Shelley R. McDonald, DO, PhD
Geriatric Medicine Specialist
My Locations
About Me
As a physician, I strive to create a partnership with my patients, aiming to optimize their medical conditions while respecting their personal preferences to help each older adult maintain autonomy. I grew up in Central Texas and had a close relationship with my grandmother, which taught me at an early age to appreciate how much older adults value independence.
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care 2021
- Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development 2020
Call for an Appointment
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
I am currently exploring dietary interventions to maintain muscle mass in functional limited obese older adults undergoing planned weight loss.
- Coles, Theresa, Laura S. Mkumba, Leslie Zapata Leiva, Kate Plyler, Shelley R. McDonald, Sandhya Lagoo-Deenadayalan, and Bryce B. Reeve. “Facilitators and barriers to eliciting physical function goals before and after surgery: A qualitative study with clinicians.” Patient Educ Couns 119 (February 2024): 108078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.108078.
- Wong, S. P., J. Tu, S. Downie, M. T. Heflin, S. R. McDonald, and M. Yanamadala. “Delirium education for geriatric patients and their families: A quality improvement initiative✰.” Aging and Health Research 3, no. 1 (March 1, 2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2023.100123.
- Kazaure, Hadiza S., Shelley R. McDonald, and Sandhya A. Lagoo-Deenadayalan. “A Sobering Tale of Missed Opportunities for Advance Care Planning-Now Is the Time for Action.” JAMA Surg 157, no. 10 (October 1, 2022): e223693. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2022.3693.
- Wingfield, S. A., and S. R. McDonald. “Geriatric Models of Care: Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH).” In Geriatrics Models of Care: Bringing ‘Best Practice’ to an Aging America, Second Edition, 377–82, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56204-4_40.
- Little, Milta, Shelley McDonald, David Schlientz, and yooh hie Kim. “Perioperative medical assessment of older adults.” In Pathy’s Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine. John Wiley & Sons, 2022.
- McDonald, S. R. “Oral Nutritional Supplementation Using Beverages for Older Adults.” In Nutrition and Health (United Kingdom), Part F3922:207–21, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23672-8_14.
- Zietlow, Kahli E., Serena Wong, Shelley R. McDonald, Cathleen Colón-Emeric, Christy Cassas, Sandhya Lagoo-Deenadayalan, and Mitchell T. Heflin. “Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH): A Descriptive Analysis of Cancelled Surgery.” In World J Surg, 45:109–15, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05772-z.
- Zietlow, Kahli E., Deborah M. Oyeyemi, Sarah E. Cook, Margaret Hardy, Shelley R. McDonald, Sandhya Lagoo-Deenadayalan, Mitchell T. Heflin, and Heather E. Whitson. “RESEARCHCognition and Capacity to Consent for Elective Surgery.” In J Am Geriatr Soc, 68:2694–96, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16786.
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
- The Gerontological Society of America