I specialize in thoracic aortic disease and valvular heart disease. My career focus has been taking care of complex and high-risk cardiac surgery patients. I gain tremendous satisfaction from my interactions with my patients and value the long-term relationships I have with many of them. In addition, I enjoy teaching the next generation of surgeons and improving the field through research. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and traveling. Dr. Chen is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Aortic Regurgitation, Heart Valve Repair, and Aortic Valve Replacement.

I'm proud to work at Duke as it has a tremendous hospital and tremendous people to work with. The quality of care here is excellent and really can’t be compared to anywhere else. That’s what keeps me here. We do more complex heart surgeries here than almost anyone else in the country. When you need heart surgery, you want it done by someone who does a lot of it. Our numbers are comparable to the top places in the country. We do complex surgery and we do it well. The thing about heart surgery is that we make people better. That’s what I really like – helping people who couldn’t breathe or couldn’t walk because their heart was failing, and we were able to make them better. Dr. Gaca is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Stenosis, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

My particular area of interest is what we call structural heart disease in adults. That usually involves valve problems, things like muscle bound hearts, tumors of the heart or sometimes arrhythmias. Another area of interest for me is minimally invasive surgery, which involves entering the heart area through the ribs on the side rather than through the breast bone, either manually with a camera or robotically. Surgeons are very hands-on people. We like doing things. But most of all we like helping people, talking with patients and their families, and helping them make up their minds about whether to have a procedure done, what kind of procedure to have, and helping them get through the procedure afterwards. That’s what we really enjoy doing. That’s really satisfying. Dr. Glower is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Mitral Stenosis, Atrial Myxoma, Heart Valve Repair, and Aortic Valve Replacement.

I was drawn to heart surgery for many reasons, but most importantly it is because we really help people live longer and provide a better quality of life. I enjoy getting to know my patients and helping them understand their disease and the options for treatment. At Duke Health, we have an extraordinary team that is committed to bringing the highest quality cardiac surgery to our patients. We provide cutting-edge therapies to treat all aspects of heart disease, ranging from minimally invasive transcatheter valve replacement to traditional bypass surgery to life sustaining extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. I strive to provide the best care for my patients so they can get back to living a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Dr. Williams is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Dissection, Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

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 an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Partial Atrioventricular Canal, Coarctation of the Aorta, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Heart Transplant, and Heart Valve Repair.

G Chad is a General Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Chad has been practicing medicine for over 31 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Dissection, Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

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 Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Cardiogenic Shock, Tricuspid Regurgitation, Aortic Regurgitation, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

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 Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Tricuspid Regurgitation, Constrictive Pericarditis, Heart Tumor, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

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 Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Valve Repair.

I am enthusiastic about heart disease and the variety of surgical options currently available. At Duke Health, I am able to work closely with other heart doctors to treat complicated coronary artery disease and valve disease, particularly in patients with other co-morbidities. I perform minimally-invasive heart surgeries for revascularization (improve blood flow to the heart), valve disease (narrowed or leaky valves), and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm). I also use robotic technology to perform a single-vessel CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting). I live in Durham with my husband and two children. Dr. Anne is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. Her top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Endocarditis, Arterial Embolism, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

I help patients with acquired heart diseases, such as coronary artery blockages and heart valve problems. I use surgical procedures when necessary. Each patient is special in his or her own way, and I will work with the cardiologists to provide the best care possible in each situation. In particular, I am happy to discuss the possibility of providing patients with less-invasive ways of undergoing heart bypass surgery (for example, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft) whenever appropriate. I have been in North Carolina for more than 25 years, and I received all of my medical and surgical training at Duke. Dr. Lin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction, Arterial Embolism, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

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 Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Endocarditis, Heart Transplant, and Patent Foramen Ovale Repair.

