Nandan Lad, MD, PhD
Neurosurgeon, Spine Surgeon
My Locations
About Me
I am a neurosurgeon and researcher who focuses on surgical solutions for movement disorders and pain due to cancer, prior nerve injury, stroke, failed back surgery, limb amputation, trigeminal neuralgia and other causes. I have always been fascinated by how the brain and spinal cord works, converting a thought in your mind to a physical action or feeling. As a neurosurgeon, I get to treat people who have problems with this process. Every day, I get to help patients make dramatic improvements in their quality of life, which is greatly rewarding. At Duke, we’re lucky to have access to the latest technologies and world-class research. Our technology allows us to perform surgeries in the least invasive, most precise ways possible. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three young boys.
- Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery 2021
- Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy 2024
- Core Faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship 2018
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Chronic Pain
- Nerve Injury
- Neurorestoration
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Neuromodulation
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Movement Disorders
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
I am involved in a many clinical research studies and basic science collaborations to better understand the mechanisms that cause pain and movement disorders and how we can modulate the nervous system. I am committed to developing innovative treatments for challenging neurological conditions to help my patients and advance the field.
- Petersen, Erika A., Shawn M. Sills, Thomas G. Stauss, Rose Province-Azalde, Michael J. Jaasma, Deborah R. Edgar, Judith L. White, et al. “Long-term efficacy of 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation in managing painful diabetic neuropathy: A post-study survey.” Pain Pract 25, no. 5 (June 2025): e70023. https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.70023.
- Adil, Syed M., Andreas Seas, Daniel P. Sexton, Pranav I. Warman, Benjamin D. Wissel, Kennedy L. Carpenter, Lacey Carter, et al. “Revisiting the Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success Score using machine learning: can we do better?” J Neurosurg Pediatr 35, no. 3 (March 1, 2025): 246–54. https://doi.org/10.3171/2024.9.PEDS24146.
- Sass, L. R., M. Khani, M. C. Giordano, A. R. McCabe, S. P. Lad, and B. A. Martin. “An In Vitro Platform for Pharmacokinetic Quantification and Optimization of Cerebrospinal Fluid Filtration and Drug Circulation.” Journal of Medical Devices 19, no. 1 (March 1, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4066862.
- Rahimpour, S., and S. P. Lad. “Traumatic brain injury and potential for neuromodulation.” In Translational Research in Traumatic Brain Injury, 353–63, 2016.
- Lad, S. P., E. A. Petersen, A. Marky, T. R. Deer, and R. M. Levy. “Neurostimulation: Stimulation of the Cranium and Head: Stimulation of the Deep Brain for the Treatment of Chronic Pain.” In Atlas of Implantable Therapies for Pain Management: Second Edition, 225–28, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2110-2_32.
- Lad, S. P., E. Petersen, A. Marky, T. R. Deer, R. M. Levy, and C. A. Feler. “Stimulation of the Spinal Cord by Placement of Surgical-Based Paddle Leads.” In Atlas of Implantable Therapies for Pain Management: Second Edition, 41–47, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2110-2_8.
- Adil, S. M., L. T. Charalambous, C. A. Spears, M. Kiyani, S. E. Hodges, Z. Yang, H. J. Lee, et al. “Impact of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Opioid Dose Reduction: A Nationwide Analysis.” In Neurosurgery, 89:S73, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyaa353_S073.
- Gilligan, Christopher J., and Shivanand Lad. “Long-term Durability of Restorative Neurostimulation for Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain - Two-Year Pivotal Trial Results.” In JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY, Vol. 132, 2021.
- Plichta, Jennifer K., Li Lin, Madison Ponder, Bryce B. Reeve, Rajeev Dharmapurikar, Shivanand P. Lad, Ziad F. Gellad, and E Shelley Hwang. “Improving the Patient Experience for Women Undergoing Breast Surgery: Yes, There's an App for That, Too!.” In ANNALS OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, 28:S364–65, 2021.
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.