Duke Health Provider question
I strive to listen to my patients to understand their health goals and work together to create a treatment plan.
– Emily A. Commesso, MD

Emily A. Commesso, MD

Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor, Head and Neck Surgeon, Sleep Surgeon

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Davis Ambulatory Surgical Center - Durham, NC
Duke Otolaryngology South Durham - Durham, NC
Duke Regional Hospital - Durham, NC
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
I strive to listen to my patients to understand their health goals and work together to create a treatment plan.
– Emily A. Commesso, MD

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About Me

I am an ear, nose, and throat surgeon who specializes in sleep surgery. In addition to providing comprehensive ENT care, I focus on surgical treatments for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. I am privileged to bring my sleep surgery training back to Duke, where I completed my residency. My philosophy is centered on an evidence-based approach focused on achieving patient goals. I use research including diagnostic surgical procedures to optimize surgical selection and work with my patients to tailor treatment plans. As a fellowship-trained sleep surgeon, I provide cutting-edge care for snoring and sleep apnea and am constantly evaluating the latest treatments to ensure that I can provide the best care for my patients. I look forward to our consultation. Outside of work, my family (including three young boys), loves hiking the local trails, venturing out to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and eating at the many fantastic Durham and Chapel Hill restaurants.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions
Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

Areas of Expertise

Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.

Overall Provider Rating
4.82 out of 5
126 ratings, 9 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Fellowship
Sleep Surgery, University of Southern California, 2022-2023.
Residency
Otolaryngology, Duke University, 2017-2022.
Education
MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University (New York), 2017

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research interests include improving patient selection for sleep surgery and postoperative pain management optimization.

Publications

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • 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
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • Blue Advantage
    • Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
    • Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
    • Blue Select
    • NC State Employees Health Plan
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
    • Cigna Choice Plus
    • Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
    • Cigna Open Access
    • Cigna Open Access Plus
    • *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.

    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Select
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • 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
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • 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)
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

    • **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

Duke requires faculty members to report certain relationships outside of their employment in order to ensure potential conflicts can be addressed. This faculty member has reported no outside activities that relate to their Duke responsibilities.