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About Me
I’m a pediatric blood and bone marrow transplant specialist. I see patients from all over the world, many of whom have very rare diseases. I take care of patients with leukodystrophies, leukemias and other blood disorders that are resistant to standard treatment, and children with brain injuries like cerebral palsy. It’s rewarding to make a difference when treating challenging diseases. I’ve been fortunate over my career to be able to develop new treatments in the laboratory that I take into the clinic to help patients. In fact, here at Duke I was involved in the first cord-blood transplant anywhere in the world. When meeting with patients, I focus on making their experience more than just the medicine. We have a family support program for things beyond medical needs, which is especially helpful for families that are far from home. Outside of work, I like to knit, bike and spend time with my family.
- Jerome S. Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Transplant and Cellular Therapy 2010
- Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Transplant and Cellular Therapy 1994
- Professor of Pathology, Pathology 2003
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Clinical Focus and Research
My research is focused on discovering new treatments for children with blood disorders, genetic diseases and brain injuries. I have worked in the development of new drugs for patients with T-cell leukemias, used cord blood transplants for children with cancer, sickle cell anemia and leukodystrophies. I’ve learned that after a cord blood transplant, donor cells help heal the brain. My current research is focused on finding ways to use cord blood cells to help children with Krabbe disease, MLD, ALD, Hurler syndrome and other leukodystrophies. I am also developing new treatments for children with birth asphyxia, cerebral palsy and autism as well as for adults with stroke.
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network awarded by National Institutes of Health 2001 - 2031
- HRSA National Cord Blood Inventory, Fifth Cohort awarded by Health Resources and Service Administration 2015 - 2028
- Laughlin, M. J., J. Barker, B. Bambach, O. N. Koc, D. A. Rizzieri, J. E. Wagner, S. L. Gerson, et al. “Hematopoietic engraftment and survival in adult recipients of umbilical-cord blood from unrelated donors.” N Engl J Med 344, no. 24 (June 14, 2001): 1815–22. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200106143442402.
- Kurtzberg, J., M. Laughlin, M. L. Graham, C. Smith, J. F. Olson, E. C. Halperin, G. Ciocci, C. Carrier, C. E. Stevens, and P. Rubinstein. “Placental blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation into unrelated recipients.” N Engl J Med 335, no. 3 (July 18, 1996): 157–66. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199607183350303.
- Kurtzberg, J., S. M. Denning, L. M. Nycum, K. H. Singer, and B. F. Haynes. “Immature human thymocytes can be driven to differentiate into nonlymphoid lineages by cytokines from thymic epithelial cells.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86, no. 19 (October 1989): 7575–79. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.86.19.7575.
- Sun, J. M., and J. Kurtzberg. “Umbilical Cord Blood or Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as Potential Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder.” In Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases, 182–88, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315151366-22.
- Sun, J. M., and J. Kurtzberg. “The Effects of Umbilical Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Cell Therapies in Animal and Human Models of Cerebral Palsy.” In Cerebral Palsy: Second Edition, 97–110, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74558-9_223.
- Page, K. M., J. M. Sun, and J. Kurtzberg. “Cord Blood Stem Cells.” In Principles of Regenerative Medicine, 149–67, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809880-6.00010-2.
- Kurtzberg, Joanne, Hemalatha G. Rangarajan, Jennifer P. Rubin, Erin Arbuckle, Tara West, Margie Ream, Shalini Shenoy, and Katie Gustafson. “Neurodevelopmental outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for infantile Krabbe disease diagnosed through newborn screening.” In Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 141:107925–107925. Elsevier BV, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107925.
- Matern, Dietrich, Khaja Basheeruddin, Tracy Klug, Gwendolyn McKee, Patricia Edge, Joanne Kurtzberg, Patricia Hall, and Joseph J. Orsini. “Newborn screening for Krabbe disease: Status quo and recommendations for improvements.” In Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 141:107955–107955. Elsevier BV, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107955.
- Xu, L., H. Min, R. E. Parrott, J. Kurtzberg, and A. J. Filiano. “UMBILICAL CORD-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS SUPPRESS MICROGLIA ACTIVATION INDUCED BY DEMYELINATION.” In CYTOTHERAPY, 25:S98–99, 2023.
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.