Neil J. Freedman, MD

My Locations

Duke Cardiology Arringdon

5601 Arringdon Park Dr
Suite 240 and Suite 410

Morrisville, NC 27560-5643

Office: 919-681-5816 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

My goal as a cardiologist is to understand my patients as people so that I can provide them with information important for making their own decisions about how to prevent disease and promote health. Using this approach, I enjoy taking care of patients interested in preventing heart attacks, patients who have suffered heart attacks, patients with cholesterol and blood pressure disorders, and patients with heart failure.

Current Appointments and Affiliations

Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2017
Professor in Cell Biology, Cell Biology 2017

Languages

English

Training

Board Certifications

American Board of Internal Med, Cardiovascular Disease

American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine

Residency

Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital (Massachusetts), 1985-1988

Education

MD, Harvard Medical School (Massachusetts), 1985

Fellowship

Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, 1990-1993

Visiting Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989-1990

Medicine (Research), Brigham and Women's Hospital (Massachusetts), 1988-1990

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research focuses on molecular mechanisms that contribute to atherosclerosis, the "fatty hardening of the arteries" that causes most heart attacks and strokes. The purpose of my laboratory's investigations is to identify new targets for therapies that could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Publications and Grants

IND-enabling studies for an RNA therapeutic to treat atherosclerosis awarded by Department of Defense 2024 - 2028
Mechanisms by which Small Nucleolar RNAs Exacerbate Atherosclerosis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2026
Immune-endothelial cell dysfunction in radiation-induced atherosclerosis awarded by American Heart Association 2024 - 2025

Brown, Melissa A., Lisheng Zhang, Vrad W. Levering, Jiao-Hui Wu, Lisa L. Satterwhite, Leigh Brian, Neil J. Freedman, and George A. Truskey. “Human umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial cells reendothelialize vein grafts and prevent thrombosis.” Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 30, no. 11 (November 2010): 2150–55. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.207076.
Zhang, Lisheng, Jessica J. Connelly, Karsten Peppel, Leigh Brian, Svati H. Shah, Sarah Nelson, David R. Crosslin, et al. “Aging-related atherosclerosis is exacerbated by arterial expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1: evidence from mouse models and human association studies.” Hum Mol Genet 19, no. 14 (July 15, 2010): 2754–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddq172.
Cai, Xinjiang, Jiao-Hui Wu, Sabrina T. Exum, Martin Oppermann, Richard T. Premont, Sudha K. Shenoy, and Neil J. Freedman. “Reciprocal regulation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta and G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 by cross-phosphorylation: effects on catalysis.” Mol Pharmacol 75, no. 3 (March 2009): 626–36. https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.108.050278.

Wu, Jiaohui, A Kyle Davidson, Alexander C. Fanaroff, Lisheng Zhang, Karsten Peppel, Leigh Brian, Betty A. Eipper, Richard E. Mains, and Neil J. Freedman. “The Atherosclerosis Candidate Gene Product Kalirin Reduces Atherosclerosis via Macrophage-Specific Mechanisms.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 136. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2017.
Zhang, Lisheng, Jiao-Hui Wu, Tai-Qin Huang, Igor Nepliouev, Leigh Brian, Zhushan Zhang, Nathan P. Rudemiller, Steven D. Crowley, Neil J. Freedman, and Jonathan A. Stiber. “Angiotensin II-Induced Aortic Inflammation and Remodeling Are Mitigated by the Actin-Binding Protein Drebrin.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 136. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2017.
Wu, Jiao-Hui, Lisheng Zhang, Pierre-Yves Jean-Charles, A Kyle Davidson, Leigh Brian, Rui Qi, Sudha K. Shenoy, and Neil J. Freedman. “Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 20 Attenuates Atherosclerosis through Activity in Smooth Muscle Cells.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 134. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2016.

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

4.89 out of 5

163 ratings, 45 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.

Crowe & Harris, LLP
Faiella & Gulden, P.A.
Stockman O¿Connor Connors