William E. Kraus, MD
Heart Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation Specialist, Cardiologist
My Locations
About Me
I am a cardiologist trained and experienced in preventive cardiology. I have served as the medical director of the Duke Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (formerly DUPAC) since 1994. I specialize in the prevention and treatment of heart disease risk factors before and after cardiac disease develops. I direct a program that uses the principles of balancing energy intake and expenditure to treat heart disease and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. I also have an active practice for assessment and advice for the older athlete who wants to improve performance – whether he or she has heart disease or not. My research is directed at defining the best exercise regimen for the most benefit.
- Richard and Pat Johnson University Distinguished Professor, Medicine, Cardiology 2017
- Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2006
- Professor in the School of Nursing, School of Nursing 2007
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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
My research interests are in exercise and cardiometabolic health, fitness, sports, and health.
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Duke Health and Exercise Research Trials RegistryIRB# PRO00084060
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2024 - 2029
- The Effect of Exercise on T Cell Aging in Rheumatoid Arthritis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2024 - 2029
- Huffman, Kim M., Gregory P. Samsa, Cris A. Slentz, Brian D. Duscha, Johanna L. Johnson, Connie W. Bales, Charles J. Tanner, Joseph A. Houmard, and William E. Kraus. “Response of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to exercise training in an at-risk population.” Am Heart J 152, no. 4 (October 2006): 793–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2006.04.019.
- Connelly, Jessica J., Tianyuan Wang, Julie E. Cox, Carol Haynes, Liyong Wang, Svati H. Shah, David R. Crosslin, et al. “GATA2 is associated with familial early-onset coronary artery disease.” PLoS Genet 2, no. 8 (August 25, 2006): e139. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020139.
- Duscha, Brian D., Cris A. Slentz, Johanna L. Johnson, Joseph A. Houmard, Daniel R. Bensimhon, Kenneth J. Knetzger, and William E. Kraus. “Effects of exercise training amount and intensity on peak oxygen consumption in middle-age men and women at risk for cardiovascular disease.” Chest 128, no. 4 (October 2005): 2788–93. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.4.2788.
- Ward-Caviness, C., W. E. Kraus, R. Dhingra, C. L. Martin, A. Cardenas, J. Nwanaji-Enwerem, and W. E. Cascio. “Environment-induced epigenetic modifications as therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment.” In Comprehensive Precision Medicine, First Edition, Volume 1-2, 1–2:V1-413-V1-429, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824010-6.00001-0.
- McGarrah, Robert W., and William E. Kraus. “Cardiac Rehabilitation: New Emphasis on Metabolic Disease.” In Contemporary Cardiology, 311–22. Springer International Publishing, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97622-8_15.
- Kraus, W. E. “Personalized Lifestyle Medicine.” In Genomic and Precision Medicine: Cardiovascular Disease: Third Edition, 17–26, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801812-5.00013-5.
- Collins, Katherine A., Kim M. Huffman, Ruth Q. Wolever, Patrick J. Smith, Ilene C. Siegler, Leanna M. Ross, John M. Jakicic, Paul T. Costa, and William E. Kraus. “Abstract P358: Racial Differences in Determinants and Timing of Dropout From an Exercise Intervention: The STRRIDE Trials.” In Circulation, Vol. 147. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.147.suppl_1.p358.
- Collins, Katherine, Kim M. Huffman, Ruth Q. Wolever, Patrick J. Smith, Ilene C. Siegler, Leanna M. Ross, John M. Jakicic, Paul T. Costa, and William E. Kraus. “Sex Differences In Determinants And Timing Of Dropout From An Exercise Intervention: The STRRIDE Trials.” In MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE, 55:443–443, 2023.
- Collins, Katherine A., Leanna M. Ross, Lucy W. Piner, Lori A. Bateman, Ilene C. Siegler, Kim M. Huffman, and William E. Kraus. “Abstract P080: Health-related Quality Of Life Predictors Of Exercise Intervention Dropout.” In Circulation, Vol. 145. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2022. https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.145.suppl_1.p080.
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.