William J. Parsons, MD, RPVI
Cardiologist, Cardiothoracic Imaging Specialist
My Locations
About Me
I came to Duke for cardiology fellowship training in 1985. I have always enjoyed the central role of the heart in human health and helping people manage their heart and vascular disease. As a young Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke more than 25 years ago, I had the privilege of working in cardiovascular basic science with some of Duke's finest academicians. I then joined the faculty at UTSW-Dallas. Shortly after my arrival in Dallas, my daughter Abby, at the age of 3, became ill with a brain tumor. At that point, I decided to leave academics and enter private practice. After 10 years, Abby's neurosurgeon in Dallas felt that she was cured, prompting us to return to the Triangle. For 14 years, I enjoyed practicing cardiology in Raleigh with Carolina Cardiology Consultants. Given the complexities of today's health care systems, I am pleased to return to Duke after a 24-year hiatus, where I believe the best care is available to my patients. I have a particular interest in cardiac imaging and vascular medicine. My wife Darlene and I have three grown children Emily, Abigail, and Will, and have lived in Raleigh since 2001. I enjoy traveling, usually in a car, with my wife and any other family members who will join us.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2021
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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
Clinical Focus and Research
- Parsons, W. J., J. C. Rembert, R. P. Bauman, J. C. Greenfield, and C. A. Piantadosi. “Myocardial oxygenation in dogs during reactive hyperemia.” J Biomed Opt 3, no. 2 (April 1998): 191–200. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.429875.
- Boyne, T. S., B. A. Koplan, W. J. Parsons, W. H. Smith, D. D. Watson, and G. A. Beller. “Predicting adverse outcome with exercise SPECT technetium-99m sestamibi imaging in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease.” Am J Cardiol 79, no. 3 (February 1, 1997): 270–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9149(96)00746-1.
- Hansen, J., G. D. Thomas, S. A. Harris, W. J. Parsons, and R. G. Victor. “Differential sympathetic neural control of oxygenation in resting and exercising human skeletal muscle.” J Clin Invest 98, no. 2 (July 15, 1996): 584–96. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI118826.
- Meiring, James E., Farhana Khanam, Buddha Basnyat, Richelle C. Charles, John A. Crump, Frederic Debellut, Kathryn E. Holt, et al. “Typhoid fever.,” 9:71, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-023-00480-z.
- Parsons, W. J., and J. Hollman. “Ethical issues in genetic diagnosis and treatment.” In New Issues in Medical Ethics, edited by J. Hollman, 131–47, 1995.
- Piantadosi, C. A., W. J. Parsons, and J. A. Greibel. “Application of NIR spectroscopy to problems of tissue oxygenation.” In Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, edited by G. Gutierrez and J. L. Vincent, 12:41–55, 1991.
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.