
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 Heart Transplant. 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 66 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 2 articles in the study of Heart Transplant.
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 Heart Transplant Clinic - Clinic 2F/2G
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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Tricuspid Regurgitation, Constrictive Pericarditis, Heart Tumor, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.
Duke Heart Transplant Clinic - Clinic 2F/2G
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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Heart Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Cardiogenic Shock, Tricuspid Regurgitation, Aortic Regurgitation, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.
Duke Cardiothoracic Surgery - Clinic 2F/2G
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.
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.



