Areeg Hassan El-Gharbawy, MD, DSc
Pediatric Medical Genetics Specialist
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About Me
I find joy and satisfaction in my dedication to the care of children with rare diseases specifically: genetic disorders and inherited disorders of metabolism. Due to many years of training and practice, I have experience involving care of patients with a variety of genetic and metabolic conditions, including but not limited to glycogen storage diseases, fatty acid oxidation defects, mitochondrial disorders, lysosomal storage diseases, urea cycle disorders, organic acidurias, aminoacidopathies, and infantile hepatopathy due to LARS mutations, etc. I enjoy working together with children and their parents, whom I consider an important part of the team. I pursued this field because it gives me great satisfaction and pleasure to see the children with these conditions grow, and the patients and families feel cared for, and not isolated. I love learning about the children's interests, and see that they grow happy and healthy. I think out of the box when there is a challenge that needs to be met for the patient's care and management.
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Medical Genetics 2021
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Clinical Focus and Research
My research interest involves energy pathways, including disorders of glycogen storage, fatty acid oxidation, mitochondria, as well as inherited metabolic disorders involving the need for dietary changes and modification based on defects in pathways involving the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates, or fats. My research involves individualizing and optimizing treatment for patients with rare diseases. I have an interest in new drug discovery and therapy studies for glycogen storage disease, fatty acid oxidation disorders, lysosomal storage disorders, and other conditions. I also have an interest in new genetic therapy approaches and the study of metabolic pathways.
- Koch, Rebecca L., Claudia Soler-Alfonso, Bridget T. Kiely, Akihiro Asai, Ariana L. Smith, Deeksha S. Bali, Peter B. Kang, et al. “Diagnosis and management of glycogen storage disease type IV, including adult polyglucosan body disease: A clinical practice resource.” Mol Genet Metab 138, no. 3 (March 2023): 107525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107525.
- El-Gharbawy, Areeg, Adviye A. Tolun, Carine A. Halaby, Stephanie L. Austin, Priya S. Kishnani, and Deeksha S. Bali. “Beyond predicting diagnosis: Is there a role for measuring biotinidase activity in liver glycogen storage diseases?” Mol Genet Metab Rep 31 (June 2022): 100856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgmr.2022.100856.
- Hijazi, Ghada, Anna Paschall, Sarah P. Young, Brian Smith, Laura E. Case, Tracy Boggs, Sathya Amarasekara, et al. “A retrospective longitudinal study and comprehensive review of adult patients with glycogen storage disease type III.” Mol Genet Metab Rep 29 (December 2021): 100821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgmr.2021.100821.
- El-Gharbawy, Areeg H., Georgianne L. Arnold, Nancy Perrott-Taylor, Tiffany Hughley, Katie Long, Jerry Vockley, and Priya S. Kishnani. “OPTIMIZING METABOLIC CONTROL OF GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE TYPE 3 (GSD3): POTENTIAL ROLE FOR MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES (MCT).” In MOLECULAR GENETICS AND METABOLISM, 111:284–85. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2014.
- Young, Sarah P., Areeg H. El-Gharbawy, Jennifer Goldstein, Amie E. Vaisnins-Carroll, Dwight D. Koeberl, and David Millington. “Elevation of guanidinoacetate in the newborn blood spot of a patient with guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency.” In MOLECULAR GENETICS AND METABOLISM, 102:324–324. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2011.
- El-Gharbawy, Areeg H., Edward C. Smith, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Keith Hyland, Sarah P. Young, and Dwight Koeberl. “Why 5-methyltetrahydrofolate may be preferred to folinic acid in severe MTHFR deficiency complicated by cerebral folate deficiency. Results of an "n-1-clinical trial".” In MOLECULAR GENETICS AND METABOLISM, 102:278–79. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2011.
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.