influences heart function and the development of CVD. Understanding how Chchd5 affects liver and heart health may provide a new avenue to fight the CVD epidemic.

 

Jessica Regan, MD, assistant professor of medicine in cardiology, with Svati Shah, MD, MHS, Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and professor of medicine in cardiology, and William Kraus, MD, Richard and Pat Johnson University Distinguished Professor and professor of medicine in cardiology for the project: Skeletal Muscle Cellular Composition and Molecular Pathways at a Single Cell Level in Clonal Hematopoiesis and Exercise Response

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is the age-related accumulation of DNA mutations in blood cells and has been associated with higher levels of inflammation and increased risk of heart disease. Traditional risk factors for heart disease are primarily metabolic in origin, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle and pre-diabetes. These conditions are associated with higher levels of inflammation and exercise training can decrease this inflammation. Healthy skeletal muscle function is a critical element for exercise capacity and training but has been understudied in heart disease. CHIP can impact multiple organ systems, including heart, liver and kidney, but the potential impact of inflammation on skeletal muscle and changes with exercise training have not been explored. In this study, we will use skeletal muscle from participants who are overweight with pre-diabetes who joined a 6-month exercise program. We will evaluate RNA changes at a single-cell level to understand detailed composition and differences with both CHIP and exercise training. Paired analysis of baseline and follow-up samples will allow us to understand skeletal muscle predictors of response to exercise training. This knowledge may uncover new ways to treat heart and metabolic diseases.

 

Our two Mandel Bridge Award winners are:

Christopher D. Kontos, MD, professor of medicine in cardiology for his project: The Role of Caskin2 in Prevention of Vascular Calcification

Atherosclerosis causes obstruction of coronary, peripheral, and cerebral blood vessels and remains a leading cause of death and disability as it results in heart attacks, strokes, and limb amputations. Atherosclerosis is often associated with vascular calcification in each of these vascular beds, and the presence of calcification in blood vessels is associated with worse outcomes. How vascular calcification occurs remains poorly understood, but better understanding of this process may lead to improved treatments for cardiovascular diseases. We have identified a protein in vascular cells called Caskin2 and have found that it is required for quiescence of endothelial cells, which line all blood vessels. We have recently found that Caskin2 is also in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which make up the muscular layer of blood vessels and are largely responsible for the calcification that occurs in atherosclerosis. We have discovered that loss of Caskin2 in these VSMCs results in increased calcification in isolated smooth muscle cells, suggesting that Caskin2 may be a natural inhibitor of vascular calcification. In this application, we propose to identify mechanisms by which Caskin2 may have its beneficial effects on vascular calcification. In addition, we have generated mice in which Caskin2 can be deleted or increased specifically in VSMCs, and we will test its effects on vascular calcification in these mice. Completing these studies will shed light on this important process and may lead to the development of treatments for the harmful calcium deposits that occur in many patients with cardiovascular disease.

 

Sudha K. Shenoy, PhD, professor of medicine in cardiology, for her project: Biased Allosteric Modulators of the Glucagon Receptor: A Novel Strategy to Improve Cardiac Function and Glucose Homeostasis

Heart disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are among the most prevalent and serious health challenges, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. A key hormone called glucagon helps regulate blood sugar levels, but when its signaling becomes dysregulated, it can contribute to both hyperglycemia and heart failure. While current drugs that activate or block the glucagon receptor (GCGR) can offer therapeutic benefits, they often come with significant side effects due to their broad and non-selective actions. Our research focuses on discovering novel small molecule compounds that can fine-tune GCGR signaling— rather than fully activating or inhibiting the receptor. These compounds aim to preserve beneficial effects on blood sugar and heart function while minimizing adverse outcomes. This innovative approach could lead to safer and more effective treatments for both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This project was initially supported by a Mandel Seed Award, which enabled us to generate key preliminary data and submit an NIH R01 grant application. Unfortunately, the review of this application has been delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown and associated funding disruptions. Bridge support from the Mandel Foundation would allow us to continue critical experiments during this gap period, ensuring momentum toward developing transformative therapies for heart failure and diabetes.

Congratulations to all!

 

DUHS Update: Prioritizing Safety: Parking & Vehicle Security Awareness

Duke University Hospital Operations leadership issued a notice on Friday, Jan. 16, to make the Duke Health community aware of recent vehicle break-ins occurring across Durham, including areas around Duke University Hospital and some of our surrounding locations.

Duke teams are actively working with local law enforcement and security partners, increasing patrols where appropriate, and following up on available information. While this activity is not isolated to any one location, the team shared practical reminders that can help reduce risk:

Parking Safety Tips

• Avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle whenever possible.
• If items must be left in a vehicle, place them in the trunk before arriving.
• Lock your vehicle and ensure windows are fully closed.
• Be mindful of your surroundings when parking or returning to your vehicle, especially in larger or less-populated lots.
• Take note of individuals sitting in vehicles for extended periods or vehicles parked unusually close when other spaces are available.
• Whenever possible, park near lighting, entrances, or other vehicles.
• Trust your instincts — if something doesn’t look right, report it promptly.

