Joseph Turek

Can someone with alpha-gal syndrome safely receive a replacement heart valve from a pig or a cow? Does that valve carry a risk for an immediate reaction or perhaps faster degradation over time? On this episode of "Questions People Ask," we address those questions and more with my guests.

Dr. Joe Turek is the Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Executive Co-director of the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Turek is known globally for pioneering landmark procedures, including the world's first pediatric partial heart transplant and a combined heart transplant with processed thymus tissue to reduce organ rejection.

In addition, Dr. Turek has been named to TIME100 Health's list of the world's most influential leaders in health.

Scott Commins.

Today, we're honored to have two guests from our institution just down the road at Duke University.

And, uh, on the podcast today are Dr. Joe Turek and Dr. John Kucera.

Welcome, Joe and John.