David F. Kong, MD

One of the things that we bring to bear in the Duke University Health System is our concept of teamwork. Coach K always says it’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters, not so much the name on the back. Within Duke Cardiology, that’s also our ethos. We don’t hesitate to involve other members of the faculty for their ideas, inspirations and opinions to come to the best treatment plan for the individual patient. On the other hand, there are times when we have to act immediately, taking care of people in emergencies. We can always count on the fact that our entire team is available with an exceptional level of expertise, no matter who happens to be on duty when you need us most. In the hospital, I treat patients with severe heart attacks and complex heart problems with special equipment, including tiny balloons, metal stents, motorized devices, and lasers. After hours, I’m a master scuba diver and diver medic, and have lectured on cardiovascular dive medicine around the world.