Muhammad Zafar, MD
Accepting New Patients
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I've learned that a doctor's job is not only to prescribe medication but also provide education, counseling and support when dealing with diseases.
– Muhammad Zafar, MD

Muhammad Zafar, MD

Pediatric Epileptologist, Pediatric Neurologist

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Where I See Patients
Duke Children's Health Center Neurology Clinic - Durham, NC
Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center - Durham, NC
Duke Children's Neurology Creekstone - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Psychiatry/Neurology, Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry/Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology
I've learned that a doctor's job is not only to prescribe medication but also provide education, counseling and support when dealing with diseases.
– Muhammad Zafar, MD

About Me

Because of my family experiences I was drawn into the field of medicine early in my life. One of my close family members suffered from epilepsy since she was very young. I witnessed the adverse effect of epilepsy on socio-economic, education and quality of life of not just the patient, but the entire family. I learned that a doctor’s job is not only to prescribe medication but also provide education, counseling, and support when dealing with diseases like epilepsy. My two young children keep my wife and I active and on our toes. We take them hiking, camping, swimming, and any other outdoor activities possibly available that keeps them busy and promises a full night’s sleep. I enjoy woodworking and wood carving in my free time and enjoy seeing raw wood transformed into a useful daily accessory or an artistic gift.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English, Hindi, Sindhi, Urdu

Call for an Appointment

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry/Neurology, Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry/Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology
Fellowship
Child Neurology, University of Kentucky, 2013-2016
Clinical Neurophysiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2016-2017
Residency
Pediatrics, Maimonides Infant and Children Hospital (New York), 2009-2012
Pediatrics, Chief Resident, Metropolitan Hospital (New York), 2012-2013
Education
MBBS, King Edward Medical College (Pakistan), 2005

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research is focused on finding a cure for epilepsy. I conduct clinical trials for emerging and promising medical therapies in epilepsy. My work also involves finding new methods to detect the cause of epilepsy which can then guide surgeons to achieve the best outcome. With the help of these clinical trials and innovative techniques I hope to offer patients, whose seizures are hard to treat, the latest and cutting edge nonconventional treatment options.

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.