Joseph Turek
Advanced in Ventricular Septal Defects

Dr. Joseph Turek

General Surgery
Duke University Hospital
2301 Erwin Rd, 
Durham, NC 
Offers Telehealth

Advanced in Ventricular Septal Defects
Duke University Hospital
2301 Erwin Rd, 
Durham, NC 
OverviewInsuranceLocationsClinical ResearchSimilar Doctors

Overview

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 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.

His clinical research consists of co-authoring 203 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 5 articles in the study of Ventricular Septal Defects.

Specialties
General Surgery
Licenses
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) in NC
Board Certifications
American Board Of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic And Cardiac Surgery
American Board Of Thoracic Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery
American Board Of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowships
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Congenital Heart Surgery, Visiting Fellow, Texas Children's Hospital, Congenital Heart Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
Languages Spoken
English
Gender
Male

Insurance

Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.

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Accepted insurance plans:

Aetna
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • POS
  • PPO
Ambetter
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • POS
  • PPO
Cigna
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • PPO
Friday Health

Accepted plan types not found. Please verify directly with the provider.

Humana
  • HMO
  • INDEMNITY
  • POS
  • PPO
Medicare
  • INSURANCE PLAN
  • MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
  • MEDICARE MAPD
  • MEDICARE PDP
  • MEDICARE SNP
  • MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
  • OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Piedmont
  • HMO
  • POS
UnitedHealthcare
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • POS
  • PPO
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Locations

Duke University Hospital
2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Call: 919-681-2343

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.


203 Total Publications

First US pediatric heart transplant using XVIVO Heart Assist Transport.
First US pediatric heart transplant using XVIVO Heart Assist Transport.
Journal: JHLT open
Published: December 01, 2025
View All 203 Publications
Similar Doctors
Experienced in Ventricular Septal Defects
Dr. Ross M. Ungerleider
General Surgery
Experienced in Ventricular Septal Defects
Dr. Ross M. Ungerleider
General Surgery

University Of North Carolina Hospitals

101 Manning Dr, 
Chapel Hill, NC 
 (9.7 miles away)
984-974-4601
Languages Spoken:
English
See accepted insurances
Offers Telehealth

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.

Andrew M. Vekstein
Experienced in Ventricular Septal Defects
Dr. Andrew M. Vekstein
General Surgery | Cardiology
Experienced in Ventricular Septal Defects
Dr. Andrew M. Vekstein
General Surgery | Cardiology

Duke Cardiothoracic Surgery - Clinic 2F/2G

40 Duke Medicine Cir, 
Durham, NC 
 (0.3 miles away)
919-681-1300
Languages Spoken:
English
See accepted insurances

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.

VIEW MORE VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS DOCTORS

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.

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Find Dr. Turek's expertise for a condition
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    • Distinguished
    • Coarctation of the Aorta
      Dr. Turek is
      Distinguished
      . Learn about Coarctation of the Aorta.
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    • Heart Transplant
      Dr. Turek is
      Distinguished
      . Learn about Heart Transplant.
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    • Partial Atrioventricular Canal
      Dr. Turek is
      Distinguished
      . Learn about Partial Atrioventricular Canal.
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    • Advanced
    • Aberrant Subclavian Artery
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
      . Learn about Aberrant Subclavian Artery.
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    • Aortic Regurgitation
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
      . Learn about Aortic Regurgitation.
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    • Aortopulmonary Window
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
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    • Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
      . Learn about Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation.
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    • Heart Tumor
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
      . Learn about Heart Tumor.
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    • Heart Valve Repair
      Dr. Turek is
      Advanced
      . Learn about Heart Valve Repair.
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    View All 11 Advanced Conditions
    • Experienced
    • Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS)
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS).
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    • Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery.
      See more Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery experts
    • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Atrial Septal Defect (ASD).
      See more Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) experts
    • Atrioventricular Septal Defect
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Atrioventricular Septal Defect.
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    • Bicuspid Aortic Valve
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Bicuspid Aortic Valve.
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    • Cardiac Arrest
      Dr. Turek is
      Experienced
      . Learn about Cardiac Arrest.
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    View All 30 Experienced Conditions
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