Overview
I am a general thoracic surgeon specializing in the treatment of thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, as well as lung transplantation for patients with end-stage lung diseases. For cancer surgery, I offer minimally invasive approaches—including robotic-assisted and thoracoscopic surgery—that promote faster recovery and reduce postoperative pain. In cases of advanced cancer, I take a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care. Lung transplantation has been the central focus of my career. I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable recovery of patients once debilitated by severe dyspnea. I am honored to be part of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, which has performed more than 2,600 lung transplants, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Before joining Duke, I practiced in Japan, where I personally performed more than 400 lung transplants, including 180 living-donor lung transplants—the largest such experience in the world.
Dr. Date is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Liposarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mediastinitis, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 621 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 2 articles in the study of Liposarcoma.
Insurance
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Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Locations
40 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
Duke University Health System Inc
I have the privilege of treating patients with both benign and malignant conditions of the chest. While in college at Georgia Tech, I envisioned a career as a biomedical engineer. What I quickly learned, however, was that I was more interested in patients and their medical problems than developing the technology to care for them. During my medical education and training, I learned not only how to become a surgeon, but also learned the value of teamwork and family in caring for patients. As a thoracic surgeon, one of the best and most important aspects of my job is being able to establish a relationship with my patients and their families, working together to help them through their illness. Dr. Tong is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Liposarcoma. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Vagotomy, and Mastectomy.
University Of North Carolina Hospitals
Benjamin Haithcock is a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Haithcock is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Liposarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Lung Transplant, and Gastrostomy.
Duke University Health System Inc
Many years ago, I came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Since that time, those words have guided my professional life from the field I chose to how I care for my patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia. With every individual and their families, I make sure that they appreciate my understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. As a result, I pride myself on reassuring my patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit they know that I have their best interests at heart. Personally, my wife and I are the proud parents of three boys. Consequently, I like to spend my free time making use of their unlimited energy by running them around at all the great parks in the local area. Dr. Klapper is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Liposarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Esophageal Perforation, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Elite
- Lung TransplantDr. Date isElite. Learn about Lung Transplant.
- Distinguished
- ThymectomyDr. Date isDistinguished. Learn about Thymectomy.
- Advanced
- Bone Marrow TransplantDr. Date isAdvanced. Learn about Bone Marrow Transplant.
- EndoscopyDr. Date isAdvanced. Learn about Endoscopy.
- Lung NodulesDr. Date isAdvanced. Learn about Lung Nodules.
- MediastinitisDr. Date isAdvanced. Learn about Mediastinitis.
- Pulmonary FibrosisDr. Date isAdvanced. Learn about Pulmonary Fibrosis.
- Experienced
- Adult Soft Tissue SarcomaDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
- AngioplastyDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Angioplasty.
- AngiosarcomaDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Angiosarcoma.
- Arteriovenous MalformationDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Arteriovenous Malformation.
- Chediak-Higashi SyndromeDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Chediak-Higashi Syndrome.
- Dextrocardia with Situs InversusDr. Date isExperienced. Learn about Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus.