My Locations
About Me
I came to Duke as a visiting medical student many years ago and fell in love with this institution and its people. I love to be part of a group that contributes knowledge and discoveries every day. As an electrophysiologist, I treat people with heart rhythm disorders, including atrial arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. I mostly focus on the prevention of sudden cardiac death and on patients with devices such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. We do everything we can to build a very good and strong relationship with patients; we provide them with the information they need and empower them to make the decisions that are best for them. We’re also at the cutting edge of new discoveries. The research we do is amazing – the findings that help patients and advance the field make working at Duke thrilling. It’s very exciting to be part of that. For these reasons, patients benefit greatly from coming to Duke.
- Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2016
- Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute 2000
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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
In the News
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Clinical Focus and Research
In my career, I have focused on the study of rhythm management devices including the implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy. I have also focused on investigating risk factors, prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac death (SCD), the leading cause of death in the United States. My overarching goals are to improve the outcomes of patients who receive cardiac devices and to use my accomplishments as a platform to train young physicians and to enhance clinical research in this area globally. My research expertise lies in the design and conduct of clinical trials, outcomes research and cost-effectiveness analyses.
- Postdoctoral Training in Cardiovascular Clinical Research awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2025
- Sandhu, Amneet, Li Qin, Karl Minges, Sarah Zimmerman, Ryan T. Borne, Vincenzo B. Polsinelli, P Michael Ho, et al. “Same-Day Discharge After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the United States.” J Am Heart Assoc, April 16, 2025, e039190. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.039190.
- Kunte, Sameer A., Lurdes Y. T. Inoue, William T. Abraham, John G. F. Cleland, Anne B. Curtis, Daniel J. Friedman, Michael R. Gold, et al. “Clinical phenotypes and outcomes associated with improved left ventricular ejection fraction after biventricular pacing.” J Interv Card Electrophysiol, April 9, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-025-02040-9.
- Rogovoy, Nichole M., Stephen Kearing, Weiping Zhou, James V. Freeman, Jonathan P. Piccini, Sana M. Al-Khatib, and Emily P. Zeitler. “Incidence, Prevalence, and Trends in Mortality and Stroke among Medicare Beneficiaries With Atrial Fibrillation: 2013 to 2019.” Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, April 4, 2025, e011365. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.124.011365.
- Zeitler, E. P., and S. M. Al-Khatib. “Appropriateness of mapping and imaging modalities in interventional electrophysiology.” In Cardiac Mapping, 1152–60, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119152637.ch92.
- Al-Khatib, S. M. “Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and biventricular devices in acute heart failure.” In Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure, 387–402, 2005. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203421345-34.
- Al-Khatib, Sana M., Jagmeet P. Singh, Nassir Marrouche, David D. McManus, Andrew D. Krahn, and Patricia Blake. “The inaugural 2022 HRX meeting: A patient-centered digital health meeting for the acceleration of cardiovascular innovation.” In Cardiovasc Digit Health J, 4:69–71, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvdhj.2023.04.001.
- Goldstein, Sarah A., Kevin Kennedy, Daniel Friedman, Sana M. Al-Khatib, and Andrew Wang. “Clinical Outcomes Following Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation Among Older Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 146, 2022.
- Goldstein, Sarah A., Kevin Kennedy, Daniel Friedman, Sana M. Al-Khatib, and Andrew Wang. “Utilization of Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Among Older Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): A Real World Analysis.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 146, 2022.
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
- 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.
External Relationships
- Heart Rhythm Society