Theodore N. Pappas, MD
Gastrointestinal Surgeon, General Surgeon
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About Me
I’m a general surgeon that specializes in operating on the upper abdomen as well as treating complicated abdominal wall problems like large hernias. The benefits of getting treatment at Duke are the extensive resources available that providers like myself can use. When necessary, we collaborate with other specialists and research experts at Duke in a seamless way, so the patient will get the benefit of all that we have to offer. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three daughters.
- Duke Surgical Innovation Distinguished Professorship, Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery 2009
- Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery 2022
- Vice Dean, Medical Affairs, School of Medicine 2012
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Areas of Expertise
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Abdominal Wall Hernia
- Inguinal Hernia
- Gallbladder 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
In the News
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Clinical Focus and Research
- Pryor, A. D., M. S. Branch, and T. N. Pappas. Gastrointestinal bleeding: A practical approach to diagnosis and management, second edition, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40646-6.
- Blazer, D. G., P. C. Kuo, T. Pappas, and B. M. Clary. Contemporary surgical management of liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic disease, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814293068.
- Pryor, A. D., T. N. Pappas, and M. S. Branch. Gastrointestinal bleeding: A practical approach to diagnosis and management, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1693-8.
- Scarborough, John E., Jessica Schumacher, Theodore N. Pappas, Christopher C. McCoy, Brian R. Englum, Suresh K. Agarwal, and Caprice C. Greenberg. “Which Complications Matter Most? Prioritizing Quality Improvement in Emergency General Surgery.” J Am Coll Surg 222, no. 4 (April 2016): 515–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.12.038.
- Nussbaum, Daniel P., Theodore N. Pappas, and Alexander Perez. “Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy in the Western Patient Population: Tips, Techniques, and Evidence-based Practice.” Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 25, no. 6 (December 2015): 455–61. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLE.0000000000000210.
- Li, George Z., James H. Duke, and Theodore N. Pappas. “A medical history of Governor John B. Connally and his gunshot wounds.” J Trauma Acute Care Surg 79, no. 5 (November 2015): 877–83. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000859.
- Pappas, T., A. Fernando, and M. Nathan. “Senhance Surgical System: Robotic-Assisted Digital Laparoscopy for Abdominal, Pelvic, and Thoracoscopic Procedures.” In Handbook of Robotic and Image-Guided Surgery, 1–14, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814245-5.00001-3.
- Perez, A., and T. N. Pappas. “Operative Management of Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis.” In Shackelford’s Surgery of the Alimentary Tract: 2 Volume Set, 1280–85, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-40232-3.00108-4.
- Pappas, T. N., and M. K. Mallipeddi. “Selective and nonselective vagotomies.” In Fischer’s Mastery of Surgery, Seventh Edition, 1:1095–1103, 2018.
- Speicher, Paul J., Daniel P. Nussbaum, Rebekah R. White, Sabino Zani, Paul J. Mosca, Dan G. Blazer, Bryan M. Clary, Theodore N. Pappas, Douglas S. Tyler, and Alexander Perez. “Defining the learning curve for team-based laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.” In Ann Surg Oncol, 21:4014–19, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3839-7.
- Lawson, D. C., Y. Goto, J. Wakasugi, and T. N. Pappas. “Effect of novel gastrin receptor antagonist (GG1) on acid secretion in the dog.” In GASTROENTEROLOGY, 112:A1166–A1166, 1997.
- Mergener, K., P. S. Jowell, M. S. Branch, T. N. Pappas, and J. Baillie. “Evidence-based algorithm for the management of choledocholithiasis (CDL) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).” In GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY, 45:464–464, 1997.
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.
As I previously indicated, Dr. Pappas was exceptionally focused and careful in his approach to my case. He had read all of my scans with care and, as his notes on the case attest, he listened attentively to everything I said.
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT
Dr. Pappas is a terrific Doctor. He's very cerebral and easy to discuss things with.
All very good.
Dr. Pappas and his staff are AWESOME!
The whole experience was excellent.
Excellent
I come from small town and refer to the Dr. Was very pleased with the treatment I received. Everyone was very helpful.