Many years ago, I came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Since that time, those words have guided my professional life from the field I chose to how I care for my patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia. With every individual and their families, I make sure that they appreciate my understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. As a result, I pride myself on reassuring my patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit they know that I have their best interests at heart. Personally, my wife and I are the proud parents of three boys. Consequently, I like to spend my free time making use of their unlimited energy by running them around at all the great parks in the local area. Dr. Klapper is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Esophageal Perforation, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

I am a general thoracic surgeon specializing in the treatment of thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, as well as lung transplantation for patients with end-stage lung diseases. For cancer surgery, I offer minimally invasive approaches—including robotic-assisted and thoracoscopic surgery—that promote faster recovery and reduce postoperative pain. In cases of advanced cancer, I take a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care. Lung transplantation has been the central focus of my career. I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable recovery of patients once debilitated by severe dyspnea. I am honored to be part of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, which has performed more than 2,600 lung transplants, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Before joining Duke, I practiced in Japan, where I personally performed more than 400 lung transplants, including 180 living-donor lung transplants—the largest such experience in the world. Dr. Date is highly rated in 7 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mediastinitis, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

I have the privilege of treating patients with both benign and malignant conditions of the chest. While in college at Georgia Tech, I envisioned a career as a biomedical engineer. What I quickly learned, however, was that I was more interested in patients and their medical problems than developing the technology to care for them. During my medical education and training, I learned not only how to become a surgeon, but also learned the value of teamwork and family in caring for patients. As a thoracic surgeon, one of the best and most important aspects of my job is being able to establish a relationship with my patients and their families, working together to help them through their illness. Dr. Tong is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Vagotomy, and Mastectomy.

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 highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

I graduated from Harvard University (BA) and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University (MD). I received training in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. After completing a Fellowship in Thoracic Surgical Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, I joined the faculty at Duke University Medical Center. I am currently Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery, Chief of the Section of General Thoracic Surgery, Director of the Training Program in Thoracic Surgery, and Chief Medical Officer of the Duke Cancer Institute. I specialize in the surgical management of lung cancer and esophageal cancer, with a focus on minimally invasive thoracic surgery. As Vice Chair of Surgery, I am responsible for the development of technology and innovation in the Department. As Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program of the Duke Cancer Institute, I supervise the clinical and research programs in lung cancer and esophageal cancer. I am also involved in improving safety and quality in cancer care, as a member of the Duke Safety and Quality Committee. Dr. Damico is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Stomach Cancer, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Benjamin Haithcock is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Haithcock is highly rated in 14 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Lung Transplant, and Gastrostomy.

Jason Long is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Long is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Esophageal Perforation, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.

George Hughes is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Hughes is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Dissection, Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Aortic Valve Replacement.

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 highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Necrosis, Heart Valve Repair, and Aortic Valve Replacement.

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 highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

Michael Mill is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His top area of expertise is Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return.

Aurelie Merlo is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her top areas of expertise are Aberrant Subclavian Artery, Gangrene, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Heart Transplant, and Lung Transplant.

Thomas Egan is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Fibrosis and Heart Transplant.

I am a heart surgeon who specializes in coronary artery bypass, grafting and valve replacement. Including medical school, I have been at Duke for over 40 years. Since 1994, I’ve been Duke’s Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. My father was a doctor, so medicine runs in my family. As a heart surgeon, I see patients who are looking for someone they can trust to share in the risk of having a surgery that will lengthen their life. There’s nothing more rewarding than being worthy of that trust and succeeding in helping the patient achieve that goal at the end of the adventure. I enjoy being chief because our division offers a great mix of youthful energy and vast experience. We also offer every potential heart, lung or esophageal surgery option available, at a nationally recognized level of quality. In my spare time, I enjoy collecting first edition mysteries and reading. His top area of expertise is Heart Bypass Surgery.

As a physician assistant in thoracic surgery I meet a large number of patients who have been diagnosed with a malignancy of the chest, most frequently lung cancer or esophageal cancer. It is very important for me to build a rapport with patients in those first moments because they are frequently coming to us in one of the most challenging moments in their lives. I have a responsibility to each patient to communicate in a way that allows them to understand the intricacies of how we evaluate and treat their illness. In meeting a patient wherever they are in their understanding, my role includes helping to communicate what can sound like abstract information in a way that makes sense. I can then build a relationship with them so that they can know I am there to walk along with them on their team. I take great inspiration from how patients adapt to complex situations to become empowered to make decisions regarding their care. His top areas of expertise are ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Lung Nodules.

Herbert Lyerly is a Thoracic Surgeon and a General Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Lyerly is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, and Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Dr. Lyerly is currently accepting new patients.

Aaron Williams is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Williams is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Heart Transplant and Lung Transplant.

Christopher White is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. White is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Transposition of the Great Arteries, Cardiogenic Shock, Heart Transplant, and Lung Transplant.

Richard Feins is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Olivia Scott is a Physician Assistant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Zachary Fitch is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. His top areas of expertise are Congenital Athymia, Immune Defect due to Absence of Thymus, DiGeorge Syndrome, Kidney Transplant, and Islet Cell Transplantation.

Saleh Alnasser is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Alnasser is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Interrupted Aortic Arch, Coarctation of the Aorta, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, and Infective Endocarditis.

Lauren Huckaby is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Huckaby is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Aortic Dissection, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

Gustavo Parrilla is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina.

Jacqueline Narron is a Thoracic Surgeon and a Nurse Practitioner in Durham, North Carolina. Ms. Narron is currently accepting new patients.