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DURHAM, N.C. -- Peter Berger, M.D., a cardiologist for 13 years at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., has been named director of the interventional catheterization program at Duke University Medical Center. The announcement was made by Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., chairman of the Department of Medicine at Duke.

Berger, 47, begins his duties this month. In addition to his clinical duties in the catheterization laboratory, Berger will conduct clinical research as a member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

At Mayo, Berger served as professor of medicine at the Mayo Medical School and director of clinical research for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Interventional Databank Group.

"Dr. Berger is one of the premiere interventional cardiologists in the world who has conducted groundbreaking research into the role of invasive procedures in improving outcomes, and in the development of new devices to open blocked coronary arteries in patients with cardiovascular disease," Goldschmidt said. "Duke is already particularly world-renowned for its research into the use of medications to make interventional cardiology safer and more effective for patients, and Dr. Berger brings an added dimension and expertise to our program."

Berger is currently chairman of the catheterization and interventional cardiology committee of the American Heart Association, and serves on similar committees for the American College of Cardiology and Society of Coronary Angiography and Intervention.

"I am a big proponent of the role of the cath lab in improving patient outcomes," Berger said. "There has never been more data supporting the role of both diagnostic angiography and coronary interventions in improving the general well-being and life expectancies in patients with cardiovascular disease.

"I plan to bring my passion for interventional catheterization to complement the incredibly talented people already in the Duke cath labs," Berger continued. "In my opinion, Duke is conducting some the best cardiology research in the world, and my particular areas of interest should complement what Duke has already been doing very well."

Berger earned his medical degree in 1983 from the New York University School of Medicine, and then completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital. He then completed a two-tear cardiology fellowship and a two-year interventional fellowship from Boston University Medical School before joining the Mayo faculty.