Peter G. Passias, MD

My Locations

Duke Spine Center - Clinic 1B/1C

40 Duke Medicine Cir
Clinic 1B/1C

Durham, NC 27710-4000

Office: 919-620-5168 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

Throughout my medical career, I have remained dedicated to improving my patients' quality of life. As a specialist in adult cervical and spinal deformity surgery, I understand the significant impact our interventions have on individuals suffering from debilitating pain and physical and mental health challenges. Spinal deformity surgery merges the complexities of spinal biomechanics with the needs of an aging population. My research focuses on spinal alignment, biomechanics, innovative surgical techniques, and health economics to ensure value-based care that enhances patient outcomes.

Current Appointments and Affiliations

Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2024

Languages

English, Greek

Training

Board Certifications

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Spine

Residency

General Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery, Tufts-New England Medical Center (Massachusetts), 2003-2008

Education

MD, State University of New York, 2008

Fellowship

Research, Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009

Spinal Tumor & Spinal Deformity, Harvard Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical, Massachusetts General Hospital, 2010

Comprehensive Adult & Paediatric Spinal, Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell University/Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2011

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I am dedicated to conducting and supporting research that addresses the complex challenges of spinal disorders and deformities. Research Highlight (As of July 2024): • Written 546 peer-reviewed publications and five book chapters • Co-chair of the Editorial Board for The Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine and the Deputy Editor for The Spine Journal. • Received Awards and fellowships from the American Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the Scoliosis Research Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, the North American Spine Society, and others.

Publications and Grants

Biomechanical and genetic analysis of the combination effects of BMP2 and anti-RANKL antibody on a mice spinal fusion model awarded by Lumbar Spine Research Society 2025 - 2026

Yung, Anthony, Oluwatobi O. Onafowokan, Max R. Fisher, Ethan J. Cottrill, Isabel P. Prado, Iryna Ivasyk, Caroline M. Wu, et al. “Single-Position Prone Lateral Interbody Fusion Is Associated With Improved Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes at One Year Compared With Single-Position Lateral Interbody Fusion: A Single Institution Experience.” Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 50, no. 10 (May 15, 2025): E198–99. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005320.
Daher, Mohammad, Andrew Xu, Manjot Singh, Renaud Lafage, Breton G. Line, Lawrence G. Lenke, Christopher P. Ames, et al. “Redefining Clinically Significant Blood Loss in Complex Adult Spine Deformity Surgery.” Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 50, no. 10 (May 15, 2025): 645–51. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005250.
Mir, Jamshaid M., Oluwatobi O. Onafowokan, Pawel P. Jankowski, Oscar Krol, Tyler Williamson, Ankita Das, Zach Thomas, et al. “Despite a Multifactorial Etiology, Rates of Distal Junctional Kyphosis After Adult Cervical Deformity Corrective Surgery Can be Dramatically Diminished by Optimizing Age Specific Radiographic Improvement.” Global Spine J 15, no. 4 (May 2025): 2443–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682241303103.

Passias, P. G., F. A. Segreto, S. R. Horn, and C. A. Bortz. “Adolescent and Adult Spinal Deformity: Operative Management.” In Evidence-Based Orthopedics: Second Edition, 693–98, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119413936.ch117.
Passias, P. G., G. W. Poorman, M. B. Janjua, and S. R. Horn. “Inflammatory arthritides.” In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Spine 5, 493–504, 2018.
Kaye, D. I., and P. G. Passias. “Spine trauma.” In Rehabilitative Surgery: A Comprehensive Text for an Emerging Field, 95–111, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41406-5_9.

Durand, W. M., A. Kim, Y. Parekh, S. Bess, D. C. Burton, J. L. Gum, M. C. Gupta, et al. “Does coronal plane deformity matter for cervicothoracic kyphosis surgery? The incidence of cervical scoliosis and influence on the outcomes of cervical deformity surgery.” In Spine Journal, 24:S13, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.468.
Daniels, A. H., M. Singh, M. Balmaceno-Criss, M. Daher, R. Lafage, R. K. Eastlack, M. C. Gupta, et al. “Fractional curve behavior following adult idiopathic scoliosis correction.” In Spine Journal, 24:S26, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.492.
Mir, J., O. Onafowokan, A. Das, T. Williamson, M. Galetta, C. I. Shaffrey, and P. G. Passias. “Do interbody devices that traverse the lumbar apex result in improved outcomes and alignment in adult spinal deformity.” In Spine Journal, 24:S130–31, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.576.

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

4.82 out of 5

101 ratings, 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.

Amgen, Inc.
Cerapedics
Globus Medical
Innovasis
Journal of Clinical Medicine - Editorial Board
Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine - Editorial Board
Medtronic
Royal Biologics
Spine - Deputy Editor
Spineart
isto biologics