David A. Tendler, MD
Gastroenterologist
My Locations
About Me
I was born and raised in New York, graduating from Duke University in 1989 and then the Yale University School of Medicine in 1993, where I served as class president and was named a Farr Scholar for "superior performance… leadership, integrity and intellectual honesty in pursuit of medical knowledge at Yale.” Following residency and fellowship training in the Harvard system, I joined the gastroenterology faculty at Duke University Medical Center in 1999 and was honored in 2003 with the Paul G. Killenberg Fellow Teaching Award in Gastroenterology. I have authored numerous journal articles and book chapters in the fields of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and was named one of “America’s Top Physicians” by the Consumers’ Research Council of America. I am an active member of the American Gastroenterology Association and the American College of Gastroenterology. I am married to Dr. Susan Spratt and am blessed with three wonderful children.
- Clinical Faculty in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Gastroenterology 2025
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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
- Suhocki, Paul V., Alastair D. Smith, David A. Tendler, and Daniel J. Sexton. “Treatment of TIPS/biliary fistula-related endotipsitis with a covered stent.” J Vasc Interv Radiol 19, no. 6 (June 2008): 937–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2008.01.026.
- Tendler, David, Sauyu Lin, William S. Yancy, John Mavropoulos, Pam Sylvestre, Don C. Rockey, and Eric C. Westman. “The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study.” Dig Dis Sci 52, no. 2 (February 2007): 589–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9433-5.
- Heneghan, Michael A., Michael L. Allan, Jeffrey D. Bornstein, Andrew J. Muir, and David A. Tendler. “Utility of thiopurine methyltransferase genotyping and phenotyping, and measurement of azathioprine metabolites in the management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis.” J Hepatol 45, no. 4 (October 2006): 584–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2006.05.011.
- Tendler, D. A. “Vascular Disorders.” In Essential Medical Disorders of the Stomach and Small Intestine: A Clinical Casebook, 233–51, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01117-8_12.
- Tendler, D. A. “Metabolic Diseases.” In Medical Care of the Liver Transplant Patient, 3E, 172–94, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470751541.ch11.
- Heneghan, M. A., M. L. Allan, J. D. Bornstein, A. J. Muir, and D. A. Tendler. “Utility of thiopurine methyltransferase genotyping and phenotyping and measurement of 6-thioguanine metabolites in the management of autoimmune hepatitis.” In HEPATOLOGY, 38:489A-489A. W B SAUNDERS CO, 2003.
- Tendler, D. A., R. A. Parker, and S. J. Spechler. “Heartburn: Ethnic variations in prevalence and interpretation.” In GASTROENTEROLOGY, 110:A276–A276. W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC, 1996.
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.