Triangle Business Journal has selected Jeffrey Gaca, MD, associate professor of surgery, as Surgeon of the Year in its 2025 Healthcare Leadership Awards.
Triangle Business Journal defines the criteria for Surgeon of the Year nominees as: "Individuals who have proven themselves as a leader of their organization and the business community at large through innovation, societal contribution, and striving for equity in health care."
Dr. Gaca has developed a robust valvular surgery practice at Duke, with regional and national referrals, in his 17-year career on the Duke Surgery faculty. He has been a core driver of expanding minimally invasive heart surgery at Duke, making the center a leading referral for these procedures, and working with cardiologists to grow Duke's transcatheter valve replacement program.
The recognition comes almost a full year after Dr. Gaca was appointed chief of the Section of Adult Cardiac Surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in April 2024. Dr. Gaca and his fellow winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony in April.
Read more about Triangle Business Journal’s 2025 Healthcare Leadership Awards recipients.