Duke Pathology is excited to welcome Edgar O. Hartle, MD, and Tracy Hofstetter, MBA, MLS(ASCP), to the Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital (DHLNH) team. Hartle is medical director of the clinical and anatomic laboratory at DHLNH, and Hofstetter serves as laboratory manager.
Duke’s acquisition in April 2025 of DHLNH, a 123-bed, acute-care hospital, from subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc., signified a vast expansion of Duke Health clinical services outside the greater Triangle area.
“Dr. Hartle and Tracy Hofstetter have served as pillars of Lake Norman Medical Center for many years, leading delivery of high-quality laboratory services through many challenging times,” said Director of Duke University Health System Anatomic Pathology Laboratories Raj Dash, MD. “They welcomed the transition to DHLNH in a way that has resulted in optimization of laboratory services and strengthening of professional relationships. Their tireless efforts in preparation for the Epic go-live have been nothing short of heroic.”
"We are excited to have Dr. Hartle, Tracy, and the entire team at Lake Norman join our Duke family,” added Medical Director and Associate Vice President of Duke Health Laboratories Michael Datto, MD, PhD. “They have shown resilience and optimism through this transition and unwavering dedication to the high-quality care of their patients. They are poised to do amazing things as leaders for Duke Health in the region."
“I’m very excited about Duke Health acquiring the hospital,” said Hartle. “Duke Health is a superb organization which is bringing support, quality, and a patient-centered focus to health care. I’m particularly impressed with Dr. Datto, Dr. Dash, and their team to enhance laboratory services. This will be wonderful for the patients, the hospital, and the community. It is a privilege to help DHLNH become the center of Duke’s quality care in Western North Carolina.”
In her role as laboratory manager, Hofstetter oversees clinical laboratory operations and supports the integration of Duke Health’s quality standards and patient-centered care. She brings extensive experience in laboratory management and medical laboratory science, holding an MBA and certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist through the American Society of Clinical Pathology.
Prior to joining Duke Health, Hofstetter was the associate director of laboratory services for Quintiles Laboratory, now IQVIA Central Laboratory, in Atlanta, Georgia. She began her laboratory career with SmithKline Beecham Laboratories in Atlanta, Georgia, and St. Louis, Missouri, where she spent the first 10 years of her career.
“I’m excited to be part of Duke Health’s expansion into Western North Carolina, and I look forward to contributing to the growth and success of DHLNH,” said Hofstetter. “I’m passionate about fostering collaborative environments and advancing laboratory excellence in support of patient care.”
Since 1997, Hartle has been a pathologist and medical director of the laboratory at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center (LNRMC), now DHLNH. He has served in multiple leadership positions, including the chief of the medical staff.
In the late 1970s, Hartle served as a phlebotomist, laboratory technologist, and cytotechnologist in the United States Army Medical Corp. He earned his medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine and completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (CMH) in 1984. He was a faculty member at CMH through 1987, during which he served as the first medical director and co-creator of CMH’s Emergency Flight Service. In 1992, he switched career paths, completing an AP and CP residency and fellowship at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Both Hartle and Hofstetter live in nearby Davidson, N.C., coincidentally in the same neighborhood with two other pathologists who work or have worked at DHLN. Hartle has four adult children and two grandchildren and lives with his wife, Michele, and their white lab, Lucy.
In addition, he is a triathlete, pilot, traveler, and a lifelong student. Tracy has been married to her husband, Mark, for 42 years and have a Boxer named Buddy. They have three children, Rachel (Sam), Derek (Danielle), and Haley, along with five grandsons.