Stuart J. Knechtle, MD
Accepting New Patients
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My favorite part of the job is interacting with patients and seeing them after surgery doing well.
– Stuart J. Knechtle, MD

Stuart J. Knechtle, MD

Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Surgeon, Liver Transplant Surgeon, Pediatric Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Pediatric Liver Transplant Surgeon

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Duke Cancer Center Gastrointestinal (GI) Clinic - Durham, NC
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
My favorite part of the job is interacting with patients and seeing them after surgery doing well.
– Stuart J. Knechtle, MD

About Me

Duke is where I learned surgery, was taught how to interact with patients, and began my professional training. I am returning to Duke after working at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and later Emory (Atlanta) as a transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon. I enjoy working with adults and children who need surgery of the liver and biliary tract, liver vascular surgery, or kidney transplantation. I am actively engaged in research to reduce the risk of rejection of organ transplants. My wife and I have three sons, and we enjoy sports and being outdoors.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions
Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

Areas of Expertise

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship
Multi-Organ Transplantation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1989-1991
Residency
Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1982-1984
Research Fellow, Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1984-1986
Senior Resident, Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1986-1988 (Chief Resident, 1988-1989)
Education
MD, Cornell University Medical College (New York), 1982

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research laboratory has been funded by the NIH since 1992 and focuses on strategies to prevent organ transplant rejection. In particular, we are focused on immunologic tolerance strategies, monitoring of rejection, and strategies to prevent antibody-mediated rejection. I lead several clinical trials including research to treat autoimmune hepatitis and development of better liver preservation using machine perfusion. I have helped develop new treatment protocols for liver cancer that benefit patients with cancer of the bile ducts.

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

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a subsidiary of AstraZeneca
  • Allovir
  • Hanall BioPharma
  • Hansa BioPharma
  • Pfizer Inc.
  • Renovar
  • Summome
  • Visterra