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Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA

Accepting New Patients

(Dr. Howard Wayne Francis, M.D.)

(204 Ratings)

Specializes in: Otology and Neurotology

Harvard Medical School (1990)

Professional interests include: cholesteatoma, skull base surgery, acoustic neuroma, and more.

234 Crooked Creek Parkway
Durham, NC 27713

(919) 385-5300

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA is an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC specializing in otology and neurotology. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1990 and has 36 years of experience. Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA is affiliated with Duke Health.

Office Locations

Duke Health

234 Crooked Creek Parkway
Durham, NC 27713

(919) 385-5300

(919) 385-5321

open_in_new

Duke Health

40 Duke Medicine Circle
Durham, NC 27710

(919) 684-2426

(919) 684-8583

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA can help you with:

Cochlear Implant Surgery

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that helps people with severe hearing loss. Although it does not treat deafness or restore hearing, it can help its users to better perceive sounds. For adults, a cochlear implant is typically recommended when traditional hearing aids are unhelpful. Children may also benefit from a cochlear implant if they are born deaf or do not fully develop auditory skills. Surgery to implant the device is called cochlear implant surgery.

Implantation begins with an incision behind the ear. The surgeon will make an opening in the portion of the ear responsible for hearing, called the cochlea. The internal portion of the implant is then placed under the skin and attached to the skull, and the incision is closed. Part of the device is placed externally, behind the ear, and connected to the internal portion by a magnet.

Cochlear implant surgery may take between one and four hours. Most patients may return home the same day or the following morning. After surgery, patients will need to follow up with their doctor and specialists for fitting and programming of the device.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"When we're young, we think nothing can ever threaten us," said Dr. Howard W. Francis, a professor of otolaryngology at the Duke University School of Medicine.”—"Your Hearing Can Get Worse as You Age. Here's How to Protect It.", New York Times, May 2025

“"Cuando somos jovenes, pensamos que nada puede amenazarnos", dijo Howard Francis, catedratico de otorrinolaringologia de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Duke.”—"Como proteger tus oidos del paso del tiempo", New York Times, May 2025

“Pero cuando estas congestionado por algo como un resfriado, alergias o una infeccion sinusal, el revestimiento puede hincharse, lo que puede obstruir la trompa, dijo Howard W. Francis, profesor de...”—"Por que duelen los oidos en los aviones y como prevenirlo", New York Times, November 2024

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC during 2012 were ear procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	223
ear procedures	88

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC during 2013 were ear procedures and implant surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	226
ear procedures	97
implant surgery	11

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	110
Female	127

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	185
Black	40
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	83
From 75 to 84	102
85 and over	22
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2013

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	6
Diabetes	29
Dementia	8
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC during 2014 were ear procedures and debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	29
doctor visit	277
ear procedures	123

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	102
Female	138

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	193
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	105
From 75 to 84	77
85 and over	28
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2014

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	29
Dementia	9
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC during 2015 were ear procedures and debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	12
doctor visit	255
ear procedures	86

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	232
Female	294

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	414
Black	74
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	248
From 75 to 84	156
85 and over	66
Less than 65	56

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2015

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	5
Diabetes	29
Dementia	5
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC during 2016 were ear procedures and implant surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	255
ear procedures	102
implant surgery	13

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	131

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	186
Black	34
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	115
From 75 to 84	78
85 and over	28
Less than 65	19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2016

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	23
Dementia	5
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	67

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	36
Female	56

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	73
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	46
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2017

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	35
Dementia	0
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	82

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	37
Female	64

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	75
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	60
From 75 to 84	25
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2018

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	23
Dementia	0
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	105

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	37
Female	62

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	75
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	28
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2019

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	74

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	36
Female	57

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	71
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	52
From 75 to 84	21
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2020

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	13
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	80

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	42
Female	48

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	66
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2021

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	55

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	34
Female	52

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	63
Black	11
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	45
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2022

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	19
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	15
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	59

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Male	33
Female	43

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	55
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA in 2023

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	14
Dementia	0
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated as an otologist and neurotologist in Durham, NC were ear procedures, debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue) and implant surgery.

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	20
doctor visit	146
ear procedures	99
implant surgery	12

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA.

