WILMINGTON, N.C. – Two of Novant Health's Wilmington-based heart surgeons have been named to Newsweek's list of America’s Leading Doctors 2025 for cardiothoracic surgery.
Of the 185 surgeons that made the list, Dr. Peter Kane snagged the top spot for North Carolina at number 12. He and Dr. Hank Marks were among only nine physicians in North Carolina to be named to the list. As part of the recognition, both Dr. Kane and Dr. Marks were lauded for high-performance treatment for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
"We're glad to see our local surgeons recognized for the expert care our community has trusted for many years," said Dr. Bill Smith, an electrophysiologist and clinical physician executive of the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute in the Coastal Region. "We also celebrate the dedicated clinical teams and cardiac nurses at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, from surgical services to the cardiovascular intensive care unit to our heart floor. These teams work alongside our surgeons to ensure successful treatment and healing to support the journey to recovery."
This prestigious recognition was presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., a statistics portal and industry ranking provider. Together, the organizations ranked and awarded doctors in a variety of medical specialties based on four data sources:
- Physician performance data: Doctors' performance benchmark data sourced from Arcadia was used to evaluate a physician’s performed procedures against the state average based on the volume of episodes performed and five measures per procedure.
- Recommendations from peers: Thousands of medical experts (physicians, managers/administrators, and other medical professionals with knowledge in the respective medical field) in 20 U.S. states were invited to an online survey.
- Quality score: For in-state recommendations, participants were asked to assess the quality of care (e.g., treatments, follow-up care, use of most recent equipment) and professional expertise of the specific specialty.
- Certifications: Surgeons received 5% toward their total score if they have American medical and surgical certifications relevant to each specific medical field.
“The nation has more than 5,000 practicing heart surgeons, so having not one but two of our esteemed local heart surgeons named to this elite list is a real honor for the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute, and also for our hospital and medical community,” said Laurie Whalin, president, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and acute care operations for the Novant Health Coastal Region.
Both of the physicians being honored are affiliated with the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute - Wilmington (Cardiothoracic Surgery).
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of nearly 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, more than 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our more than 41,000 team members along with more than 8,600 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2024, Novant Health provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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