Oke A. Anakwenze, MD, MBA
Orthopaedic Surgeon
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My Locations
About Me
I am the head of shoulder surgery at Duke. Connecting with and caring for patients is very rewarding and is the reason I went into medicine. I take pride in providing both operative and non-operative treatments based not only on the latest research and evidence but also on the unique individual needs and expectations of each patient. Being a tertiary level surgeon means that I frequently manage patients sent to me by other surgeons. “The needs of the patient come first” and “first do no harm” are two phrases that guide me during every patient interaction. This ensures that each patient receives the same care as I would provide a family member of mine. I am supported by an excellent team that all share the same mission of outstanding patient care. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, reading, and staying active.
- Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2023
- Core Faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship 2021
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Areas of Expertise
- Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder Instability Surgery
- Proximal Humerus Fracture Surgery
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
Clinical Focus and Research
My research interests include the further understanding of shoulder pathologies, such as rotator cuff tears and outcome-based research evaluating our treatment strategies. I am evaluating predictive factors of outcomes after shoulder replacement surgeries to better counsel patients ahead of time. From a global health care perspective, I work with experts in other disciplines to do study strategies for making health care more affordable while providing high value to patients.
- Pyrocarbon Clinical Follow-up Study awarded by Tornier, Inc. 2024 - 2027
- Bethell, Mikhail A., Hannah R. Mahoney, Kwabena Adu-Kwarteng, Lulla V. Kiwinda, Amy G. Clark, Bradley G. Hammill, Yaw D. Boachie-Adjei, Oke Anakwenze, and Christian A. Péan. “The impact of socioeconomic factors on 90-day postoperative readmissions and cost in shoulder arthroplasty patients.” J Shoulder Elbow Surg 34, no. 5 (May 2025): 1347–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2024.09.011.
- Lorentz, Samuel, Caroline N. Park, Christopher P. Roche, Christopher S. Klifto, and Oke Anakwenze. “Do constrained liners (in a 145° onlay implant) provide any benefit? A matched retrospective study.” J Shoulder Elbow Surg 34, no. 5 (May 2025): 1158–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2024.08.042.
- Rodriguez, Kaitlyn, Jay Levin, Justin Solomon, Eoghan T. Hurley, Daniel Lorenzana, Ehsan Samei, Yaw Boachie-Adjie, Robert French, Oke Anakwenze, and Christopher Klifto. “Preoperative planning for shoulder arthroplasty is feasible with computed tomography at lower-than-conventional radiation doses.” J Shoulder Elbow Surg 34, no. 5 (May 2025): 1185–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2024.08.038.
- Hurley, E. T., M. S. Davey, C. Klifto, O. Anakwenze, H. Mullett, and L. Pauzenberger. “Total shoulder arthroplasty in middle-aged patients.” In Shoulder Arthritis across the Life Span: From Joint Preservation to Arthroplasty, 229–36, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33298-2_25.
- Gibbons, M. C., T. Cheng, O. Anakwenze, A. Singh, A. J. Engler, and S. Ward. “Novel Histological Evidence for Aberrant Stem Cell Function in Diseased Rotator Cuff Muscle.” In MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, Vol. 26. AMER SOC CELL BIOLOGY, 2015.
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.