Alisan Fathalizadeh, MD, MPH
Gastrointestinal Surgeon, General Surgeon
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About Me
I went into medicine with a desire to care for individuals of all backgrounds and to help address disparities in health care. Being a surgeon gives me the opportunity to diagnose and treat the individual while my background in public health helps me to focus on preventative care for my patients. I am a general surgeon who cares for emergency and elective general surgery patients. My training in minimally invasive surgery and surgical endoscopy allows me to care for my patients in the least invasive manner possible in order to minimize patient discomfort and improve patient recovery. I aim to perform procedures laparoscopically (with small incisions) or endoscopically (without any incisions). As a surgeon, I aim to provide an open and inclusive clinical environment by listening to and caring for patients of all different races, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery 2022
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
Clinical Focus and Research
I have an interest in conducting research related to disorders of the gastrointestinal system, general surgery, and surgical endoscopy. This includes the treatment of diseases related to the stomach, including gastroparesis.
- Chisholm, Miriam, Alisan Fathalizadeh, Dan German Blazer, and Charles Y. Kim. “Painful endometrial implants to the abdominal wall: minimally invasive treatment with percutaneous cryoablation with laparoscopic assistance.” BMJ Case Rep 18, no. 4 (April 16, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2024-261219.
- Petro, Clayton C., Ryan C. Ellis, Sara M. Maskal, Sam J. Zolin, Chao Tu, Adele Costanzo, Lucas R. A. Beffa, et al. “Anterior Gastropexy for Paraesophageal Hernia Repair: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA Surg 160, no. 3 (March 1, 2025): 247–55. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2024.5788.
- Schwalbe, Kathryn, Caitlin Finelli, Soon Moon, Hannah Niehaus, Abhiram Kondajji, Chao Tu, Alisan Fathalizadeh, Matthew Kroh, and Matthew Allemang. “Endoscopic findings do not predict per-oral pyloromyotomy (POP) response.” Surg Endosc 37, no. 2 (February 2023): 1384–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-022-09321-8.
- Fathalizadeh, A., and M. Klingler. “Intramural Surgery Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy for Zenker’s Diverticulum (Z-POEM).” In The SAGES Manual Operating through the Endoscope, Second Edition, 529–46, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21044-0_23.
- Fathalizadeh, A., and P. S. Leung. “Gastrointestinal Bleeding.” In Mount Sinai Expert Guides: Critical Care, 309–20, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119293255.ch33.
- Fathalizadeh, A., and J. Rodriguez. “Endoluminal management of gastroparesis.” In Gastroparesis: A Comprehensive Approach to Evaluation and Management, 55–76, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28929-4_5.
- Haddad, Nadeem N., Brandon R. Bruns, Toby M. Enniss, David Turay, Joseph V. Sakran, Alisan Fathalizadeh, Kristen Arnold, et al. “Perioperative use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of anastomotic failure in emergency general surgery.” In J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 83:657–61, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000001583.
- Bruns, Brandon Robert, David S. Morris, Martin Zielinski, Nathan T. Mowery, Preston R. Miller, Kristen Arnold, Herb A. Phelan, et al. “Stapled versus hand-sewn: A prospective emergency surgery study. An American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional study.” In J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 82:435–43, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000001354.
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.