Eric J. Benner, MD, PhD
Neonatologist
My Locations
About Me
I was a graduate student working on a combined MD and PhD in neuroscience research when my twin boys arrived prematurely and needed the services of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This experience in the NICU environment inspired me to continue my work in neuroscience and specialize in neonatology. As a neonatologist, I care for newborn infants who require intensive care for different reasons, including being born prematurely, with heart defects or brain injuries. Providing treatment for critically ill infants, and helping to bring them to a place of stability and health, is truly gratifying. In addition to the clinical care I provide, I am involved in research regarding how to both mitigate and treat brain injuries which occur in infants due to premature birth.
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Neonatology 2021
- Member of Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute 2022
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
- Research Training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill 2000 - 2026
- Hernández-Morales, Miriam, Koyam Morales-Weil, Sang Min Han, Victor Han, Tiffany Tran, Eric J. Benner, Kelly Pegram, et al. “Electrophysiological Mechanisms and Validation of Ferritin-Based Magnetogenetics for Remote Control of Neurons.” J Neurosci 44, no. 30 (July 24, 2024). https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1717-23.2024.
- Epstein, Adrian A., Sara N. Janos, Luca Menozzi, Kelly Pegram, Vaibhav Jain, Logan C. Bisset, Joseph T. Davis, et al. “Subventricular zone stem cell niche injury is associated with intestinal perforation in preterm infants and predicts future motor impairment.” Cell Stem Cell 31, no. 4 (April 4, 2024): 467-483.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.001.
- Chao, Agnes S., Pavle Matak, Kelly Pegram, James Powers, Collin Hutson, Rebecca Jo, Laura Dubois, et al. “20-αHydroxycholesterol, an oxysterol in human breast milk, reverses mouse neonatal white matter injury through Gli-dependent oligodendrogenesis.” Cell Stem Cell 30, no. 8 (August 3, 2023): 1054-1071.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.07.010.
- Gendelman, H. E., and E. J. Benner. “Defining Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Therapeutics.” In Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Third Edition, 5–12, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68237-7_2.
- Gendelman, H. E., and E. J. Benner. “Control of neuroinflammation for therapeutic gain.” In Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 971–78, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44022-4_56.
- Abdi, K., E. Adams, S. Agarwal, M. H. Aliyu, T. Altamimi, N. Andescavage, A. Aral, et al. “Proceedings of the 15th International Newborn Brain Conference: Fetal and/or neonatal brain development, both normal and abnormal.” In Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 17:S285–316, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3233/NPM-249001.
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
- Tellus Therapeutics