Karen P. Alexander, MD
Cardiologist
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About Me
Helping patients make informed decisions about cardiovascular care, while encouraging them to maintain a healthy lifestyle, is what I love most about my clinical work. In addition to patient care, I am engaged in research on patient preferences, quality of life, geriatrics, and aging, and stable ischemic heart disease. Outside of work, I enjoy activities with my husband and three children, whether it is at a school or sporting event, a family camping trip, or another type of adventure. I also enjoy running trails and downhill skiing.
- Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2015
- Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute 1995
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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
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Clinical Focus and Research
My research is about preventing future events and the overlap between heart disease and other common conditions.
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PREVENTABLE (Dementia Prevention in Older Adults)IRB# PRO00103930 , NCT# NCT04262206
- PREVENTABLE awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2027
- Lim, Phillip, Tansu Eris, Leslee J. Shaw, Laura Gelfman, Annetine Gelijns, Alan Moskowitz, Emilia Bagiella, et al. “Representation of Older Adults and Women in Randomized Trials of Noninvasive Imaging for Chest Pain.” Circ Cardiovasc Imaging, September 3, 2025, e018295. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.125.018295.
- Kumar, Manish, Shangshu Zhao, Peter Robinson, George A. Kuchel, Richard H. Fortinsky, Ariela R. Orkaby, Karen P. Alexander, Paul D. Thompson, John A. Batsis, and Chia-Ling Kuo. “Advancing Age and Risk From the Elevated Atherogenic Index: Triglyceride (TG) to High-Density Cholesterol (HDL-C) Ratio.” J Am Geriatr Soc 73, no. 9 (September 2025): 2738–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19607.
- Shaw, Leslee J., Lawrence M. Phillips, Jonathon Leipsic, Samuel Broderick, Jennifer H. Mieres, Thomas H. Marwick, Matthias G. Friedrich, et al. “Comparative Prognosis by Stress ECG and Stress Imaging: Results From the ISCHEMIA Trial.” JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 18, no. 9 (September 2025): 943–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2025.03.016.
- Sidhu, Mandeep S., Karen P. Alexander, Zhen Huang, Sean M. O’Brien, Bernard R. Chaitman, Gregg W. Stone, Jonathan D. Newman, et al. “Causes of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death in the ISCHEMIA trial.” In Am Heart J, 248:72–83, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2022.01.017.
- Guimaraes, Patricia, Renato D. Lopes, Daniel Wojdyla, John H. Alexander, Shaun G. Goodman, Ronald Aronson, Sigrun Halvorsen, et al. “Antithrombotic Strategies According to Age in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and a Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the Augustus Trial.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 144, 2021.
- Rasmussen, P. V., M. L. Hansen, G. Gislason, J. Pallisgaard, M. Ruwald, C. B. Granger, R. D. Lopes, K. P. Alexander, S. M. Al-Khatib, and F. Dalgaard. “Older patients with atrial fibrillation and comorbidities are less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulation: insights from a nationwide study.” In EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL, 40:2978–2978. OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2019.
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
- UHC Community Plan
- 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.
Dr. Alexander was extremely knowledgeable, and took my history and input into consideration, in regard to my future treatment plan.
Although it was the first time I met Dr. Alexander she was well knowledgeable about my medical history. She took the time to listen to me and review my records. She devised a plan for my health upon listening to my concerns.
Dr. Alexander listened to my questions, conducted a thorough exam, and spent time going over everything with me.
Dr. Alexander is knowledgeable, takes time with me, answers all of my questions, and has helped me lower my blood pressure. She/ her assistant answer my messages promptly. I feel in good hands with her and her team.
Questions were answered thoughtfully and the provider did not make me feel rushed.
Dr Alexander listened carefully and knew exactly how to address my health concerns. Very caring about me as a person.
deeply appreciate Dr. Alexanders skill and caring attitude to her patients.
I greatly enjoyed my first visit with Dr. Alexander, my new cardiologist, and her nurse, Jessica. They patiently listened to my long explanations of my health background regarding my heart problems. Dr. Alexander is my favorite kind of doctor - no nonsense, straight forward, and very helpful - while also having a kind and pleasant personality.