Dr. Joseph Turek

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 the treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects. 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 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.