I am a pediatric heart surgeon specializing in the repair of congenital heart defects in newborns, infants, and children. I am extremely proud of the exceptional work we do here at Duke Children’s Hosptial. We have an incredibly talented team of providers who are deeply committed to delivering outstanding patient care. It’s a privilege and an honor to get to do what I absolutely love to do. Among the many positive aspects, I especially enjoy the initial meeting with the family of a child who may need heart surgery. For many expectant mothers, these heart defects are first identified on ultrasound during pregnancy. For defects that typically need early surgery, we offer a prenatal surgical consultation. In this conversation, I have the opportunity to carefully describe in plain language the nature of the heart defect, the treatment options and role of surgery, and the expectations for recovery and the long-term outlook. This important moment gives me a chance to meet the mother, establish a relationship, and begin our shared journey through the prospect of heart surgery for her child. Together with the expertise of my colleagues, we continually strive to provide the safest possible heart care for the children of our region and beyond. Dr. Clark is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Tracheal Agenesis, Transposition of the Great Arteries, Tetralogy of Fallot, Truncus Arteriosus, and Heart Valve Repair.

I am a vascular surgeon with a particular focus on conditions affecting arteries in the neck, abdomen, and extremities (arms and legs). Vascular disease can be very complex and can have a big impact on patients' lives. Each patient is different and there are a number of ways to approach any given vascular condition, including medications, endovascular interventions, and open surgeries. I consider it a privilege to work together with patients and their families towards a personalized care plan. I also really enjoy the relationships that vascular surgeons get to develop with patients and their families over time. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy hiking, skiing, baking, and spending time with friends and family. Dr. Hope is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. Her top areas of expertise are Peripheral Artery Disease, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Gangrene, Osteotomy, and Bone Graft.

Todd Kiefer is a Cardiologist and an Interventional Cardiologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Kiefer is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Patent Foramen Ovale, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Kiefer is currently accepting new patients.

I fell in love with cardiology early in my medical training when I saw a patient in the emergency department who came in with a heart attack. The cardiology team swooped down and took him away to a procedure room, and in less than 45 minutes the heart attack had been stopped, and the patient was asking if he could go home. I'm so happy to be on that team now. I have extensive experience in minimally invasive procedures to treat people with a myriad of cardiac conditions. Most commonly, you can find me in the cardiac catheterization laboratory opening blockages in the arteries that feed the heart to treat angina or stop heart attacks. In the hospital, I also see patients with other acute cardiac conditions. In the office, I see patients with the entire range of heart problems. I'm excited to be joining Duke because I'll also be able to get back to doing research aimed at improving our understanding and management of patients with heart disease at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. In addition, I love to teach and learn, and there is no better place than Duke to stoke the intellectual curiosity that brought me to medicine in the first place. Dr. Pride is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Necrosis, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

John Ikonomidis is a Thoracic Surgeon and a General Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Ikonomidis is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Ikonomidis is currently accepting new patients.

I am an interventional cardiologist and have been at Duke for about 25 years. The less-invasive treatment strategies and techniques that we’ve learned have been a source of great excitement over the past 20 years. We started back then with patients who had congenital heart disease and traditionally needed open surgery, and we’re now able to help many patients with congenital defects without open surgery. We’ve moved into an era where valvular heart disease has excellent treatments from an interventional point of view. I like all cardiac interventions, but my particular interest is in what people call structural interventions, which is helping people with structural or congenital heart disease. When you see me or someone else in interventional cardiology at Duke, you’re seeing multiple providers, even though they may be in the background. We work as a team and provide only the best for patients. Dr. Kevin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Patent Foramen Ovale, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Aortic Valve Replacement.

I specialize in treating heart valve disease (affecting the mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). My clinical focus emphasizes minimally invasive approaches, particularly transcatheter procedures for valve disorders. Dr. Wang is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Sengers Syndrome, Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis, Heart Valve Repair, and Aortic Valve Replacement.

Although I enjoy caring for all cardiac patients, my special interests include patients born with heart defects and now adults, pregnancy with heart disease, and valvular heart disease. In addition, I am interested in keeping people healthy and avoiding heart disease as much as possible. Dr. Upadhya is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Heart Valve Repair. Her top areas of expertise are Hypertensive Heart Disease, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Heart Failure, Pacemaker Implantation, and Atherectomy.