Jennifer K. Plichta, MD, MS
Accepting New Patients
Duke Health Provider question
Being a breast surgeon allows me to work with other specialties to provide patients with the compassion and excellence they deserve.
– Jennifer K. Plichta, MD, MS

Jennifer K. Plichta, MD, MS

Surgical Oncologist

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
919-668-6688
Returning Patients
919-660-9672
New Patients
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Davis Ambulatory Surgical Center - Durham, NC
Duke Breast Risk Assessment Clinic - Durham, NC
Duke Cancer Center - Durham, NC
Duke Cancer Center Breast Clinic - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Being a breast surgeon allows me to work with other specialties to provide patients with the compassion and excellence they deserve.
– Jennifer K. Plichta, MD, MS

About Me

I became interested in breast surgery, because it combined surgery with science and the ultimate multidisciplinary patient care. Being a breast surgeon also allows me to work with other specialties and combine our talents to provide patients with the compassion and excellence they deserve. I grew up with a passion for math and science, and my mother always thought medicine would be a good fit. I, however, needed a little more convincing. It wasn’t until medical school and my discovery of surgery that I was sold on the idea. In addition to patient care, I participate in research related to breast cancer, breast cancer risk assessment, and benign breast disease. Working with the Breast Risk Assessment Clinic, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to meet women with an increased risk of breast cancer and help them determine the best management strategy for their breast health. I also enjoy working with residents and students, helping to train the next generation of physicians. My husband, also a surgeon at Duke Health, and I love to try new restaurants and spend time with family and friends.

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

Call for an Appointment

919-668-6688
Returning Patients
919-660-9672
New Patients

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
4.94 out of 5
122 ratings, 16 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship
Breast Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 2016
Residency
General Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center (Illinois), 2015
Education
MD, Indiana University School of Medicine, 2008
MS, Clinical Research Methods and Epidemiology, Loyola University Medical Center (Illinois), 2012

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research interests are broad, but include areas such as high risk breast lesions (such as atypical ductal hyperplasia), breast cancer risk assessment and hereditary breast cancer. I mainly participate in clinical research projects both locally at Duke and on the national level. Through our research, patients can expect to receive more personalized treatment plans tailored to their specific disease and circumstance.

Clinical Trials
Publications and Grants

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.

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

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • American Joint Committee on Cancer
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network
  • National Consortium of Breast Centers