
Overview
I am a hematology/oncology specialist who first decided to work with cancer patients after volunteering for several years at the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. I have a concentration in breast cancer but treat all types of cancer and blood disorders. I have been privileged to work with a very diverse, multicultural patient population from all areas of the world. I feel that it is very important to take a multidisciplinary approach to address all patient needs throughout their cancer journey. I remain deeply committed to that goal, involving their caregivers and all other team members to provide the highest level of support and patient care. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and did my medical training in the Washington, D.C. region. In my free time, I enjoy being a wife and devoted mother to two sons, going to the opera, singing, traveling, and cooking.
Dr. Howard is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). Her top areas of expertise are Paget Disease of the Breast, Breast Cancer, Hemangioma Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS).
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
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- HMO
- POS
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE SNP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- MEDICARE DISCOUNT CARD
- MEDICARE PDP
- OTHER MEDICARE
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
40 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Blood Cancer Center
I have over twenty years of experience as a hematologist-oncologist focusing in hematologic malignancies, leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, and myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes. My patient care philosophy stresses interactive discussions with patients and their families on what to expect from the illness and treatment options, making sure that all their concerns and questions are addressed. Caring for patients with cancer is complex and my care team is dedicated to helping patients with the family, social, emotional, and financial issues, in addition to compassionate medical care. Dr. Kirby is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). Her top areas of expertise are Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Multiple Myeloma, Follicular Lymphoma, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
Duke Blood Cancer Center
I study disorders of the bone marrow and bone marrow failure syndromes. I also see some leukemias and lymphomas and other blood malignancies. Duke offers a very personalized, individualized level of care to each patient. Nobody is the same, so we take the whole patient, we listen to them, and we offer our best recommendations for treatment options. We offer some of the latest treatment options that are available, usually in the setting of a clinical trial. If not, we offer the latest advancement in the field. When I was going through medical school, molecular biology was the new field. Everything was being described as a new cancer-causing gene. And to me that was so appealing – we’re going to figure out what causes cancer and new ways to treat it. That’s what really brought me into the hematology oncology world – things were being discovered that were new and exciting and hopefully would lead to new treatment options. Duke offers an extremely high standard of care. Though we’re not always successful and the disease sometimes wins, our goal is to give the patients the best possible care. Dr. Decastro is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). His top areas of expertise are Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), Aplastic Anemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia without Maturation, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
Duke Health Integrated Practice Inc
Danielle Brander is a Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Brander is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). Her top areas of expertise are Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic B-Cell Leukemia (CBCL), Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL), Leukemia, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Brander is currently accepting new patients.
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
- Distinguished
- Breast CancerDr. Howard isDistinguished. Learn about Breast Cancer.
- Paget Disease of the BreastDr. Howard isDistinguished. Learn about Paget Disease of the Breast.
- Advanced
- Hemangioma Thrombocytopenia Syndrome
- Experienced
- Acute Mountain SicknessDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about Acute Mountain Sickness.
- ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung CancerDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Anal CancerDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about Anal Cancer.
- AngiosarcomaDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about Angiosarcoma.
- Childhood Iron Deficiency AnemiaDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia.
- Chromophobe Renal Cell CarcinomaDr. Howard isExperienced. Learn about Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma.


