Stephen Balevic, MD
Pediatric Rheumatologist, Rheumatologist
Schedule Online
My Locations
About Me
I am an adult and pediatric rheumatologist who specializes in inflammatory/autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile arthritis, vasculitis, and sarcoidosis, among others. I also have a special interest in using bedside ultrasound. Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that improves our ability to make a diagnosis and monitor treatment response in real-time. My greatest joy in medicine is getting to know patients and their families over a long period of time, and helping to care for chronic and complex diseases. As rheumatologists, we are blessed to have new classes of medications that, in some cases, can make patient's feel better and improve both their quality and quantity of life.
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Rheumatology 2022
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology 2022
- Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute 2018
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
In the News
Loading
Loading
Loading
Clinical Focus and Research
I am a researcher specializing in clinical pharmacology and precision medicine. Our research has shown us that the current "one size fits all" approach to treatment does not work for many patients. My research is aimed at determining the reasons why some patients either do not respond to a medication or have unacceptable side effects- with the ultimate goal to determine the right medication, at the right dose, for each individual patient.
- McCann, Sean M., Jiali Wen, Stephen J. Balevic, William J. Muller, Amira Al-Uzri, Chi D. Hornik, Marisa L. Meyer, et al. “Expansion of a Pharmacokinetic Model for Diazepam to Characterize Real-World IV and Oral Data in Children With and Without Obesity.” J Clin Pharmacol 65, no. 9 (September 2025): 1135–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.70027.
- Srinivasalu, Hemalatha, Timothy Beukelman, Anne Dennos, Anqi Chen, Colleen Correll, Sarah Ringold, Stephen Balevic, and for the CARRA Registry Investigators. “Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis Inception Cohort in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry: Characteristics and Early Disease Outcomes.” J Rheumatol, August 15, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.2025-0066.
- Sun, Kai, Amanda M. Eudy, Megan E. B. Clowse, Stephen J. Balevic, Tyler O’Malley, Roberta Vezza Alexander, Rebecca E. Sadun, et al. “Relationship between hydroxychloroquine blood levels and lupus activity through the lens of the type 1 and type 2 lupus model: a cross-sectional study.” Lupus Sci Med 12, no. 1 (June 30, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2025-001531.
- Jones, Jordan T., Chelsey Smith, Mara L. Becker, Daniel Lovell, and CARRA Registry Investigators. “Down Syndrome-Associated Arthritis Cohort in the New Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry: Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes.” In Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 73:1739–45, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24418.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
-
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
-
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
-
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- 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
- 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 Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
-
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
-
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
-
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
-
NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- UHC Community Plan
- WellCare of North Carolina
-
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
-
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)
-
*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
-
**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.
External Relationships
- NIH
- Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- ReveraGen
- Rutgers University
- The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)
- UCB Pharma
- US Food and Drug Administration
Dr. Balevic is outstanding in every way! He is a 10 plus.
Always a great experience w/ Dr Balevic & the entire team at Duke Peds Rheum
Dr Balevic is the only doctor I see that seems to look at the overall big picture of my health. I have several medical issues and the other doctors seem to just concentrate only on their specialty. Dr. Balevic looks at all my issues and act accordingly.
Always exceptional care from Dr. Balevic.
Very good staff. They take it personal. Like it was a family member. I love that
Excellent service!
Very good
Dr. Balevic stood out as one of the only providers that will personally call and discuss results in addition to providing "my chart" comments. He truly stands out as a fantastic physician.