Duke Health Provider question
My priority is to work with my patients to achieve their goals and individualize their treatment to their needs and aspirations.
– Brian C. Lau, MD

Brian C. Lau, MD

Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeon

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center - Durham, NC
Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center Arringdon - Morrisville, NC
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
James R. Urbaniak, MD, Sports Sciences Institute - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
My priority is to work with my patients to achieve their goals and individualize their treatment to their needs and aspirations.
– Brian C. Lau, MD

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About Me

I am a sports medicine surgeon, specializing in injuries of the knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle/foot. I treat patients of all ages from pediatrics to master’s athletes and the weekend warrior to professionals. I perform complex shoulder surgery, including shoulder stabilization, rotator cuff surgery, superior capsular reconstruction, and reverse arthroplasty. I also do complex knee surgery, including ACL and meniscus surgery, patellar stabilizations, multi-ligament knee injuries, and advanced techniques for cartilage preservation and restoration. I also utilize the latest minimally-invasive techniques to treat foot and ankle injuries, including ankle instability, cartilage restoration, Achilles injuries, and fractures. I am currently the team physician for Duke Athletics, including soccer, basketball, football, baseball, and Olympic sports. I am excited to be practicing sports medicine at Duke Health and am looking forward to getting you back in the game.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

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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. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.

Overall Provider Rating
4.74 out of 5
497 ratings, 44 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Fellowship
Foot and Ankle Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center (California), 2019-2020
Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, Duke University, 2018-2019
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, 2013-2018
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Yale University Medical Center (Connecticut), 2012-2013
Education
MD, University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), 2011

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

At Duke Health, I am able to stay at the forefront of sports medicine for my patients. I study advanced imaging techniques to understand and improve treatment outcomes. I have additional training as a radiologist and utilize 3D MRI and fluoroscopy techniques, as well as functional sequences to evaluate how injuries and their treatments affect the bone, cartilage, and soft tissues. Another focus of mine is studying the biomechanics of different surgical treatments and rehabilitation strategies that can be used to treat sports injuries. My clinical research interests are in employing the knowledge learned from novel imaging techniques and biomechanical testing and translating these surgical advances to patients.

Publications and Grants

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
    • 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 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 Basic
    • Duke Select
    • 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
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • 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.

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

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.
  • Convergence Medical
  • Cytek Incorporated
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Miach Orthopedics
  • New Clip