My Locations
About Me
I am a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, a cardiologist who focuses on invasive and non-invasive treatments for the electrical problems of the heart, such as arrhythmias. Patient and family-centered decision-making is a core principle of my approach to patient care. I believe it improves the overall quality of care and patient and family satisfaction. When necessary, I can perform a wide variety of procedures for my patients, including ablation of simple and complex arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and ventricular tachycardia, and implantation of pacemakers, defibrillators, and left atrial appendage occlusion devices. I have expertise in implanting newer and complex devices, including cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, conduction system pacemakers, leadless pacemakers, and subcutaneous defibrillators.
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2023
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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
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Clinical Focus and Research
My research areas of interest include improving the safety and efficacy of complex ablation and optimal use of pacemakers in patients with heart failure, including cardiac resynchronization therapy and His bundle pacing. I am also interested in non-pharmacologic management of atrial fibrillation, including catheter ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion, and understanding optimal use of novel and emerging technologies.
- Fire-HFpEF awarded by Medtronic, Inc. 2024 - 2029
- PR Interval Study awarded by Medtronic, Inc. 2023 - 2025
- Left Bundle Branch Lead Device awarded by Boston Scientific Corporation 2023 - 2025
- Friedman, Daniel J., Jessica Burr, Paul W. Jones, and Nicholas Wold. “Automatic Threshold Function With Left Bundle Branch Area Versus Traditional Right Ventricular Lead Placement.” J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, April 28, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.16696.
- Coles, Sara A., Ilya Y. Shadrin, Sana M. Al-Khatib, Jonathan P. Piccini, Albert Y. Sun, James P. Daubert, Donald D. Hegland, et al. “Use of a Stylet Driven Lead With a Flexible Neck for Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: A Single Center Experience.” J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 36, no. 4 (April 2025): 771–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.16586.
- Friedman, Daniel J., and James V. Freeman. “Amulet LAAO 5-Year Outcomes: Best in Class or Class Effect?” J Am Coll Cardiol 85, no. 11 (March 25, 2025): 1154–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.11.005.
- Malaisrie, S Chris, Patrick M. McCarthy, Jane Kruse, Roland A. Matsouaka, Andrei Churyla, Maria V. Grau-Sepulveda, Daniel J. Friedman, and J Matthew Brennan. “Ablation of atrial fibrillation during coronary artery bypass grafting: Late outcomes in a Medicare population.” In J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 161:1251-1261.e1, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.10.159.
- Zeitler, Emily P., Sana M. Al-Khatib, Daniel J. Friedman, Joo Yoon Han, Jeanne E. Poole, Gust H. Bardy, J Thomas Bigger, et al. “Predicting appropriate shocks in patients with heart failure: Patient level meta-analysis from SCD-HeFT and MADIT II.” In J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 28:1345–51, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.13307.
- Friedman, Daniel J., Sana M. Al-Khatib, Emily P. Zeitler, JooYoon Han, Gust H. Bardy, Jeanne E. Poole, J Thomas Bigger, et al. “New York Heart Association class and the survival benefit from primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators: A pooled analysis of 4 randomized controlled trials.” In Am Heart J, 191:21–29, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2017.06.002.
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
- Abbott (St. Jude Medical)
- Boston Scientific Corporation
- Medtronic