2 Duke Health cardiologists take leadership roles with American Heart Association

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Two cardiologists with Duke Health have taken national leadership roles with the American Heart Association, both health groups said Wednesday.

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According to officials, Dr. Manesh Patel, the chief of cardiology, chief of clinical pharmacology, and vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health, is serving as volunteer president of the American Heart Association. He will represent the organization’s volunteer leadership efforts advancing research, science, and patient care priorities.

Dr. Svati Shah, the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases, associate dean for translational research and director of the Duke Center for Precision Health and the Precision Genomics Collaboratory in the Duke University School of Medicine, was named volunteer president-elect.

Shah will support the volunteer leadership and strengthen the focus on innovation, scientific discovery, and improving health outcomes, according to officials.

Officials said Patel is a longtime volunteer for the American Heart Association on the national board of directors and previously served as chair of the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program. Patel was named the American Heart Association Physician of the Year in 2023.

According to officials, Shah is an active American Heart Association volunteer leader and member of the national board of directors who has served as chair of the association’s Research Committee and the Genomic and Precision Medicine Council.

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In a statement, Patel said the goal of the next era of heart care is to connect discoveries to patients more quickly before they develop serious problems.

“The ability to study things, to understand them better, and then apply them to people’s health has been really tremendous,” Patel said in a news release. “As I go forward into this role and think about what is the biggest opportunity we have, I think it’s our opportunity to not only continue to discover things, but make sure those things that we discover are proven and those proven things get to everyone everywhere.”

According to Patel, people not getting themselves checked is one of the biggest barriers to better heart health, which is why he is also focused on improving access and convenience.

“What we’re hoping to do in Duke Heart and Duke Cardiology is take away one of the biggest barriers there are to better understanding your own health and that’s the barrier of access or just getting over that little nudge to get checked out,” Patel said.

“Sometimes you’re like, I’m busy. I got to go do this. I got to pick up the kids. I got to go run this errand. I got this job thing going on,” he continued in the release. “So, we’re expanding hours. We’re trying to make sure we’ll see you within 48 hours. We’re here to meet you where you are. We’re thinking about digital first strategies.”

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