Kai Sun, MD, MS
Rheumatologist
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About Me
I gravitated to rheumatology early in my medical training because of the opportunities it affords to provide long-term, holistic care for my patients. Developing relationships with my patients allows me to better understand their individual needs and help them understand and manage what are often complex diseases and symptoms that may change with time. Within rheumatology, my primary clinical interests are in inflammatory arthritis, lupus, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, travel, nature, and science fiction.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology 2021
- Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences, Population Health Sciences 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
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Clinical Focus and Research
Previously, I studied the importance of exercise for improving quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis. I most recently examined medication adherence among a group of poorly assimilated Chinese immigrant patients in New York City’s Chinatown to understand ways to improve their outcomes. I continue to have an interest in international and public health, specifically health disparities among different population groups.
- Duke CTSA (KL2) awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2024
- Eudy, Amanda M., Megan E. B. Clowse, Amy Corneli, Summer Starling, Nneka Jebose Molokwu, Teresa Swezey, David S. Pisetsky, et al. “Perspectives of Rheumatologists on the Type 1 and 2 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Model.” ACR Open Rheumatology 6, no. 12 (December 2024): 865–70. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11748.
- Sun, Kai, Daniel Wojdyla, Ankoor Shah, Amanda M. Eudy, and Megan Eb Clowse. “Using linked electronic medical record-pharmacy data to examine lupus medication adherence: A retrospective cohort study.” Lupus 33, no. 12 (October 2024): 1299–1305. https://doi.org/10.1177/09612033241280695.
- Sun, Kai, Nneka J. Molokwu, Emily Hanlen-Rosado, Amy L. Corneli, Kathryn I. Pollak, Jennifer L. Rogers, Rebecca E. Sadun, et al. “Implementation of a Clinician-led Medication Adherence Intervention Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.” J Rheumatol 51, no. 9 (September 1, 2024): 884–90. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.2024-0071.
- Barr, Ann Cameron, Megan Clowse, Mithu Maheswaranathan, Lena Eder, Amanda M. Eudy, Lisa G. Criscione-Schreiber, Jennifer L. Rogers, Rebecca E. Sadun, Jayanth Doss, and Kai Sun. “Association of Hurried Communication and Low Patient Self-Efficacy With Persistent Nonadherence to Lupus Medications.” In Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 75:69–75, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25030.
- Rogers, Jennifer, Amanda Eudy, Roberta Alexander, David Pisetsky, John Conklin, Kai Sun, Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, et al. “The Use of Cell-bound Complement Activation Product to Assess Disease Activity in SLE.” In ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY, 74:4159–61, 2022.
- Sims, Catherine, Amanda Eudy, Jayanth Doss, Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, Kai Sun, Rebecca Sadun, Jennifer L. Rogers, and Megan Clowse. “The Impact of Pregnancy Planning and Medical Readiness on Reproductive Outcomes in Women with SLE.” In ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY, 74:1866–67, 2022.
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
- Aurinia Pharmaceuticals