Duke Health Provider question
I am passionate about providing the best, most comprehensive individualized care and treatments to my patients.
– Laura Alder, MD

Laura Alder, MD

Medical Oncologist

Duke Health Provider question
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Cancer Center - Durham, NC
Duke Cancer Center Thoracic Clinic - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Med, Medical Oncology
I am passionate about providing the best, most comprehensive individualized care and treatments to my patients.
– Laura Alder, MD

About Me

I have aspired to be a physician since I was five years old. The ability to help others and make a positive difference in the lives of my patients has always appealed to me. As an oncologist, I cherish the close and long-term relationships I have with my patients and their families. Establishing this connection, and understanding each person’s unique goals and values, allows me to provide the very best individualized care and treatment plan. As a medical oncologist with Duke Cancer Center, I specialize in thoracic oncology, seeing patients with lung cancer as well as mesothelioma. I am fortunate to have a terrific multidisciplinary team, ensuring the patient is at the center of every discussion. When I am not working, I love spending time with my golden retriever Ace, my friends, and my family.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

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
102 ratings, 2 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Med, Medical Oncology
Fellowship
Hematology-Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, 2020-2023
Residency
Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017-2020
Education
MD, UQ-Ochsner Health (Louisiana), 2017

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research is aimed at advancing the treatments of patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other thoracic cancers. To do so, I am involved with designing and leading clinical trials which offer new and exciting options to our patients. I am also passionate about new advancements for patients with brain metastases from their lung cancer. I work with a wonderful multidisciplinary team including other medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Our shared goal is to provide exceptional, personalized care and find the very best therapies that will enable our patients to fight their cancer.

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.

    • **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.