John Rhodes, MD

Interim Chief

Back to Dr. Rhodes’s physician profile

Where did you receive your undergraduate and/or medical training?
I received my undergraduate degree in zoology from North Carolina State University. I attended the Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, from 1989 to 1993, for my medical degree.

How long have you been at Duke?
I was recruited in March of 2003 as Medical Director of the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

Where did you work prior to coming to Duke?
I previously worked at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.

Have you received any awards or honors? Do you sit on any boards or journals?
I was in the North Carolina State University Honors Program from 1986 to 1988, and I received the award for Outstanding Senior Resident for Teaching and Leadership at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1996.

I am on the Duke Heart Center Education Committee. I review manuscripts for the American Journal of Cardiology, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention, American Heart Journal, and Circulation.

What are your board certifications and society memberships?
I am a board certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.

I am a member of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions, Southeast Pediatric Cardiology Society, and North Carolina Pediatrics Society.

What led you into the field of pediatric cardiology/pediatric cardiac surgery?
I found at an early age that I genuinely understood and was fascinated by the physiology of the heart. Also, I realized the incredible joy and peace that is brought to my life from the gratification of helping children. These things together made my decision regarding pediatric cardiology obvious.

What are your areas of sub-specialty and how have things changed since you entered the field?
Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Catheterization for neonates, infants, children and adults is my sub-specialty. The field changes every year with new device and procedural technology that allow me to help people avoid the need for a major surgical procedure. Patients today can have simple procedures through the blood vessels in their legs and go home the next morning. These same procedures 20 years ago would have required major surgery through the chest bones and into the heart with five to 10 days in the hospital and restricted activities for four to six weeks.

Are you involved with any clinical trials or research studies? If so, what are you examining?
The clinical trial and research studies I’m working on include:

• Pediatric Heart Disease Clinical Research Network
• “Angiography Core Laboratory Proposal for the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial”
• “Dose-Ranging Pharmacodynamic Assessment of Platelet Aggregation Inhibition with Clopidogrel in Children of Blalock-Taussig Shunt Age Categories (Neonates and Infants/Toddlers) (PDY4422)”
• “Multi-Centered Continued Access Study of the HELEX Septal Occluder”
• “Safety and Efficacy of the Cutting Balloon to treat Resistant Pulmonary Artery Stenosis”
• “Closure of Muscular VSDs with the Amplatzer Muscular VSD Occluder in High Risk Patients”
• “Septal Occluder Arrhythmia Study” (SOAR)
• A Prospective, Multicenter, Cohort Study of Atrial Arrhythmia following Implantation of a Transcatheter Device for Patent Foramen Ovale or Atrial Septal Defect, using a Home Telemetry Monitoring System”
• The “MAJIC” Database. A Multicenter database for interventional catheterization procedures entitled “The Congenital Heart Disease Cardiac Catheterization Data Consortium.”
• An Ongoing Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of the CardioSEAL® Septal Occlusion System with Qwik Load TM in Patients with Ventricular Septal Defect (“Post-Market VSD Follow-Up Registry”).
• Mid-term follow-up outcome for Carpentier-Edward bio-prosthetic valve implanted in the RV outflow tract.
• The Study of the Transcatheter Patch Occlusion of Atrial Septal Defects.
• “Major Complications Associated with the atrial septal occluder systems: A comparison of the medical literature and the manufacturer and user facility device experience (MAUDE) database”
• “Patent ductus arteriosus occlusion with the Nit Occluder”
• “Use of the Amplatzer™ PFO occluder under HDE regulation by the Food and Drug Administration”
• “Closure of multi-fenestrated and large atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer® Septal Occluder”

What is the focus of your current research and how will your research contribute to the field of medicine?
Intervention cardiac catheterization, development of new device technology.

What drew you to Duke and what do you enjoy most about your work?
The opportunity to help people through a difficult time in their lives.

Share a special story to explain more about your experience helping children with congenital heart disease.
Below is an email from the mother of one of my patient’s:

Dear Dr. Rhodes,

My husband and I would like to say "Thank you" for evaluating our daughter, Lindsey. Your recommendation that Lindsey needed to have open heart surgery was right on the mark. We appreciate the referral to Dr. Jaggers and Dr. Lodge. Dr. Lodge did a wonderful job with her surgery and we could not be more pleased with the outcome. Lindsey is running around the house a mile a minute. Apparently, she has already forgotten she had major surgery just a week ago. Also, she seems to wear her "boo-boo" as a badge of honor. Lindsey's demeanor prior to surgery was happy, but with a heaviness behind her eyes. She now lights up every room-----no more hidden discomfort behind her eyes. What a joy it is to see our child so immensely happy! The only issue post operative is her lack of eating or drinking. I will most likely call tomorrow to follow up with someone to make sure she is not having a reaction to the medication. Other than that we could not be more elated! Again, thank you so much! It was very nice to have met you and we wish you well in the future.

Sincerely,
Kyle and Tony

What do you think sets Duke Pediatric Cardiology apart from other practices in the area?
The Duke Heart Center is overall one of the best in the country and the top Heart Center in the region. Anyone with congenital heart disease that comes to Duke will have access to quality care in every area of medicine.

What are your personal hobbies or interests?
Jogging, fishing and playing with my children.