Alixandra S. Purakal, MD
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Duke Health Provider
I work closely with my patients through the complex and stressful processes related to breast cancer screening, biopsy, diagnosis, and lifelong surveillance.
– Alixandra S. Purakal, MD

Alixandra S. Purakal, MD

Breast Radiologist

Duke Health Provider
Where I See Patients
Duke Cancer Center - Durham, NC
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh - Raleigh, NC
Duke Raleigh Hospital - Raleigh, NC
Duke Raleigh Imaging Services - Raleigh, NC
Duke Women's Cancer Care Raleigh - Raleigh, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology
I work closely with my patients through the complex and stressful processes related to breast cancer screening, biopsy, diagnosis, and lifelong surveillance.
– Alixandra S. Purakal, MD

My Locations

Duke Cancer Center
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh
Duke Raleigh Hospital
Duke Raleigh Imaging Services
Duke Women's Cancer Care Raleigh

About Me

Women’s imaging is a technical and emotional subspecialty of radiology, and it is essential to have passionate, empathic and proactive physicians guiding patients through these deeply personal medical experiences. Watching my two aunts simultaneously battle breast cancer contributed to my passion for women's health, which I have been actively pursuing since the beginning of my training. I am approachable and compassionate, which allows me to bring a level of comfort and ease to interactions with my patients. I have come to recognize that it is of equal importance to make the correct diagnosis in the reading room as it is to be able to communicate the findings with patience and empathy. Having witnessed the diagnosis of breast cancer from both the patient and physician standpoint, I know the importance of the humanistic as well as scientific attributes of women’s imaging.

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Current Appointments and Affiliations

Languages I Speak

English

Call for an Appointment

Training and Education

Board Certification

American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology

Fellowship

Breast Imaging, University of Chicago (Illinois), 2018-2019

Residency

Diagnostic Radiology, University of Chicago (Illinois), 2013-2018

Education

MD, Wayne State University (Michigan), 2013

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • 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
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • 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
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • 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.

    • Cigna Care (*Beginning January 2026)
    • Duke Advantage (*Beginning January 2026)
    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Options (*Beginning January 2026)
    • Duke Select
    • Duke USA (*Beginning January 2026)
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • 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
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • Alliance Health (*Beginning January 2026)
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • Partners (*Beginning January 2026)
    • Trillium (*Beginning January 2026)
    • UHC Community Plan
    • Vaya Health (*Beginning January 2026)
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • 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.

    • **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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