Christopher G. Willett, MD
Radiation Oncologist
My Locations
Part of the Duke Cancer Institute
About Me
I’m a radiation oncologist that specializes in gastrointestinal malignancies. My approach to patient care is to spend a lot of time getting to know patients first. Then, I carefully evaluate all their tests and work with other colleagues to develop an individual plan. Using a team approach, we are either able to cure patients through combined modality treatments or help ease their symptoms.
- Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology 2004
- Mark W. Dewhirst Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology 2022
- Professor of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology 2004
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Hepatobiliary Cancer
- Colonoscopy
- Colon and Rectal Disease
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
I’m involved in clinical trials that address practical issues for patients. In one, we’re looking at novel agents combined with standard radiation therapy and chemotherapy in an effort to improve patients’ outcomes and quality of life. In another, we’re developing treatments that are shorter than the standard five to six weeks of therapy. And, we're examining new imaging modalities to better define tumors both anatomically and functionally to help guide us on the usefulness of treatments during therapy.
- Clinical Experience Guided Reinforcement Learning for Pancreas SBRT awarded by Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 2019 - 2022
- Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2015
- Benson, Al B., Alan P. Venook, Mohamed Adam, George Chang, Yi-Jen Chen, Kristen K. Ciombor, Stacey A. Cohen, et al. “NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Rectal Cancer, Version 3.2024.” J Natl Compr Canc Netw 22, no. 6 (August 2024): 366–75. https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2024.0041.
- Benson, Al B., Alan P. Venook, Mohamed Adam, George Chang, Yi-Jen Chen, Kristen K. Ciombor, Stacey A. Cohen, et al. “Colon Cancer, Version 3.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.” J Natl Compr Canc Netw 22, no. 2 D (June 2024). https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2024.0029.
- Willett, Christopher G., and Scarlett Acklin-Wehnert. “Neoadjuvant Short- Vs. Long-Course Radiation for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: How to Choose.” Curr Treat Options Oncol 25, no. 4 (April 2024): 427–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-024-01185-5.
- Karukonda, P., C. Willett, and B. Czito. “Radiation Therapy.” In Gastrointestinal Oncology: A Critical Multidisciplinary Team Approach, 372–85, 2024.
- Stewart, C., F. Ho, Y. Fong, S. L. Davis, L. Liu, J. Lindquist, P. Karukonda, C. Willett, and B. Czito. “Management of Metastic Liver Cancer.” In Gastrointestinal Oncology: A Critical Multidisciplinary Team Approach, 347–347, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119756422.ch19.
- Willett, C. G., and Q. T. Le. “The role of department chair.” In Career Development in Academic Radiation Oncology, 319–26, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71855-8_23.
- Wang, Wentao, Yang Sheng, Manisha Palta, Brian Czito, Christopher Willett, Fang-Fang Yin, Qiuwen Wu, Yaorong Ge, and Q Jackie Wu. “Transfer learning for fluence map prediction in adrenal stereotactic body radiation therapy.” In Phys Med Biol, Vol. 66, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ac3c14.
- Sperduto, W., T. Oyekunle, D. Niedzwiecki, B. Czito, C. G. Willett, J. K. Salama, M. Palta, and S. J. Stephens. “Toxicity and Dosimetric Parameters of Ablative Radiation Therapy in the Management of Patients with Child-Pugh B/C Liver Function and Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).” In International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 111:e78, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.443.
- Stephens, S. J., T. Oyekunle, D. Niedzwiecki, C. Eyler, B. Czito, C. G. Willett, J. K. Salama, and M. Palta. “The Role of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy in the Management of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).” In International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 111:e78–79, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.444.
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
- IBA