Willard N. Applefeld, MD
Why are there no ratings?
Duke Health Provider question
I am passionate about partnering with patients and families to support them in their health journeys.
– Willard N. Applefeld, MD

Willard N. Applefeld, MD

Cardiologist, Critical Care Specialist

Duke Health Provider question
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Cardiac Diagnostic Unit - Clinic 2K - Durham, NC
Duke Cardiology Arringdon - Morrisville, NC
Duke Cardiology Clinic - Clinic 2F/2G - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Med, Critical Care Medicine
I am passionate about partnering with patients and families to support them in their health journeys.
– Willard N. Applefeld, MD

About Me

I am a critical care cardiologist, structural echocardiographer, and pulmonary hypertension specialist. I treat critically ill individuals in the intensive care unit, particularly those with cardiovascular disease. I also provide echocardiographic imaging during structural heart procedures. In the outpatient setting, I focus on diagnosing and managing pulmonary vascular diseases and general cardiovascular conditions. I am passionate about partnering with patients and families to support them in their health journeys.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Med, Critical Care Medicine
Fellowship
Critical Care Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 2021
Cardiovascular Disease, Duke University Medical Center, 2024
Residency
Osler Medical Residency, The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Maryland), 2015-2018
Education
MD, University of Maryland, 2015

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I am interested in the intersection of cardiovascular disease and critical care medicine. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how the heart functions during different critical illnesses as well as how the other organ systems in the body are impacted when the heart becomes severely sick. My research has looked at the effects of sepsis (a severe infection) on the heart, how blood transfusion impacts individuals with cardiovascular disease, imaging the heart's function, and how we can train physicians to care for critically ill patients.

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.