Stacey Titus • November 28, 2023
Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center –  Durham, NC

Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center –  Durham, NC

The Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center has been an HCMA Center of Excellence since 2018 and is a part of the Duke Heart Center in Durham, North Carolina. “We have created a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and genetic counselor who are focused on providing personalized, high quality, and evidence-based case for patients with HCM and improving the knowledge of this condition and its treatments. We were very pleased to describe the work of our experienced HCM team members at the recent HCMA Big Hearted Warriors Tour on November 16, 2023.”  Duke’s recent Bighearted Warrior Webinar:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW4U1hYvZAE

Dr. Andrew Wang the director of the Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and because of the growing population in this area and HCM patients seeking expertise for their care, we have an additional cardiologist (Dr. Deepa Upadhyaya, with expertise in cardiac imaging) available to see patients in a timely manner.  The practice can accommodate same-day testing in the same convenient location for HCM care, including genetic counseling and testing, and coordinate other tests and consultations.  The cardiac MRI team is highly experienced in the evaluation of HCM and was one of the first groups to describe the ability of MRI to identify and quantify scar in the heart muscle of many HCM patients.  Duke’s heart surgeon, Dr. Carmelo Milano, is highly experienced in surgical myectomy and mitral valve repair in HCM, and a leader in heart transplantation as well.  Our Duke Heart Center is consistently among the centers in the US with the highest annual heart transplant numbers, with shortlisting times for patients requiring urgent treatment.

The Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center includes:

-Andrew Wang, MD     HCM Program Director

-Carmelo Milano, MD     Surgeon (Myectomy and Transplant)

-James Daubert, MD     Adult Electrophysiology

-Adam DeVore, MD       Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation

-Todd Kiefer            Interventional Cardiology

-Deepa Upadhyaya, MD   HCM Cardiologist and Echocardiography

– Kaitlyn Amos, MS, CGC    Genetic Counselor

– Han Kim, MD           Cardiac MRI

-Andrew Landstrom, MD  Pediatric Cardiology

-Michael Carboni, MD    Pediatric Electrophysiology

Please visit for more information about Duke Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center in Durham, NC

please visit:  https://4hcm.org/duke/


For more information on all HCMA Recognized Centers of Excellence, please visit:  https://4hcm.org/center-of-excellence/.

HCMA Blog

Medical Management May

April 30, 2025
Medical Management means using medicines and other non-invasive therapies to relieve symptoms. It's exciting that new treatments for HCM are being studied and that the FDA approved Camzyos in 2022! HCM can cause various symptoms depending on how stiff the heart is, how much scarring (fibrosis) there is, and whether there is obstruction. Some people have no noticeable symptoms. Common symptoms are chest pain/pressure, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fatigue, palpitations, and brain fog. Syncope (fainting) is dramatic but not as common as the other symptoms. Medications are the first-line treatment for symptoms of HCM. If patients can't take one class of medication, they can try a medication from a different class. Here are some medications used to treat HCM and what they're for: Beta Blockers - make your heart beat slower and relax better. They allow the heart to fill more completely between beats. They can lower blood pressure and relieve symptoms. Calcium Channel Blockers - used to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. May reduce symptoms from obstruction in HCM. Myosin Inhibitors - cause the heart to beat with less force. They may reduce obstruction and septal thickness in some patients. Camzyos (mavacamten) is the first of this class of medication. For more information, click HERE . Antiarrhythmics - help to restore normal rhythm in the heart. Blood Thinners - anticoagulants and anti-platelets make it harder for blood to clot. They are prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke. This risk is higher in patients with afib, aflutter, and artificial heart valves. Diuretics , or "water pills," help the kidneys get rid of extra water and salt, reducing swelling in the body. Sodium Channel Blockers - may reduce gradient in obstructive HCM and can treat chest pain. Some also act as antiarrhythmics. Antibiotics - treat or prevent bacterial infections. In HCM, they may be given before dental work to prevent infective endocarditis. To learn more and see the side effects of these medications, click HERE .
On a green background, a line drawing of a head that has complicated arrows pointing outwards

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