Peter G. Passias, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Spine Surgeon
My Locations
About Me
Throughout my medical career, I have remained dedicated to improving my patients' quality of life. As a specialist in adult cervical and spinal deformity surgery, I understand the significant impact our interventions have on individuals suffering from debilitating pain and physical and mental health challenges. Spinal deformity surgery merges the complexities of spinal biomechanics with the needs of an aging population. My research focuses on spinal alignment, biomechanics, innovative surgical techniques, and health economics to ensure value-based care that enhances patient outcomes.
- Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2024
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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 dedicated to conducting and supporting research that addresses the complex challenges of spinal disorders and deformities. Research Highlight (As of July 2024): • Written 546 peer-reviewed publications and five book chapters • Co-chair of the Editorial Board for The Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine and the Deputy Editor for The Spine Journal. • Received Awards and fellowships from the American Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the Scoliosis Research Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, the North American Spine Society, and others.
- Yung, Anthony, Oluwatobi O. Onafowokan, Max R. Fisher, Ethan J. Cottrill, Isabel P. Prado, Iryna Ivasyk, Caroline M. Wu, et al. “Single-Position Prone Lateral Interbody Fusion Is Associated With Improved Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes at One Year Compared With Single-Position Lateral Interbody Fusion: A Single Institution Experience.” Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 50, no. 10 (May 15, 2025): E198–99. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005320.
- Mir, Jamshaid M., Oluwatobi O. Onafowokan, Pawel P. Jankowski, Oscar Krol, Tyler Williamson, Ankita Das, Zach Thomas, et al. “Despite a Multifactorial Etiology, Rates of Distal Junctional Kyphosis After Adult Cervical Deformity Corrective Surgery Can be Dramatically Diminished by Optimizing Age Specific Radiographic Improvement.” Global Spine J 15, no. 4 (May 2025): 2443–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682241303103.
- Passias, Peter G., Lara Passfall, Peter S. Tretiakov, Ankita Das, Oluwatobi O. Onafowokan, Justin S. Smith, Virginie Lafage, et al. “Have We Made Advancements in Optimizing Surgical Outcomes and Enhancing Recovery for Patients With High-Risk Adult Spinal Deformity Over Time?” Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 28, no. 5 (May 1, 2025): 617–26. https://doi.org/10.1227/ons.0000000000001420.
- Passias, P. G., F. A. Segreto, S. R. Horn, and C. A. Bortz. “Adolescent and Adult Spinal Deformity: Operative Management.” In Evidence-Based Orthopedics: Second Edition, 693–98, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119413936.ch117.
- Passias, P. G., G. W. Poorman, M. B. Janjua, and S. R. Horn. “Inflammatory arthritides.” In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Spine 5, 493–504, 2018.
- Kaye, D. I., and P. G. Passias. “Spine trauma.” In Rehabilitative Surgery: A Comprehensive Text for an Emerging Field, 95–111, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41406-5_9.
- Assi, A., M. Khalifé, G. Prince, M. Boutros, M. Karam, C. P. Ames, S. Bess, et al. “Three-dimensional evaluation of the dynamic interplay between pelvic anatomy, lower-limb compensation, and standing alignment in ASD.” In Spine Journal, 24:S69, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.034.
- Passias, P. G., J. Mir, J. S. Smith, V. Lafage, R. Lafage, B. G. Diebo, A. H. Daniels, et al. “Quantifying the importance of upper cervical extension reserve in adult cervical deformity surgery and its impact on baseline presentation and outcomes.” In Spine Journal, 24:S168, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.334.
- Theologis, A. A., J. L. Gum, E. O. Klineberg, M. C. Gupta, R. A. Hostin, K. M. Kebaish, J. K. Scheer, et al. “Medicare's benchmarking spinal DRGs have limited utility in capturing key quality metrics for adult spinal deformity (ASD).” In Spine Journal, 24:S135–36, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.166.
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.
External Relationships
- Amgen, Inc.
- Cerapedics
- Globus Medical
- Innovasis
- Journal of Clinical Medicine - Editorial Board
- Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine - Editorial Board
- Medtronic
- Royal Biologics
- Spine - Deputy Editor
- Spineart
- isto biologics