Duke Health

Terry Woodyard, 57, logs more than 100 miles on his road bike each week. When he started feeling short of breath during rides in the spring of 2025, Woodyard worried something might be wrong. His primary care p... Show More rovider ran tests but couldn’t pinpoint the cause, so Woodyard went to Duke Health for a second opinion. Within days of his first appointment, Woodyard was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolus -- a blood clot in the lungs that can prove deadly -- and started treatment. Thanks to quick access and the expertise of Duke providers, Woodyard avoided a potentially fatal complication and is back on his bike. Show Less

People with a severe form of peripheral artery disease called “desert foot” who are headed for amputation may have another option at Duke. Deep vein arterialization surgery, a complex procedure only offered at ... Show More a handful of centers in North Carolina, bypasses irreversibly blocked arteries by hijacking nearby veins to deliver oxygenated blood to the lower leg. “No one ever wants to lose a limb, but we ultimately want our patients to have the best quality of life possible,” said Duke vascular surgeon Kevin W. Southerland, MD. “Deep vein arterialization may not be able to deliver that for everyone. For some, this procedure has the potential to affect what their future looks like.” Show Less

In 2024, Dustin Smith received a life-saving kidney from his sister, but more than one life was changed for the better. Before she donated, Melissa Leatherwood overhauled her lifestyle and lost 60 pounds. Almos... Show More t a year after his kidney transplant at Duke Health, Dustin is back to hiking and cycling, and Melissa is in the best health of her life. “It feels good knowing I helped her at the same time she helped me,” Dustin said. Show Less