Duke cardiothoracic surgeon Donald Glower, MD, and colleagues help patients look forward to healthier lives.

Talk about your unique specialty.

I am what you would call a super-subspecialist because of what I do with heart valves. My work focuses upon minimally invasive valve surgery, which didn't even exist 20 years ago. It’s a very narrow niche -- not many people do this.

Minimally invasive valve surgery simply minimizes the cuts and allows us to get into the body and disturb a lot less tissue than with other types of procedures, so the recovery is typically much quicker and less painful.

You've been a surgeon for 30 years. You must have learned a lot about the concerns of a patient facing heart surgery.

Yes, and that's why I think it's important to have a lot of interaction with patients before surgery. This can be a very scary situation for most people. Giving people some hope is important, and I enjoy this aspect of my work.

How does Duke stand out in the field of cardiothoracic surgery?

Duke is a world leader in minimally invasive valve surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and endovascular therapy for cardiovascular disease.

The Duke faculty are great to work with and it really is true that here at Duke, you can come up with almost any idea and you'll find someone at Duke who wants to collaborate with you. It's very exciting -- lots of bright people on the leading edge.

And Duke is rapidly adaptable. If you have a good idea, lots of people could get behind you and support you. By golly, if it makes sense, the research happens.

Why would a patient travel a great distance to come to Duke?

Duke is an exciting place with lots of bright people focused on developing new ways to help patients. Whatever problem might arise, there are expert physicians who would love to help solve the problem.

There's a lot of good quality care available elsewhere, but patients who come to us are looking for something unusual -- something not available just anywhere. We have world experts who are able to deal with the most complex needs.

Dr. Glower and colleagues are committed to excellence in the treatment of heart disease, lung disease, aneurysms of the great vessels, and disorders of the esophagus.