Carmelo Milano is a General Surgeon and a Transplant Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Milano has been practicing medicine for over 36 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Tricuspid Regurgitation, Constrictive Pericarditis, Heart Tumor, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

Jacob Schroder is a General Surgeon and a Transplant Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Schroder has been practicing medicine for over 25 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Cardiogenic Shock, Tricuspid Regurgitation, Aortic Regurgitation, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois and was inspired by our family physician to pursue a career in medicine. Once in medical school, I chose to specialize in heart disease and heart failure. As a cardiologist, I care for people living with heart failure, including those who have an LVAD (heart pump) or those who have undergone heart transplant surgery. One of the things I love most about practicing cardiology is being able to care for my patients over time. I often first meet patients and their families in a hospital setting, but then see them in clinic afterward as we work together to manage their illness and improve their health and quality of life. I enjoy getting to know my patients and making personal connections with them as we spend time together. My hope is that my patients feel comfortable with me and that they know I am always here for them. Dr. Devore is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Pulmonary Edema, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

I am the chief of pediatric heart surgery at Duke Health. Being a heart surgeon was always a dream of mine as a child. Spending a summer in medical school with legendary pediatric heart surgeon, Aldo Castaneda, cemented my desire to devote my life to this profession. Clinically, I love the creativity, complexity and challenge associated with my work. I am also able to satisfy my investigational curiosities through an active basic and clinical research laboratory focusing on congenital heart disease. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to fulfill this dream back at Duke, a place that was so influential in my surgical training. Outside the hospital, I most enjoy spending time with my wife of 20+ years and three young children. We are an active family, always on the go… which mirrors my life at work. Dr. Turek is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Partial Atrioventricular Canal, Coarctation of the Aorta, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Heart Transplant, and Heart Valve Repair.

Douglas Overbey is a Pediatric Cardiologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Overbey has been practicing medicine for over 14 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Heart Tumor, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Heart Transplant, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

I specialize in the care of patients with cardiomyopathies, advanced heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension. I was drawn to this field because of the complexity of diseases and the potential to dramatically improve patients' lives through drug therapy, mechanical heart devices, or heart transplantation. As a transplant cardiologist, I enjoy caring for my patients through different disease stages and challenges and helping them to thrive. Outside of work, I enjoy exercising and spending time with my two sons and husband. Dr. Agarwal is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension, Pulmonary Edema, Cardiomyopathy, and Heart Transplant.

I am an adult cardiac surgeon specializing in heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. I perform general cardiac surgery operations, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair, and replacement for various valvular pathologies. A significant portion of my practice is dedicated to the surgical management of patients with advanced heart failure. This includes heart transplantation, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), and various forms of temporary mechanical circulatory support, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). I am proud to be a part of one of the largest volume and highest quality advanced heart failure programs in the world. Duke Health is consistently a national leader in heart transplant volume. We maintain high-quality outcomes and practice at the leading edge of the field. It is a remarkable experience to deliver these innovative therapies to our critically ill heart failure patients. These therapies are not only lifesaving but help restore our patients to the high quality of life they hope to lead. Dr. Keenan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Endocarditis, Heart Transplant, and Patent Foramen Ovale Repair.

"I am a cardiologist with a clinical interest in heart failure, including advanced therapies such as cardiac transplantation and mechanical assist devices or “heart pumps."" I became a heart failure cardiologist in order to help patients manage their chronic disease over many months and years. I consider myself strongly committed to compassionate patient care and have a focus on quality-of-life and patient preference. I am an effective communicator with an understanding and sensitivity to diversity and ethical practice. I am part of a clinical care team composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and support staff that works together to promptly provide comprehensive patient care. I am motivated to provide state-of-the-art cardiovascular care for my patients.". Dr. Mentz is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Low Blood Pressure, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

I am a cardiologist who specializes in advanced heart failure and heart transplant. I always strive to take a fresh look at patients and see what treatments we can offer that they may have not had before. I spend about half of my time doing clinical research that focuses on the outcomes of patients with heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. We look for opportunities to improve care and new ways to treat heart disease. Our patients are the center of our universe and we look for the best ways possible to treat them. One of my favorite parts of my job is taking care of patients who think the road has ended and being able to offer them several new roads to improve their lives. Dr. Hernandez is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Heart Attack, Thrombectomy, and Heart Transplant.

I am a transplant surgeon specializing in kidney transplants. Kidney transplantation is unique in surgery because you’re providing a cure for a disease. It’s very rewarding to see the patients succeed after surgery; the donors also make my practice very special. We can’t do a transplant without them providing this wonderful gift. Duke has been performing kidney transplants for 50+ years – since the very beginnings of the field. In fact, the process of how we match tissues for transplants was started at Duke. We’ve done thousands of kidney transplants here, so it’s great to be a part of a program with such a rich history. I’m also the chairman of the Department of Surgery and the surgeon-in-chief for the Duke University Health System, where we perform all types of transplants. Dr. Kirk is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Malnutrition, Hepatic Ischemia, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Kidney Transplant, and Islet Cell Transplantation.