**Gender**
Female	89
Male	67

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	15
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	121
Hispanic	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	12
75 to 84	46
Less than 65	11
65 to 74	71

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA From 2012 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	1
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	17
Asthma	4
Osteoporosis	3
Heart Failure	6
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	4
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	5
Dementia	2
Cancer	8

Education & Training

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1990. He completed residency at Johns Hopkins University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and has a state license in Maryland.

Medical School: Harvard Medical School (1990)

Residency: Johns Hopkins University Affiliated Hospitals (1995)

Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Licensed In: Maryland

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Duke Health

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA appears to accept the following insurance providers: MedCost, Aetna Traditional Choice, Aetna Medicare PPO, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, CIGNA Open Access Plus, WellCare, Medicare Part B, AmeriHealth, Medicare Advantage, AARP, CIGNA Open Access, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, Aetna, Aetna Workers' Compensation, TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, United Healthcare, Aetna Open Choice PPO, Medicare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, TRICARE, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Gateway Health Alliance, Aetna HMO, Alliance Health (*Beginning January 2026), *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan., Duke Employee Plans, Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA), *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan., Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS), Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II, Duke Advantage (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO), Blue Advantage (*Available in select counties only), Duke Options (*Beginning January 2026), Duke Basic, Duke USA (*Beginning January 2026), Ambetter, Experience Health, Aetna Select HMO, Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan, Blue Select, Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*, Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO, Vaya Health (*Beginning January 2026), Healthy Blue, Trillium (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option, All Savers Fully Insured, Blue Value (*Duke Health Lake Norman and Kernodle Clinics only), First Medicare Direct, Carolina Complete Health, Healthgram, All Savers Alternate Funding, Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP), Aetna/CVS Health, Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice, Partners (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan, Duke Select, Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice, NC State Employees Health Plan, Ambetter of North Carolina and United Medical Resources (UMR).

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA accepts the following insurance providers:

MedCost

Aetna Traditional Choice

Aetna Medicare PPO

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

CIGNA Open Access Plus

WellCare

Medicare Part B

AmeriHealth

Medicare Advantage

AARP

CIGNA Open Access

United Healthcare PPO

United Healthcare POS

United Healthcare HMO

Aetna

Aetna Workers' Compensation

TRICARE Prime

TRICARE Prime Remote

United Healthcare

Aetna Open Choice PPO

Medicare

Medicaid

Humana

Cigna

TRICARE

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Aetna Managed Choice POS

Gateway Health Alliance

Aetna HMO

Alliance Health (*Beginning January 2026)

*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

Duke Employee Plans

Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)

*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)

Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II

Duke Advantage (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)

Blue Advantage (*Available in select counties only)

Duke Options (*Beginning January 2026)

Duke Basic

Duke USA (*Beginning January 2026)

Ambetter

Experience Health

Aetna Select HMO

Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan

Blue Select

Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*

Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO

Vaya Health (*Beginning January 2026)

Healthy Blue

Trillium (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option

All Savers Fully Insured

Blue Value (*Duke Health Lake Norman and Kernodle Clinics only)

First Medicare Direct

Carolina Complete Health

Healthgram

All Savers Alternate Funding

Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)

Aetna/CVS Health

Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice

Partners (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan

Duke Select

Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice

NC State Employees Health Plan

Ambetter of North Carolina

United Medical Resources (UMR)

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 204 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA from all over the web to help you find the right in Durham, NC.

4.91

Overall Rating

(204 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
MED-EL Corporation	$4,585 MED-EL Maestro Cochlear Implant System $4,585
Advanced Bionics, LLC	$1,787 HiResolution Bionic Ear System $1,787
Cochlear Americas	$1,611 Baha $1,611
Cochlear Ltd	$1,412 Baha $1,412
Stryker Corporation	$149 STRYKER NAV3I $149
Other	$231 Propel $135	ACCLARENT AERA Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation System $67	AxoGuard Nerve Protector $17	Rapid Rhino - Epistaxis $12

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$3,944
Honoraria	$3,000
Food and Beverage	$2,805
Gift	$26

Research Payments

Dr. Howard W. Francis, MD, MBA has received 1 research payments totaling $1,500.

Biography

Dr. Howard Francis' specialty is otology and neurotology. He has a 5.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. His areas of expertise consist of skull base surgery, cochlear implant surgery, and acoustic neuroma. Blue California, CIGNA Plans, and TRICARE appears to be the insurance carriers that Dr. Francis takes. He obtained his medical school training at Harvard Medical School and performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Francis is affiliated with Duke Health. He has an open panel in Durham, NC according to Duke Health.