My Locations

Duke Adult Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center - Clinic 2N
40 Duke Medicine Cir
Clinic 2N
Durham, NC 27710-4000
Office: 919-620-5300 Get Directions
Duke Children's Health Center Hematology Clinic
2301 Erwin Rd
Fourth floor
Durham, NC 27710-4699
Office: 919-668-4000 Get Directions
Duke Hematology of Fayetteville
1991 Fordham Dr
Suite 200
Fayetteville, NC 28304-3774
Office: 919-620-5300 Get Directions
Duke Raleigh Benign Hematology
3404 Wake Forest Rd
Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27609-7341
Office: 919-620-5300 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

I became interested in medicine after studying tropical forest in college and realizing that I wanted more contact with people than trees. In medical school, I cared for children and adults with sickle cell disease and was inspired by the challenges and complexity of this chronic illness. I chose to train in both pediatric and adult hematology and now see both children and adults with non-malignant blood disorders. I joined Duke Health in July 2016 to direct the Adult Sickle Cell Program and focus on the care of children and adults with disorders of hemoglobin.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages
English

Training

Board Certifications
American Board of Internal Med, Hematology
American Board of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Residency
Combined Program in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Rochester, 1996-2000
Education
MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Maryland), 1996
PhD, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (Maryland), 2009
Fellowship
Hematology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Maryland), 2000-2004
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins University and National Cancer Institute (Maryland), 2000-2004

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I study risk factors for lung and brain injury from sickle cell disease and how to best prevent and treat these problems. I am also interested in understanding how sickle cell disease changes as people age and whether simple tests of function can identify people at increased risk of serious complications. We plan to study if a medical exercise program can prevent these problems and improve the function of older adults.

Publications and Grants

Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Overall Provider Rating
4.77 out of 5
103 ratings, 16 reviews

Patient Reviews

Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Survey and displayed in their entirety.
Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy

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

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.

  • American Society of Hematology
  • Bendin Sumrall & Ladner, llc
  • Coleman Research
  • Disc Medicine
  • EBSCO Health / DynaMed Plus
  • Editas Medicine
  • ExpertConnect
  • Frontiers
  • GLG
  • Guidepoint Global
  • National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
  • UpToDate, Inc