The Duke Stroke Center was originally named the Duke Center for Cerebrovascular Disease. It was founded by Dr. Albert Heyman in 1966 as a collaborative effort of the NIH and the Veterans Administration (VA).

Initially housed in a laboratory building donated by the VA, the Duke Stroke Center is now based in the Duke University Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology), and has expanded to develop affiliated programs and faculty from an extensive list of clinical departments, research laboratories, and University centers, including all of the following:

• Duke Center for Clinical Health Policy Research
• Duke Clinical Research Institute
• Durham VA Institute for Clinical and Epidemiologic Research
• Duke Cerebrovascular Center
• Duke Institute for Genome Science & Policy (IGSP)
• Duke Multidisciplinary Neuroprotection Laboratories

The Duke Stroke Center -- which has grown to include neurologists, emergency physicians, clinicians, and scientists throughout Duke Medicine -- has earned an international reputation as a leader in the study and care of strokes.

The Joint Commission (TJC) has recognized the center with a Primary Stroke Center certificate of distinction.

More information about the history of the Stroke Center is available on the Duke Division of Neurology Web site.

Clinical Facilities

Duke University Hospital has world-renowned facilities and faculty to support clinical care and clinical- and laboratory-based research in cerebrovascular disease.

Independent clinical programs involved in the care of patients with cerebrovascular disease include faculty from:

• Neurology
• Anesthesiology
• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Ultrasonography
• Hematology
• Interventional Radiology
• Neuroradiology
• Neurosurgery
• Vascular Surgery

The latest diagnostic procedures are available, including:

• Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT) angiography
• Transcranial doppler ultrasonography