
Overview
With over 20 years of experience as a busy general thoracic surgeon, I am referred patients with cancers in the chest and other difficult problems involving all the organs of the chest that are not from cancer. One of the things that attracted me to the field is the long-term relationship with my patients. I tell all my patients that I’m their doctor for life. I see patients for many, many years. Back in 2000, when we had a 26-inch snow here -- it was a Tuesday -- on my clinic day, everyone said no one would come to clinic. But I actually had 23 or 24 patients show up in four-wheel drives. It’s not that I’m such a fabulous doctor that they came to see me. It’s that they are cancer patients and this was their annual visit or their follow up. It was important to them. So we were here for them, and they came. I enjoy seeing my patients back 12, 13, 14 years later and learning what they’ve been up to and what their families have been up to. That’s a bond you get in oncology that a lot of other fields don’t have that treat patients then turn them back over to their primary care physicians. We as a team follow people, and I like that.
Dr. Harpole is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Subcutaneous Emphysema. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Endoscopy, and Advanced Bronchoscopy.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 113 peer reviewed articles and participating in 1 clinical trial. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- 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
- HMO
- POS
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Locations
20 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
3404 Wake Forest Rd, Decatur, GA 30034
20 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.
1 Clinical Trials
Duke Cancer Center
I graduated from Harvard University (BA) and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University (MD). I received training in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. After completing a Fellowship in Thoracic Surgical Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, I joined the faculty at Duke University Medical Center. I am currently Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery, Chief of the Section of General Thoracic Surgery, Director of the Training Program in Thoracic Surgery, and Chief Medical Officer of the Duke Cancer Institute. I specialize in the surgical management of lung cancer and esophageal cancer, with a focus on minimally invasive thoracic surgery. As Vice Chair of Surgery, I am responsible for the development of technology and innovation in the Department. As Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program of the Duke Cancer Institute, I supervise the clinical and research programs in lung cancer and esophageal cancer. I am also involved in improving safety and quality in cancer care, as a member of the Duke Safety and Quality Committee. Dr. D'amico is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Subcutaneous Emphysema. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Adenocarcinoma, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Benjamin Haithcock is a General Surgeon and a Thoracic Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Haithcock is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Subcutaneous Emphysema. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Lung Transplant, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Haithcock is currently accepting new patients.
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh
A significant portion of my practice involves advanced minimally invasive techniques in thoracic surgery to treat diseases such as lung or esophageal cancer. Another part of my clinical practice is spent taking care of patients with severe lung disease, especially those needing lung transplantation. Patients from all over the world come to Duke for lung transplantation. Research demonstrates that experience is very important in taking care of complex medical problems, both on the surgical side and on the medical side. We have one of the largest transplant centers in the world with excellent survival statistics, as well as the shortest wait list time. Instead of the national average which may be four to six months, our patients wait an average of about two weeks. One of the best aspects of being a patient or working at Duke is the people who work here. No matter how challenging the medical problems may be or what problems may arise, I know there’s a world’s expert a phone call away who can help intervene and I know that my patients will be cared for by committed Duke staff from across the hospital. Dr. Hartwig is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Subcutaneous Emphysema. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Hiatal Hernia, Thymic Epithelial Tumor, Endoscopy, and Heart Transplant.
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 CancerDr. Harpole isElite. Learn about Lung Cancer.
- MesotheliomaDr. Harpole isElite. Learn about Mesothelioma.
- Distinguished
- ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung CancerDr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Lung NodulesDr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about Lung Nodules.
- Metastatic Pleural TumorDr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about Metastatic Pleural Tumor.
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)Dr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
- Pleuropulmonary BlastomaDr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about Pleuropulmonary Blastoma.
- Squamous Cell Lung CarcinomaDr. Harpole isDistinguished. Learn about Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma.
- Advanced
- EGFR Positive Lung CancerDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about EGFR Positive Lung Cancer.
- Esophageal CancerDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about Esophageal Cancer.
- Esophageal PerforationDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about Esophageal Perforation.
- Lung AdenocarcinomaDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about Lung Adenocarcinoma.
- PneumomediastinumDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about Pneumomediastinum.
- Subcutaneous EmphysemaDr. Harpole isAdvanced. Learn about Subcutaneous Emphysema.
- Experienced
- Advanced BronchoscopyDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Advanced Bronchoscopy.
- Collapsed LungDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Collapsed Lung.
- EmphysemaDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Emphysema.
- EndoscopyDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Endoscopy.
- Fibrosing MediastinitisDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Fibrosing Mediastinitis.
- GastrostomyDr. Harpole isExperienced. Learn about Gastrostomy.


