David A. Brown, MD, PhD

My Locations

Duke Wound Management Clinic - Clinic 3J

40 Duke Medicine Cir
Clinic 3J

Durham, NC 27710-4000

Office: 919-660-1270 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

I am a plastic surgeon specializing in general reconstructive surgery and complex wound healing. I have particular interests in back reconstruction and peripheral nerve surgery to prevent and treat chronic pain in amputees. I believe that every patient and every problem is unique and that no health issue can be treated in isolation. I focus on a patient-centered approach, and I understand the importance of considering the multitude of influences from a patient’s body, environment, and lifestyle as they relate to a particular surgical solution. I am fortunate to practice at a world-class medical center such as Duke Health where I can utilize the full spectrum of modern plastic surgical techniques in my practice. I am dedicated to the well-being of my patients, and I strive to ensure that they are provided the very best care possible.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions

Surgery
- Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery

Current Appointments and Affiliations

Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery 2023
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center, Duke Regeneration Center 2021

Languages

English

Areas of Expertise

Amputation Pain Surgery
Complex Wounds
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)

Training

Board Certifications

American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery

American Board of Surgery, General Surgery

Residency

General Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, 2014

Education

MD, University of California, Irvine, 2009

PhD, Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 2008

Fellowship

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, 2017

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research program explores the biology of tissue regeneration with the intent of developing new therapies for human wound healing, limb preservation, and eventually restoration of complex tissues such as fingers and even limbs. I am also involved in a number of clinical studies pertaining to chronic wounds, spine surgery, and targeted muscle reinnervation.

Publications and Grants

Dalton, Tara, Grant Darner, Edwin McCray, Meghan Price, Cesar Baëta, Melissa Erickson, Isaac O. Karikari, Muhammad M. Abd-El-Barr, C Rory Goodwin, and David A. Brown. “Prophylactic Muscle Flaps Decrease Wound Complication Rates in Patients with Oncologic Spine Disease.” Plast Reconstr Surg 153, no. 1 (January 1, 2024): 221–31. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000010568.
Henry, Sharon, Steven Mapula, Mark Grevious, Kevin N. Foster, Herbert Phelan, Jeffrey Shupp, Rodney Chan, et al. “Maximizing wound coverage in full-thickness skin defects: A randomized-controlled trial of autologous skin cell suspension and widely meshed autograft versus standard autografting.” J Trauma Acute Care Surg 96, no. 1 (January 1, 2024): 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000004120.
Knochenhauer, Hope E., Stephanie L. Lim, David A. Brown, Grant Darner, Howard Levinson, Laura J. Havrilesky, and Rebecca A. Previs. “An obstetrician-gynecologist's review of hernias: risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and repair.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 229, no. 3 (September 2023): 214–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.024.

Darner, G. R., and D. A. Brown. “Treatment of recalcitrant venous ulcers with free tissue transfer for limb salvage.” In Venous Ulcers, Second Edition, 491–501, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90610-4.00022-7.
Hollenbeck, Scott, and David A. Brown. “Botulinum toxin.” In Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2019.
Brown, D. “Miscellaneous burn injuries.” In ACS Surgery Principles and Practice, 2014.

Insurance

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna/CVS Health
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
CIGNA
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
- *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
First Health
Gateway Health Alliance
Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization
- Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization plans*
- *This plan is only accepted at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and Duke HomeCare & Hospice.
Healthgram

Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
MedCost
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
MultiPlan / Private Healthcare Systems
NC Medicaid
- WellCare of North Carolina
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- NC Medicaid Direct
- Healthy Blue
- Carolina Complete Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
OneNet PPO
Optima Health
- FAMIS*
- Optima Family Care (Medicaid HMO in VA)*
- Optima Individual & Family (On & Off Exchange Plans)
- Optima Plus (PPO)
- Optima Vantage (HMO)
- *Duke Primary Care, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital are not participating with this plan.
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

External Relationships

Duke requires faculty members to report certain relationships outside of their employment in order to ensure potential conflicts can be addressed. This faculty member has reported no outside activities that relate to their Duke responsibilities.

Duke Health Referring Physicians

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