Zak Loring, MD, MHS
Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist
My Locations
About Me
I am a cardiac electrophysiologist specializing in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders and management of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). I am particularly interested in the management and treatment of atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and conduction system pacing. I manage patients with cardiac rhythm disorders, perform catheter-based cardiac ablation, and implant pacemakers and defibrillators.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiology 2022
- Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute 2023
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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
My research utilizes signal processing of electrocardiographic data and novel analytic techniques to better phenotype patients and identify those for whom interventional electrophysiology procedures may be most beneficial. This includes predicting which patients with left bundle branch block may benefit from early cardiac resynchronization therapy or conduction system pacing. I also analyze population level data to identify patients at high risk for adverse sequelae of rhythm disorders who may benefit from early intervention.
- Coles, Sara A., Ilya Y. Shadrin, Sana M. Al-Khatib, Jonathan P. Piccini, Albert Y. Sun, James P. Daubert, Donald D. Hegland, et al. “Use of a Stylet Driven Lead With a Flexible Neck for Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: A Single Center Experience.” J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 36, no. 4 (April 2025): 771–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.16586.
- Lin, Anthony L., Kelli Allen, Jorge A. Gutierrez, Jonathan P. Piccini, and Zak Loring. “Care for Atrial Fibrillation and Outcomes in Rural Versus Urban Communities in the United States: A Systematic and Narrative Review.” J Am Heart Assoc 14, no. 5 (March 4, 2025): e036899. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.036899.
- Nenadic, Ivan, and Zak Loring. “Casting a Wide (QT) Net to Prevent Torsades de Pointes.” JACC Clin Electrophysiol 10, no. 5 (May 2024): 967–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2024.03.012.
- Loring, Zak, Suchit Mehrotra, Jonathan P. Piccini, John Camm, David Carlson, Gregg C. Fonarow, Keith A. A. Fox, Eric D. Peterson, Karen Pieper, and Ajay K. Kakkar. “Machine learning does not improve upon traditional regression in predicting outcomes in atrial fibrillation: an analysis of the ORBIT-AF and GARFIELD-AF registries.” In Europace, 22:1635–44, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa172.
- Loring, Zak, Peter Shrader, Larry Allen, Rosalia Blanco, Paul Chan, Michael Ezekowitz, Gregg Fonarow, et al. “ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GUIDELINE-DIRECTED MEDICAL THERAPIES FOR COMORBID CONDITIONS AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION.” In Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 73:476–476. Elsevier BV, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0735-1097(19)31084-8.
- Loring, Zak, Rebecca North, Anne Hellkamp, Gervasio A. Lamas, and Jonathan P. Piccini. “Asynchronous Ventricular Pacing in Patients With Normal QRS Duration and Ventricular Function: Implications for Leadless Pacemakers.” In CIRCULATION, Vol. 140, 2019.
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.
External Relationships
- Boston Scientific Corporation
- Huxley Medical, Inc