Norton Cancer Institute - West Louisville

Duane W. Densler, M.D. earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed residencies in general surgery and neurosurgery at the University Of Louisville School Of Medicine. Dr. Densler is board certified in neurological surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Prior to joining Norton Healthcare Dr. Densler served as chief neurosurgical division and director of neurosurgical services at Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, Kentucky. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates.

Tara U. Mudd, APRN is a nurse practitioner with Norton Heart Specialists, specializing in management of patients who have atrial fibrillation. She works in the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center AFib Clinic and also serves as coordinator for the Hybrid Surgical Ablation program. Originally born in Texas while her father served in the US Air Force, Tara grew up in north Georgia before moving to Louisville in 1989. She completed her undergraduate training at University of Louisville and her graduate training at Vanderbilt University, where she now serves in a faculty role. Prior to beginning her undergraduate studies in Nursing at University of Louisville, Tara was a music major at Belmont University. One evening, her roommate injured her ankle and I had to take her to the emergency room at Vanderbilt. While sitting in the ER with her, Tara discovered her calling into healthcare and hasn’t looked back since! Management of atrial fibrillation can be a somewhat challenging task. Tara enjoys working with patients to outline a collaborative approach that utilizes a combination of medical therapy and lifestyle modification. Tara truly feels that we work best as a team. There are certain elements to the treatment plan that she can focus on with medications or procedures, but also elements that the patient must focus on with lifestyle modifications. Tara has found that patients that embrace this approach have the best outcomes in truly having a good quality of life. In her spare time, Tara spends time with her daughter, enjoys live music, going to brunch with friends and traveling to new places.

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute – West Louisville is the leading provider of advanced cardiovascular care offering comprehensive services including diagnostics, interventional procedures, and surgical treatments. NHVI is for its expertise in heart disease management, heart failure, and vascular conditions. Patients benefit from a multidisciplinary team of over 100 board-certified cardiologists and vascular specialists, supported by state-of-the-art technology and a compassionate care approach. Conveniently located, the institute is dedicated to improving heart health for the Louisville community and beyond.