About the Division
The Duke Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery provides clinical excellence in surgical treatment of diseases of the chest. We are ranked among the top programs in the United States in heart and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report.
Exceptional Treatments
Our advanced treatments include:
- Coronary bypass grafting
- Heart valve repair
- TAVR, TEVAR, LVAD, and ECMO
- Correction of heart abnormalities in newborns
- A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of lung and esophageal cancer
Research Driving Innovative Care
All members of our division participate in 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.
Dynamic Training for Future Thoracic Surgeons
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.
Our division chief, Peter K. Smith, MD, is a member of the leadership team of the Duke Heart Center.
In addition to providing our outstanding care at Duke University Medical Center, the Duke Heart Center provides cardiovascular and thoracic surgery services at the following affiliate hospitals:
- Duke Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of Lumberton, NC
- Duke Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of Concord, NC
- Duke Thoracic Surgery of Raleigh, NC
- Duke Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Durham Regional Hospital
- Lexington Medical Center, West Columbia, SC