My research focuses on improving care for patients with acute and chronic pain, including back pain, nerve pain, cancer-related pain, and pain after surgery. I study how pain clinics and hospital pain services can deliver safer, more effective, and more efficient care. My work includes improving patient access, enhancing procedure safety, educating future pain physicians, and using quality improvement to reduce gaps in care. My goal is to help patients receive the right treatment at the right time, improve function and quality of life, and make pain care more compassionate, evidence-based, and patient-centered.
I listen carefully, treat pain thoughtfully, and work with patients to improve function, comfort, and quality of life.
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center - Durham, NC
Duke Pain Medicine Clinic - Durham, NC
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
I listen carefully, treat pain thoughtfully, and work with patients to improve function, comfort, and quality of life.
My Locations
About Me
I care for patients living with acute and chronic pain, including back pain, neck pain, nerve pain, joint pain, cancer-related pain, and pain after surgery or injury. I chose pain medicine because pain can affect every part of a person’s life, from sleep and mood to family, work, and independence. My goal is to listen carefully, understand each patient’s story, and create a thoughtful treatment plan that improves function and quality of life.
I offer a comprehensive approach that may include medications, physical therapy, image-guided injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and other advanced pain procedures when appropriate. I believe the best care comes from shared decision-making, clear communication, and treating each patient with compassion and respect.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, music, and supporting education and mentorship.
Current Appointments and Affiliations
Patients I Treat
Adults
Languages I Speak
English
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Cancer Pain Palliation
- Arthritis Pain Palliation
- Facet Injection
- Interventional Pain Management
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Pain Management
Training and Education
Fellowship
Pain Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 2015
Residency
Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Louisville, 2014
Education
MD, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (Philippines), 2002
MBA, Bellarmine University W. Fielding Rubel School of Business (Kentucky),
MS, University of Louisville, 2025
BS, University of Santo Tomas (Philippines), 1998
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 (*Available in select counties only)
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- Blue Value (*Duke Health Lake Norman and Kernodle Clinics only)
- 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 Employee Plans
- Cigna Care
- Duke Advantage
- Duke Basic
- Duke Options
- Duke Select
- Duke USA
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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
- Alliance Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- Partners
- Trillium
- UHC Community Plan
- Vaya Health
- 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
Duke requires faculty members to report certain relationships outside of their employment in order to ensure potential conflicts can be addressed. This faculty member has reported no outside activities that relate to their Duke responsibilities.
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