
Overview
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 the treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Valve Repair.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 67 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 1 article in the study of Ventricular Septal Defects.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
40 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
Additional Areas of Focus
Dr. Vekstein has provided the following conditions as areas of focus. Please note that we may not have enough data to validate their experience in some of these conditions.
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
Duke University Hospital
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 the treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects. His top areas of expertise are Partial Atrioventricular Canal, Coarctation of the Aorta, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Heart Transplant, and Heart Valve Repair.
University Of North Carolina Hospitals
Ross Ungerleider is a General Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Ungerleider is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects. His top areas of expertise are Ventricular Septal Defects, Chylous Ascites, Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), and Transposition of the Great Arteries.
Duke Cardiology Arringdon-Ste 410
John Alexander is a Cardiologist in Morrisville,, North Carolina. Dr. Alexander is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Pulmonary Edema, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, and Atherectomy.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Advanced
- Thoracic Aortic AneurysmDr. Vekstein isAdvanced. Learn about Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.
- Experienced
- Aortic DissectionDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Aortic Dissection.
- Aortic RegurgitationDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Aortic Regurgitation.
- Aortic Valve ReplacementDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Aortic Valve Replacement.
- Aortic Valve StenosisDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Aortic Valve Stenosis.
- Cardiogenic ShockDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Cardiogenic Shock.
- Congenital Coronary Artery MalformationDr. Vekstein isExperienced. Learn about Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation.

