Aparna Swaminathan, MD, MHS
Critical Care Specialist, Pulmonologist
My Locations
About Me
I specialize in interstitial lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis or conditions that cause lung scarring. I am passionate about providing the best possible care for my patients and stay up-to-date on the most recent advances in the field. The terminology around the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, can be confusing. I believe it is important to take the time to explain each step to my patients. I also believe the best approach to any condition involves working together with my patient and their family to develop an individualized treatment plan. When not seeing patients, I conduct research with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with interstitial lung disease. I enjoy spending my free time with my family and staying active outdoors.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine 2021
- Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute 2021
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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
Clinical Focus and Research
I am interested in finding ways to improve outcomes for patients with advanced lung disease, including interstitial lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- SEVERE COUGH A Phase IIa/IIb, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group dose-finding study to examine the efficacy and safety of BI 1839100 administered orally over a 12-week treatment period in patients with idiopathic pulmonary f awarded by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2024 - 2029
- Swaminathan, Aparna C., Jeremy M. Weber, Jamie L. Todd, Scott M. Palmer, Megan L. Neely, Timothy P. Whelan, Grace Hyun J. Kim, Thomas B. Leonard, and Jonathan Goldin. “Extent of lung fibrosis is of greater prognostic importance than HRCT pattern in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis: data from the ILD-PRO registry.” Respir Res 26, no. 1 (February 28, 2025): 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03136-6.
- Swaminathan, Aparna C., Molly McFatrich, Laura Mkumba, Lauren Wright, Carrie A. Redlich, Laurie D. Snyder, Bryce B. Reeve, Divya Patel, and Mridu Gulati. “Development and evaluation of a questionnaire to capture environmental and occupational inhalational exposures in adults with fibrotic interstitial lung disease.” Respir Res 25, no. 1 (October 15, 2024): 372. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-024-03000-z.
- Lobo, L Jason, Yi Liu, Peide Li, Murali Ramaswamy, Aparna C. Swaminathan, Srihari Veeraraghavan, Yanni Fan, et al. “Design and baseline characteristics of the ILD-PRO registry in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis.” BMC Pulm Med 24, no. 1 (September 27, 2024): 468. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-024-03247-8.
- SWAMINATHAN, A. P. A. R. N. A., M. O. L. L. Y. MCFATRICH, L. A. U. R. A. MKUMBA, L. A. U. R. E. N. WRIGHT, CARRIE A. REDLICH, LAURIE D. SNYDER, B. R. Y. C. E. REEVE, AMY L. OLSON, and M. R. I. D. U. GULATI. “EVALUATION OF CONTENT VALIDITY OF A NEW EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROSING INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES.” In CHEST, 164:A5103–4. Elsevier BV, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.07.3304.
- LOBO, L. E. O. N. A. R. D., Y. I. LIU, P. E. I. D. E. LI, M. U. R. A. L. I. RAMASWAMY, A. P. A. R. N. A. SWAMINATHAN, S. R. I. H. A. R. I. VEERARAGHAVAN, Y. A. N. N. I. FAN, MEGAN L. NEELY, SCOTT M. PALMER, and AMY L. OLSON. “CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE FIBROSING INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES (ILDS) IN THE ILD-PRO REGISTRY.” In CHEST, 164:A3056–57. Elsevier BV, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.07.2004.
- LOBO, L. E. O. N. A. R. D., Y. I. LIU, P. E. I. D. E. LI, M. U. R. A. L. I. RAMASWAMY, A. P. A. R. N. A. SWAMINATHAN, S. R. I. H. A. R. I. VEERARAGHAVAN, Y. A. N. N. I. FAN, MEGAN L. NEELY, SCOTT M. PALMER, and AMY L. OLSON. “CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE FIBROSING INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES IN THE ILD-PRO REGISTRY BY TIME BETWEEN DIAGNOSIS AND ENROLLMENT.” In CHEST, 164:A3058–59. Elsevier BV, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.07.2005.
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
- United Therapeutics Corp.