Karen S. Johnson, MD, MS
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I have dedicated my life's work to helping women navigate the sometimes confusing pathway of medical care.
– Karen S. Johnson, MD, MS

Karen S. Johnson, MD, MS

Breast Radiologist

Duke Health Provider question
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Cancer Center - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology
I have dedicated my life's work to helping women navigate the sometimes confusing pathway of medical care.
– Karen S. Johnson, MD, MS

About Me

My clinical specialty is breast imaging which means I interpret mammograms, breast ultrasound and breast MRI, as well as perform breast biopsies. My job is not only to detect and diagnose breast cancer as early as possible but also to reassure women who have no signs of breast cancer. The most gratifying thing about my job is the patients. It is a privilege to meet and interact with so many women every day. I think I can speak for all of the breast imagers at Duke when I say I am honored and humbled that they put their trust in me and my clinical skills. My colleagues and I keep one another striving for excellence and we take our jobs very, very seriously. I (we) have dedicated our life’s work to helping women navigate the sometimes confusing pathway of medical care, specifically as it pertains to breast cancer, and we take great pride in what we do.

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, Duke University Medical Center, 2006-2007
Residency
Diagnostic Radiology, George Washington University Medical Center (Washington, DC), 2001-2006
Education
MD, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Illinois), 2001

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

Broadly, my research interests include detecting and diagnosing early stage breast cancer so women have the best chance possible to conquer the disease. The appropriate and best use of breast MRI is of specific interest to me, as well as, finding ways to help women cope with and reduce the anxiety experienced in conjunction with mammography.

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.