The Duke Cardiology and Heart Surgery program currently ranks among the best programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. We achieved the highest STS, three-star rating for general thoracic, adult cardiac, and pediatric cardiac surgery procedures.
Division Highlights
- With more than 1,000 open-heart procedures annually, Duke's volumes far exceed those suggested by national guidelines — and survival rates consistently exceed the Society of Thoracic Surgeons benchmarks.
- The Duke lung and heart-lung transplant program was established in 1992 and is the Southeast's largest lung transplant program.
- Duke is the largest heart transplant program in the world and performed over 140 heart transplants in calendar year 2022.
- Duke's Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program is one of the largest in the Southeast.
- Duke's Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair Program is one of the largest in the Southeast.
![Doctor with stethoscope](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_small/public/2022-03/CT%20Patient-Care-335.jpeg?itok=QN7R3_Yw)
Excellence in Clinical Care
Our team treats diseases within the chest, including 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.
![CT surgeon](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_small/public/2022-03/CT%20surgeon-359.jpeg?itok=Fw8w-THF)
Research
Our research is the driving force that allows Duke to offer patients the most advanced forms of therapy available in the U.S.
![Betty Tong](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_small/public/2022-03/Betty-Tong-600.jpeg?itok=mTMLQU_1)
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programs
The training programs in cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University Medical Center are designed to train and develop academic cardiothoracic surgeons. We offer 3 training pathways: the traditional training program (3 years following general or vascular surgery residency training), the integrated 6-year (I-6) training program, and the joint training program (JTP) in conjunction with the Duke general surgery residency program.