Margaret O. Johnson, MD, MPH
Neuro-oncologist, Palliative Medicine Specialist
My Locations
Part of the Duke Cancer Institute
About Me
I am an adult neurologist with further specialization in neuro-oncology. I treat adult patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors of the brain and spine. My focus is combining compassionate patient-centered care with cutting-edge research. I want my patients to not only live longer, but also live better. I encourage my patients to be open and honest with me about their symptoms so I can find ways to help them feel better while undergoing treatment. What I love most about my job is seeing the courage and strength exhibited by my patients and their families.
- Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery 2025
- Associate Professor in Neurology, Neurology, General & Community Neurology 2025
- Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute 2018
Areas of Expertise
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
In the News
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Clinical Focus and Research
My area of research includes studying and developing treatments for brain tumors. I am especially interested in identifying and optimizing treatment regimens in rare brain tumor sub-types. I am also interested in how supportive care measures effect survival and quality-of-life in brain tumor patients.
- Broom, Alex, Leah Williams Veazey, Katherine Kenny, Imogen Harper, Michelle Peterie, Alexander Page, Nicole Cort, et al. “The Enduring Effects of COVID for Cancer Care: Learning from Real-Life Clinical Practice.” Clin Cancer Res 29, no. 9 (May 1, 2023): 1670–77. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-0151.
- McCray, Edwin, Romaric Waguia, Rafael de la Garza Ramos, Meghan J. Price, Theresa Williamson, Tara Dalton, Daniel M. Sciubba, et al. “Racial disparities in inpatient clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes in brain metastasis.” Neurooncol Pract 10, no. 1 (February 2023): 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1093/nop/npac061.
- Crooms, Rita C., Margaret O. Johnson, Heather Leeper, Ambereen Mehta, Michelle McWhirter, and Akanksha Sharma. “Easing the Journey-an Updated Review of Palliative Care for the Patient with High-Grade Glioma.” Curr Oncol Rep 24, no. 4 (April 2022): 501–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-022-01210-6.
- Harrison, Rebecca A., Nazanin K. Majd, Margaret O. Johnson, Diana L. Urbauer, Vinay Puduvalli, and Mustafa Khasraw. “Characterization of industry relationships in oncology.” In Cancer, 129:2848–55, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34852.
- Bell, April, Margaret Johnson, Erik Ladomersky, Kim Miri, Junfei Zhao, Jason Miska, Lijie Zhai, et al. “TMIC-15. AGE-RELATED MARKERS FOR SENESCENCE INCREASE IN THE OLDER ADULT EXTRATUMORAL MOUSE BRAIN DUE TO GLIOBLASTOMA.” In Neuro-Oncology, 7:vii274–vii274. Oxford University Press, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac209.1059.
- Affronti, Mary Lou, Mallika Patel, Erin Severance, Charles Loughlin, Claire Bradbury, James E. I. I. Herndon, Kendra Boyd, et al. “QOL-08. PHASE II RANDOMIZED STUDY TO EVALUATE EFFICACY AND SATISFACTION OF ROLAPITANT PLUS ONDANSETRON VS. ONDANSETRON MONOTHERAPY IN PREVENTING NAUSEA/VOMITING FOR GLIOMAS RECEIVING RADIATION/ TEMOZOLOMIDE.” In NEURO-ONCOLOGY, 24:vii242–vii242, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuroonc/noac209.935.
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.