DIVISIONHIGHLIGHTS
AMBULATORY ANESTHESIOLOGY
Pioneering Outpatient Excellence The Ambulatory Anesthesiology Division continues to demonstrate remarkable growth and innovation across all aspects of operations. The ambulatory total joint program at Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center Arringdon remains at the forefront, spearheading advancements in outpatient surgical care with more than 2,500 arthroplasties performed since its inception. All ambulatory surgery centers at Duke are experiencing unprecedented operating room volumes and utilization rates. This success reflects our commitment to supporting higher acuity cases transitioning to ambulatory platforms, resulting in consistent year-over-year growth that positions the Duke University Health System as leaders in this evolving health care landscape. This expansion continues with critical preparation underway for the Duke ambulatory surgery center in Cary. This exciting addition, scheduled to open its doors to patients in early 2027, will feature six operating rooms and significantly enhance capacity to serve the growing market needs.
Dr. Emily Barney
Dr. Michael Kent
Dr. Stephen Klein
Growth extends beyond facilities to the division’s exceptional team. They recently welcomed Duke Anesthesiology alumna Dr. Emily Barney as a new faculty member. Furthermore, the division is pleased to announce a transition in leadership roles that occurred in July. Dr. Michael Kent was appointed the ambulatory division chief, bringing 14 years of experience to this role. He succeeds Dr. Stephen Klein, who served in this capacity for nearly 20 years and has been appointed associate vice chair for ambulatory anesthesiology. In this position, he will collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and implement a strategic plan that further expands the department’s ambulatory surgery footprint.
CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY
Driving Progress: Innovation, Outcomes and Leadership in the Field Continuing the division’s tradition of groundbreaking innovations in cardiothoracic perioperative care, Dr. Luiz Maracaja has notably developed the BlueBridge Open Chest Management System (see figure below), a revolutionary medical device for managing delayed sternal closure following cardiothoracic surgery. Maracaja has successfully designed, prototyped, patented, and obtained regulatory approval for this device, which offers customizable options for all patient populations, from neonates to adults. The initial clinical application occurred earlier this spring. The division has seen significant growth across all of Duke’s cardiovascular surgical and procedural programs, including advanced heart failure therapies (with a 33% increase in temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support devices), thoracic organ transplantation, structural heart disease, and arrhythmia services. Reflecting its team-based approach to preventing failure to rescue, the CTICU has achieved year-onyear reductions in ICU mortality, maintaining the lowest rates across Duke University Health System ICUs despite the highest case mix index and number of encounters. Additionally, Duke’s adult cardiothoracic programs have received 3-star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Key leadership highlights include: Dr. Alina Nicoara received the American Society of Echocardiography’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative 10
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Echocardiography Award in recognition of her national and international scholarly efforts as well as leadership and refinement Dr. Brandi Bottiger of the flagship Duke Perioperative Echocardiography Service; Dr. Brandi Bottiger has been appointed director of the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program; Dr. Michael Cutrone has been appointed director of the Duke Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship; Dr. Sachin Mehta serves as the faculty Epic Dr. Michael Cutrone Champion; Dr. Bryan Chow has been appointed anesthesiology quality director within the Duke Transplant Center. On the national stage, Dr. Rebecca Klinger serves as acting chair of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists’ Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium. Dr. Luiz Maracaja Matching leadership responsibilities with leadership training, three divisional faculty members have been accepted into highly competitive Duke leadership training programs: Nicoara to Duke Clinical Leadership Program, Maracaja to Leadership Development for Researchers, and Dr. Nazish Hashmi to Academic Leadership, Innovation, and Collaborative Engagement.