Neil J. Freedman, MD
Cardiologist
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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.
- Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2017
- Professor in Cell Biology, Cell Biology 2017
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Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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, 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.
- 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.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- 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 Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna 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
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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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
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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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)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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.
External Relationships
- Crowe & Harris, LLP
- Faiella & Gulden, P.A.
- Stockman O¿Connor Connors