Duke Health Referring Physicians

My Locations

Davis Ambulatory Surgical Center
120 E Carver St
Durham, NC 27704-2700
Duke Innovative Pain Therapies at Brier Creek
10207 Cerny St
Suite 114
Raleigh, NC 27617-4880

About Me

Learn More About Me

I’ve practiced interventional pain and musculoskeletal medicine for the past 20 years, and re-joined Duke in 2010 to build a program that sheds new light onto the treatments for nerve and arthritis pain. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with many talented clinicians and researchers in the United States and Europe, allowing us to build a program in the Center for Translational Pain Medicine that moves beyond traditional pain medications and avoids many of their risks and complications. Our treatments center around the application of regenerative therapies that promote the active resolution of inflammation and pain for several arthritic conditions. I find it extremely rewarding to watch patients progress during their treatment course and meet their goals. I’m currently the Division Chief for Pain Medicine, a member of Duke’s Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Director of Regenerative Pain Therapies, and serve on the Editorial Board of Pain Medicine.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages
English

Training

Board Certifications
American Board of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
American Board of Anesthesiology, General Anesthesiology
Residency
Anesthesiology, University of California–San Francisco Medical Center, 1998
Education
MD, Emory University School of Medicine (Georgia), 1994
Fellowship
Pain Management, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (North Carolina), 1999

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research and clinical focus is on the mechanisms that drive pain in arthritis and degenerative conditions. Our team has spent years investigating the inflammatory mechanisms that lead to chronic pain after injury. This research has led to the development of our regenerative pain therapies program. Studying the body’s response to injury, we’ve been able to move beyond opioids, steroids, and anti-inflammatory medications to develop effective, biologically-based treatments, particularly in the treatment of non-surgical arthritis.

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
4.94 out of 5
237 ratings, 43 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.

  • Bull Publishing
  • Mainstay Medical
  • North Carolina Medical Board