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Katherine Barnett Peters

Professor of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology
047 Baker House, Trent Drive, BOX_3624, Durham, NC 27710
Office hours Per Request  

Overview


Katy Peters, MD, PhD, FAAN is a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center (PRTBTC) at Duke.   Her academic medical career started at Stanford University School of Medicine, receiving an MD and Ph.D. in Cancer Biology.  After completing a neurology residency at Johns Hopkins University and a fellowship in cognitive neurosciences, Katy joined the PRTBTC as a neuro-oncology fellow.  In 2009, she became a faculty member at PRTBTC.  With a fantastic team of nursing and advanced practice providers, she actively sees and cares for patients with primary brain tumors.  Her research interests include supportive care for brain cancer patients, cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients, and physical function and activity of brain cancer patients.   While she runs clinical trials to treat primary brain tumors, her key interest is on clinical trials that focus on improving brain tumor patients' quality of life and cognition.   In 2019, the PRTBTC designated her as the Director of Supportive Care, thus furthering the PRTBTC and her committee to better the quality of life for brain tumor patients.   She is active in teaching medical school students, residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers and is the Program Director of the PRTBRC neuro-oncology fellowship.     She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties for neuro-oncology.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Neurosurgery · 2023 - Present Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Neurosurgery
Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Neurology · 2022 - Present Neurology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Neurology · 2023 - Present Neurology, Clinical Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published February 16, 2022
6 Brain Tumor Symptoms You Should Not Ignore
Published August 1, 2021
How Patients with Terminal Illnesses Get Access To Experimental Drugs
Published October 1, 2020
How to Ease Social Isolation During the Pandemic

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Recent Publications


Molecular Testing for the World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors: A Review.

Journal Article JAMA Oncol · March 1, 2025 IMPORTANCE: Molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing, genomic copy number profiling, fusion transcript detection, and genomic DNA methylation arrays, are now indispensable tools for the workup of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Yet t ... Full text Link to item Cite

Financial toxicity of oral chemotherapy in patients with primary brain tumors.

Journal Article Neuro-oncology practice · February 2025 BackgroundCancer treatment costs continue to rise with the development of new agents. Financial toxicity is defined as the quantifiable costs associated with cancer and cancer treatment in addition to the patient's associated distress. This study' ... Full text Cite
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Recent Artistic Works


Brain & Life Podcast

Audio Recording January 1, 2022 Brain & Life Podcast

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Education, Training & Certifications


Stanford University · 2003 Ph.D.
Stanford University · 2003 M.D.