Michael D. Deel, MD
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It is so humbling to walk alongside patients as they go through the difficult journey of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment.
– Michael D. Deel, MD

Michael D. Deel, MD

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Specialist

Duke Health Provider question
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center - Durham, NC
It is so humbling to walk alongside patients as they go through the difficult journey of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment.
– Michael D. Deel, MD

About Me

I am a pediatric hematologist/oncologist who treats children who have blood disorders or cancer. I see patients in the hospital and I also conduct research in a laboratory investigating better ways to treat the childhood cancer rhabdomyosarcoma. Because I enjoyed finding solutions to challenging problems, I had trained and worked as an engineer. Seeking a greater sense of purpose, I switched careers and went into medicine. Pediatric hematology/oncology - with its strong foundation in curative research and opportunities to meaningfully impact the lives of children – is a dream job. It is so humbling to walk alongside patients as they go through the difficult journey of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. Because of decades of research and collaborative clinical trials, we can now offer a hope of cure to most patients. My greatest desire is to make this a reality for all children. Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, and bike riding, as well as spending time with my wife and I our three sons. We are passionate Virginia Tech sports fans and pull for Duke too (when not playing against VT). We also enjoy spending time with our church community and circle of friends in the Triangle.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

Training and Education

Fellowship
Advanced Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Research Fellowship, Duke University Medical Center, 2016-2017
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Duke University, 2013-2016
Residency
General Pediatrics, Kosair Children's Hospital/University of Louisville, 2010-2013
Education
MD, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University (West Virginia), 2010

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research focuses on finding novel ways to target fusion-positive pediatric sarcomas. My current work aims at understanding the gene regulation and molecular pathways responsible for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which is among the most difficult to cure pediatric cancers. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is driven by chromosomal translocations t(2;13) or t(1;13) that result in oncogenic transcription factors encoding for PAX3/7-FOXO1 fusion proteins. The PAX3/7-FOXO1 oncogenes are currently not viable therapeutic targets. Using a variety of cell culture and murine models, I am investigating genes and pathways that regulate or coordinate PAX3/7-FOXO1-mediated tumorigenesis.

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

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.