Betty C. Tong, MD, MHS, MS
Surgical Oncologist, Thoracic Surgeon
My Locations
Part of the Duke Cancer Institute
Part of the Duke Cancer Institute
About Me
I have the privilege of treating patients with both benign and malignant conditions of the chest. While in college at Georgia Tech, I envisioned a career as a biomedical engineer. What I quickly learned, however, was that I was more interested in patients and their medical problems than developing the technology to care for them. During my medical education and training, I learned not only how to become a surgeon, but also learned the value of teamwork and family in caring for patients. As a thoracic surgeon, one of the best and most important aspects of my job is being able to establish a relationship with my patients and their families, working together to help them through their illness.
- Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery 2020
- Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute 2017
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Chest Wall Tumors
- Lung Metastases Surgery
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
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
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Randomized Phase 3 study of Peri-op Physical Activity in Lung CancerIRB# PRO00115048 , NCT# NCT06196008
- Huang, James, Kay See Tan, Nasser Altorki, Mara Antonoff, Shanda Blackmon, Raphael Bueno, Bryan Burt, et al. “Initial patient characteristics of Thoracic Surgical Oncology Group 102: A multicenter prospective registry of active surveillance in patients with multiple ground-glass opacities.” J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 169, no. 4 (April 2025): 1100–1107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.09.054.
- Tong, Betty C., Levi N. Bonnell, Robert H. Habib, David M. Shahian, David Shersher, Stephen R. Broderick, William R. Burfeind, Christopher W. Seder, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database Task Force. “The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2024 Risk Models for Lung Cancer Resection: Continued Refinement and Improved Outcomes.” Ann Thorac Surg 119, no. 4 (April 2025): 777–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.07.047.
- Tompkins, Anastasiia K., David T. Cooke, Leah Backhus, J Michael DiMaio, Sara J. Pereira, Mara Antonoff, Walter Merrill, Cherie P. Erkmen, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforces on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Cardiothoracic Surgery Practice Models and Career Development. “Intersection of Race and Gender in the Cardiothoracic Workforce: Study of Representation and Salary.” Ann Thorac Surg 119, no. 3 (March 2025): 687–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.09.053.
- Tong, B. C., N. E. Farrow, and M. Cerullo. “Lung cancer screening and prevention.” In Lung Cancer: An Evidence-Based Approach to Multidisciplinary Management, 1–34, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-69573-2.00010-3.
- Tong, B. C., and D. H. Harpole. “Molecular prognostication of lung cancer.” In Principles and Practice of Lung Cancer: The Official Reference Text of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC): Fourth Edition, 147–62, 2012.
- Raman, Vignesh, Oliver K. Jawitz, Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, Soraya L. Voigt, Thomas A. D’Amico, David H. Harpole, and Betty C. Tong. “The effect of extent of resection on outcomes in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer.” In J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 161:1484-1492.e5, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.02.135.
- Farrow, Norma E., Selena J. An, Paul J. Speicher, David H. Harpole, Thomas A. D’Amico, Jacob A. Klapper, Matthew G. Hartwig, and Betty C. Tong. “Disparities in guideline-concordant treatment for node-positive, non-small cell lung cancer following surgery.” In J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 160:261-271.e1, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.10.102.
- Olivere, Lindsey A., Kristen E. Rhodin, Cierra Hong, Taofik Oyekunle, Elizabeth Howell, Vinay K. Giri, Kurren Mehta, Betty C. Tong, Julie A. Sosa, and Oluwadamilola M. Fayanju. “Educational Outcomes of a Pre-Clinical Medical Student Curriculum with Medicaid and Uninsured Surgical Oncology Patients.” In JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, 229:S241–S241. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, 2019.
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.