My specialty is heart failure, especially advanced heart failure. We’re one of the largest heart transplant and mechanical support device programs in the world. We have vast experience, both in terms of medicine and surgery and all the things that go along with it. We have a level of expertise across the board, so you’re not just going to get pigeon-holed into one treatment that we happen to be good at. We have the ability to identify what treatment or treatments are best for you, then target each individual therapy for each individual patient. Many of the patients who come to see us have already seen other cardiologists, and many have been told there’s nothing more anybody can do. We try to take a fresh look at each person and we almost always find that there’s something we can do to help – maybe something simple like adjusting medications, or maybe a new device or adjustment of an existing device, or something more dramatic like a heart transplant or mechanical heart device. Dr. Michael is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Low Blood Pressure, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

I am a researcher and heart transplant specialist who also serves as medical director for the heart transplant program at Duke. From the time I was a child, I have been fascinated by how the human body works, specifically by how blood travels around the body. I became especially interested in how the heart behaves when it is normal and how it adapts when it is damaged. As a transplant cardiologist, I get to combine these interests with cutting-edge medicine to help people to live longer and feel better, even when hearts fail. I enjoy getting to know patients and their loved ones as they go through their transplant journey at Duke. I am also fortunate to be part of an experienced team that has been together for over a decade taking care of heart transplant patients. Dr. Patel is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Pulmonary Edema, Heart Failure, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

I see patients who have heart disease, and I work to prevent them from having any bad consequences of that disease. I also see patients who are having symptoms and do diagnostic work to see what cardiovascular condition they may have to explain their symptoms. I also take care of patients who either have known or suspected genetic cardiovascular disorders. Our genetics clinic is one of the only adult cardiovascular clinics in the Southeast. We take care of patients who have a variety of cardiovascular genetic disorders or who have strong family histories of heart disease and want to come in for testing. Duke has a strong collaborative approach to patient care. We provide excellent care for patients who need routine care for more common medical disorders, but we also provide a high level of subspecialty care for those who may have rarer disorders. Dr. Shah is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Coronary Heart Disease, Unstable Angina, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

I am a cardiologist with a specialty in heart failure and transplant cardiology. I became a cardiologist because I enjoy interacting with and helping patients with complicated cardiac problems that require all of my clinical skills. It is really rewarding to see very sick challenging patients realize greater mobility and improved quality of life after working with them over months or even years. Here at Duke, we believe that developing strong personal relationships with our patients is fundamental to their success. I try to take a personal approach with each patient to encourage them to engage in a healthy lifestyle and to optimize their medical regimens to best suit their problems. A collaborative team of clinicians, nurses and staff work to achieve the best for our patients. Dr. Rosenberg is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Cardiomyopathy, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Heart Transplant.

I am a cardiologist with a clinical and research interest in heart failure. I take care of patients with various types of heart failure, including patients who are best treated with medications and patients who receive advanced therapies like heart transplantation and mechanical assist devices. I became a heart failure cardiologist to help patients manage their heart conditions and best achieve their goals for their health. I am strongly committed to helping patients thoroughly understand their medical conditions and helping them make informed medical decisions aligned with their preferences. Dr. Greene is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Cardiomyopathy, Low Blood Pressure, and Heart Transplant.

I am a cardiac surgeon caring for adult patients with a broad spectrum of cardiovascular disease, with a particular interest in aortic disease, such as aneurysm or dissection. I also perform many general cardiac surgery operations, such as bypass surgery for blockages in the coronary arteries and valve repair or replacement for narrowed or leaky valves. Every year, we continue to expand our transcatheter treatments for valve diseases and endovascular treatments for aortic diseases. Both of these approaches involve small incisions in the leg, addressing the problem with wires and catheters, rather than traditional open surgery. I chose to train and work as heart surgeon because it allows me to care for patients with life threatening conditions and debilitating symptoms, such as shortness of breath. Our goal at Duke Health is to extend lives and restore quality of life, enabling patients to return to their passions at home. I hope that heart surgery is something most patients only go through once in a lifetime. I strive to create an atmosphere where patients and their loved ones feel they are educated and involved leading up to surgery and during their recovery process. Dr. Vekstein is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Valve Repair.

Lisa Mcelroy is a Pediatrics specialist and a Transplant Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Mcelroy has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. Her top areas of expertise are Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Liver Failure, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant.

I have dedicated my clinical practice to improving outcomes for advanced heart failure patients, particularly those with cardiac amyloidosis and sarcoidosis. Both of these conditions have been around for a long time but recent advancements in both diagnostic technology and pharmacologic therapies have created an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment options. Over the past decade, I have dedicated my clinical and academic work to building Centers of Excellence to facilitate diagnosis, clinical management, and access to therapies. Throughout my career, I have met great patients (or as I call them warriors) who have lost their fight against heart disease. This has impacted me tremendously by inspiring me to work towards creating awareness in both the medical and general communities, developing strategies to reduce health care inequities, and improving health-related quality of life. What I love most about my work is being able to walk with the patient throughout the trajectory of their disease to not only manage their symptoms but to change their trajectory from heart failure to heart success. Ms. Fajardo is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, and Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Duke is where I learned surgery, was taught how to interact with patients, and began my professional training. I am returning to Duke after working at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and later Emory (Atlanta) as a transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon. I enjoy working with adults and children who need surgery of the liver and biliary tract, liver vascular surgery, or kidney transplantation. I am actively engaged in research to reduce the risk of rejection of organ transplants. My wife and I have three sons, and we enjoy sports and being outdoors. Dr. Knechtle is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), Cholangitis, Cholestasis, Kidney Transplant, and Liver Transplant.

Many years ago, I came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Since that time, those words have guided my professional life from the field I chose to how I care for my patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia. With every individual and their families, I make sure that they appreciate my understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. As a result, I pride myself on reassuring my patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit they know that I have their best interests at heart. Personally, my wife and I are the proud parents of three boys. Consequently, I like to spend my free time making use of their unlimited energy by running them around at all the great parks in the local area. Dr. Klapper is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Esophageal Perforation, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.