
Overview
I'm proud to work at Duke as it has a tremendous hospital and tremendous people to work with. The quality of care here is excellent and really can’t be compared to anywhere else. That’s what keeps me here. We do more complex heart surgeries here than almost anyone else in the country. When you need heart surgery, you want it done by someone who does a lot of it. Our numbers are comparable to the top places in the country. We do complex surgery and we do it well. The thing about heart surgery is that we make people better. That’s what I really like – helping people who couldn’t breathe or couldn’t walk because their heart was failing, and we were able to make them better.
Dr. Gaca is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrombophlebitis. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Stenosis, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 96 peer reviewed articles and participating in 2 clinical trials. 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
- 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
2301 Erwin Rd, 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.
2 Clinical Trials
Duke Spine Center - Clinic 1B/1C
I am a neurosurgeon and researcher who focuses on surgical solutions for movement disorders and pain due to cancer, prior nerve injury, stroke, failed back surgery, limb amputation, trigeminal neuralgia and other causes. I have always been fascinated by how the brain and spinal cord works, converting a thought in your mind to a physical action or feeling. As a neurosurgeon, I get to treat people who have problems with this process. Every day, I get to help patients make dramatic improvements in their quality of life, which is greatly rewarding. At Duke, we’re lucky to have access to the latest technologies and world-class research. Our technology allows us to perform surgeries in the least invasive, most precise ways possible. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three young boys. Dr. Lad is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrombophlebitis. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Neuralgia, Chronic Pain, Laminectomy, and Deep Brain Stimulation.
Duke Advanced Abdominal Disease Clinic - Clinic 2B/2C
I’m a general surgeon that specializes in operating on the upper abdomen as well as treating complicated abdominal wall problems like large hernias. The benefits of getting treatment at Duke are the extensive resources available that providers like myself can use. When necessary, we collaborate with other specialists and research experts at Duke in a seamless way, so the patient will get the benefit of all that we have to offer. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three daughters. Dr. Pappas is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrombophlebitis. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (GEP-NET), Umbilical Hernia, Appendectomy, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Mark Koruda is a General Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Koruda is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Thrombophlebitis. His top areas of expertise are Gastrointestinal Fistula, Hernia, Diverticular Disease, Ileostomy, and Colostomy.
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
- Aortic Valve ReplacementDr. Gaca isDistinguished. Learn about Aortic Valve Replacement.
- Aortic Valve StenosisDr. Gaca isDistinguished. Learn about Aortic Valve Stenosis.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)Dr. Gaca isDistinguished. Learn about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
- Mitral StenosisDr. Gaca isDistinguished. Learn about Mitral Stenosis.
- Mitral Valve RegurgitationDr. Gaca isDistinguished. Learn about Mitral Valve Regurgitation.
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- Advanced
- Aortic DissectionDr. Gaca isAdvanced. Learn about Aortic Dissection.
- Aortic RegurgitationDr. Gaca isAdvanced. Learn about Aortic Regurgitation.
- Bicuspid Aortic ValveDr. Gaca isAdvanced. Learn about Bicuspid Aortic Valve.
- Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta
- EndocarditisDr. Gaca isAdvanced. Learn about Endocarditis.
- Heart Bypass SurgeryDr. Gaca isAdvanced. Learn about Heart Bypass Surgery.
- Experienced
- Adenosine Deaminase 2 DeficiencyDr. Gaca isExperienced. Learn about Adenosine Deaminase 2 Deficiency.
- Aneurysm RepairDr. Gaca isExperienced. Learn about Aneurysm Repair.
- Atrial MyxomaDr. Gaca isExperienced. Learn about Atrial Myxoma.
- Collapsed LungDr. Gaca isExperienced. Learn about Collapsed Lung.
- Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation
- Constrictive PericarditisDr. Gaca isExperienced. Learn about Constrictive Pericarditis.


