Suma Shah, MD
Neurologist
My Locations
About Me
I am a neuroimmunologist and multiple sclerosis (MS) specialist dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care for patients with MS, neuromyelitis optica, and autoimmune conditions such as vasculitis and sarcoidosis that affect the nervous system. My goal is to support my patients in navigating these complex conditions while empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive.
In addition to my clinical work, I am passionate about education. As a clinician educator, I enjoy mentoring medical students, residents, and other learners, sharing my enthusiasm for neurology and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Outside of work, I enjoy quality time with my family, often exploring new places through travel or enjoying the beauty of nature on local hiking trails.
- Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurology, MS & Neuroimmunology 2023
- Residency Program Director in the Department of Neurology, Neurology 2023
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuromyelitis Optica
- Neurosarcoidosis
- Autoimmune Encephalitis
- Neurology of Pregnancy
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
Loading
Loading
Clinical Focus and Research
My current research focus is on the relationship between pregnancy and autoimmune neurologic diseases. I am involved in various clinical trials for multiple sclerosis.
- BEAT-MS awarded by Immune Tolerance Network 2020 - 2028
- MOGAD - awarded by Genentech, Inc. 2024 - 2026
- Durica, Sarah R., Jesse Miller, Cynthia Zheng, Parneet Grewal, Chen Zhao, Halley B. Alexander, Suma Shah, et al. “Perceptions of Lactation Experience Among Neurology Faculty and Impact of Lactation Time on Academic Achievement at U.S. Academic Medical Centers.” J Womens Health (Larchmt) 34, no. 3 (March 2025): e416–25. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2024.0363.
- Patel, Sima I., Parneet Grewal, Christa O’Hana S. Nobleza, Neishay Ayub, Kim-Eng Ky, Doris H. Kung, Suma Shah, et al. “Analysis of Faculty Gender and Race in Scholarly Achievements in Academic Neurology.” J Womens Health (Larchmt) 33, no. 11 (November 2024): 1464–75. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2023.0983.
- Paredes, Danelvis, Elijah Lackey, and Suma Shah. “Reasons for Hospital Admission in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.” Int J MS Care 26, no. Q4 (October 2024): 302–7. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2023-064.
- Oca, Mary Katherine Montes de, Shakthi Unnithan, Alaattin Erkanli, Amelia Scott, Taylor Hayes, Suma Shah, Haley Moss, and Laura Havrilesky. “Use of cryocompression to reduce peripheral neuropathy in gynecologic cancer: A randomized controlled trial (020).” In Gynecologic Oncology, 176:S15–16. Elsevier BV, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.06.486.
- Patel, Sima, Parneet Grewal, Christa O’hana Nobleza, Neishay Ayub, Doris Kung, Suma Shah, Myriam Abdennadher, et al. “Impact of Gender and Race on Academic Achievements for Neurology Faculty. (P5-2.001).” In Neurology, Vol. 100. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000203018.
- He, Annie, Parneet Grewal, Kamala Rodrigues, Suma Shah, Halley Alexander, Ailing Yang, Neishay Ayub, et al. “Parental Leave Experience for Academic Neurology Faculty at 19 Academic Centers (P5-2.006).” In Neurology, Vol. 100. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000203924.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
-
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
-
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
-
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- 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
- 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 Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
-
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
-
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
-
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
-
NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
-
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
-
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)
-
*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
-
**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
- Novartis pharmaceuticals