Eric J. Formeister, MD, MS
Accepting New Patients
Duke Health Provider question
I am dedicated to providing my patients with optimal medical and surgical management through careful, evidence-based, and shared decision-making.
– Eric J. Formeister, MD, MS

Eric J. Formeister, MD, MS

Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor, Head and Neck Surgeon, Neurotologist, Otologist

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Davis Ambulatory Surgical Center - Durham, NC
Duke Otolaryngology South Durham - Durham, NC
Duke Otolaryngology and Oral Surgery Clinic - Clinic 1F - Durham, NC
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
I am dedicated to providing my patients with optimal medical and surgical management through careful, evidence-based, and shared decision-making.
– Eric J. Formeister, MD, MS

About Me

Our ability to hear and communicate in our world are some of the most defining qualities of what it means to be a human and create the foundation of our social interactions. Helping people restore or improve these abilities to enhance their quality of life is what motivated me to become an otologist and neurotologist. I value each and every patient relationship and keep it centered on shared decision-making and evidence-based care that results in the best individual outcome. I feel privileged to help patients with a wide breadth of disorders related to the hearing and balance systems, from common issues such as hearing loss that requires cochlear implantation to rare ones like vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. I also have a unique experience with and passion for treating patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence. One of the wonderful features of my practice is the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in a truly multidisciplinary manner to provide superb, multifaceted, and personalized care for each patient. Outside of work, I find great joy in being an avid outdoor enthusiast with my wife and our black lab.

flag for LGBTQ+ Identified or Ally LGBTQ+ Identified or Ally
School of Medicine Departments and Divisions
Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

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
4.81 out of 5
285 ratings, 39 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Fellowship
Otology, Neurotology, and Lateral Skull Base Surgery, Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), 2020-2022
Residency
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 2015-2020
Education
MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2015
MS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I have broad research interests that seek to improve treatment methods and outcomes for patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence, vestibular migraine, and cochlear implants. More generally, I am interested in objectively studying and optimizing surgical ergonomics, especially as it relates to focused efforts to improve resident/trainee wellbeing and to reduce the risk of surgeon burnout.

Publications

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

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.