Shyam E. Balakrishnan, MD
Not Accepting New Patients
For Returning Patients
Duke Health Provider question
Developing a long-lasting patient-physician relationship is the most important aspect of my practice.
– Shyam E. Balakrishnan, MD

Shyam E. Balakrishnan, MD

Family Medicine Doctor, Primary Care Doctor

Duke Health Provider question
Not Accepting New Patients
For Returning Patients
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Primary Care Knightdale - Knightdale, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Family Medicine, Family Medicine
American Board of Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine
Developing a long-lasting patient-physician relationship is the most important aspect of my practice.
– Shyam E. Balakrishnan, MD

About Me

Developing a long-lasting patient-physician relationship is the most important aspect of my practice. I like learning about my patients’ culture and family backgrounds. I feel that this is key to understanding my patients better and allows me to provide the best care for them. I enjoy educating my patients about disease management, and I like to work with them to come up with a realistic treatment plan and goal. My other medical interests include wellness, preventive care, and chronic disease management. I am fellowship trained in geriatrics, and I like working with elderly patients as well. Balancing my medical career and personal life is a priority for me. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and daughter. My hobbies include traveling and trying out new cuisines. I value good health and fitness. My goal for myself and my patients is to get healthy and stay healthy!

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil

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
4.86 out of 5
592 ratings, 50 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Family Medicine, Family Medicine
American Board of Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine
Fellowship
Geriatric Medicine, University of Virginia, 2013-2014
Residency
Family Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center (Minnesota), 2010-2013
Education
MBBS, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram (India), 2007

Clinical Focus and Research

Publications
View my publications on PubMed

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.