On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Duke, welcome to our website. Our specialty treats diseases within the chest and includes the treatment of heart disease, lung disease, aneurysms of the great vessels, and disorders of the esophagus. We have a large team of devoted faculty, nursing, and ancillary staff, who are committed to excellence in three areas:

 

1. Patient Care: We provide clinical excellence in our practice, from coronary bypass grafting or heart valve repair, to correction of heart abnormalities in newborns and have been rated #3 in the U.S. and #1 in the South by U.S. News & World Report. We offer a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of lung and esophageal cancer and the most advanced options for treatment through our leadership role in the development of new therapies. From minimally invasive heart surgery to heart transplant or the placement of new heart assist devices, every possible option that is available nationwide is available at Duke and with Duke quality. Every surgical option is carefully evaluated and continuously scrutinized and our results for patients are second to none.

 

2. Education: We train the nation's future Thoracic Surgeons by immersing them in a dynamic clinical, teaching, and research enterprise. Our training program is widely recognized as the best academic training program in the U.S., and it attracts the highest quality trainees in the land. While being trained, residents provide a constant stimulus for self-evaluation and improvement and also positively affect our ability to deliver extraordinary care.

 

3. Research: All members of our Division participate or lead national and international efforts to develop new treatments for heart disease, lung disease, cancer of the lung and esophagus, transplantation of the heart and lungs, and the development of devices to replace heart function. These activities are the driving force that allows Duke to offer patients the most advanced forms of therapy available in the U.S.

 

We are proud of who we are and what we do for our patients. We hope that you will find the information you need in order to make the best possible decisions for you or your loved ones.

 

Sincerely,

 

Peter K. Smith, M.D.
Professor and Chief, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center