Across the health system, we continue to work collaboratively on enhanced security measures, informed by ongoing assessments and coordination with our partners. Adjustments will continue as needed to support safety across our locations. If you observe suspicious behavior, have concerns, or need assistance, please contact local law enforcement, security at your location, or use the LiveSafe app.

Thank you for your continued awareness and partnership in helping keep our Duke Health community safe.

 

Mandatory Masking on Heart Units; Tier 2 Visitation Restrictions

As of Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, Duke Heart has implemented mandatory masking for staff and is strongly recommending them for visitors. Meanwhile, Duke has moved to Tier 2 Visitation Restrictions as of Jan. 6. Complete information is available on Duke Health Now.

 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

National Wear Red Day & Heart Month

February is Heart Month – and National Wear Red Day — part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women awareness campaign — is Friday, Feb. 6^th. Wear your red and get some team selfies – submit them to Tracey Koepke for inclusion in Pulse!

 

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Feb. 3: RV-PA Coupling- State of the Art with Khodr Tello, MD. 5 p.m., DN 2002 and via Zoom.

 

CD Fellows Core Curriculum Conference

Jan. 21: HF/Transplant Case Presentation with Nishkala Shivakumar. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 23: Topic and speaker to be announced. Noon, Zoom only.

Jan. 28: EP Case Presentation with Dorothy Avoke and Marcus Threadcraft. Noon, DMP 7E39 and via Zoom.

Jan. 30: DHP Case Presentation with Jon Taylor-Fishwick. 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.

Jan. 22: Multi-Modality Imaging on Pericardial Disease with Cosette Champion

Jan. 29: NO CONFERENCE

Feb. 5: Quality in the Echo lab with Ashlee Davis

Feb. 12: Mitral Stenosis with Jon Mark

Feb. 19: LV Strain with Fawaz Alenezi

Feb. 26: Mitral Valve Pre-Interventional Imaging Screening with Fawaz Alenezi

 

Medicine Grand Rounds

Jan. 30: Quality and Safety at Duke: The Integral Role of the Department of Medicine with Drs. Mike Pignone and Rick Shannon. 8 a.m. Trent Semans Great Hall.

 

DCRI Research Forum: A Fireside Chat with Jag Singh, MD, PhD

Please join us for DCRI Research Forum on Thursday, Jan. 22, when they will host cardiologist and author Jag Singh, MD, PhD for a fireside chat.

Singh is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and former Clinical Director of the Cardiology Division and the Roman W. DeSanctis Endowed Chair in Cardiology at Mass General Hospital, Boston. Singh is also the author of the book Future Care: Sensors, Artificial Intelligence, and the Reinvention of Medicine, which explores the upswell of virtual care, the evolving role of sensors, and the impact of artificial intelligence in medicine, targeted at patients, healthcare professionals, caregivers and readers interested in big ideas and the future of humankind.

What: DCRI Research Forum: A Fireside Chat with Jag Singh, MD, PhD

When: Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, January 22.

Where: Zoom

Webinar ID: 940 1213 9236 | Passcode: 649097

DCRI 30^th Anniversary Forum Series

Jan. 27: A Fireside Chat with Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, 18th Director, National Institutes of Health.  2 p.m., Zoom.

Bhattacharya will share insights on the NIH’s priorities for the nation’s healthcare and research initiatives as part of this fireside chat, which will be held virtually.

School of Medicine Events:

School of Medicine Forum

January 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Join leadership to discuss strategic priorities for education, research, clinical care, and community partnership. Your input is essential as we shape the future together.

Join the Webinar  |  Add to Your Calendar

Research Symposium: Metabolism and Health Across the Lifespan*

*Speakers include Leanna Ross, PhD and Svati Shah, MD, MHS

February 5, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Great Hall, Trent Semans Center for Health Education

Includes the Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Daniel Drucker: “Emerging Indications, Molecules, and Mechanisms for GLP-1 Medicines.”

Registration

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: 18^th 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.

Duke Heart in the News: 

January 9 — William Kraus

Men’s Health

Which Workout Helps Cholesterol More: Weights or Cardio?

January 11 — Monique Starks

The Duke Chronicle

Duke researchers deploy drones to speed AED delivery in cardiac emergencies

January 12 — Monique Starks

Dronelife

Duke Researchers Deploy Drones for AED Delivery in Cardiac Arrest Study

January 12 — Duke Health

Victoria Advocate (TX)

How Heart Attacks Differ in Women and How the Community Can Take Action

January 12 — William Kraus

Men’s Health (en Espanol)

¿Qué entrenamiento ayuda más al colesterol: pesas o cardio?

January 13 — William Kraus

Men’s Health SA

Lower Your Cholesterol with These Workouts Backed by Science

January 14 — Brian MacGrory

Breaking Med

Migraine CGRP Inhibitors Tied to Modest Cardiovascular Events

January 15 — William Kraus

Today

Try 1 Simple Diet Change to Reduce Heart Disease Risk and Lose Weight

January 15 — Harry Severance

Medscape

‘There’s No Help’: How Doctors Cope With Workplace Violence