Dr. Jyothi P. Rao, MD

I'm in the medical field and I've had a few endocrinologist over the years and by far Dr. Rao is the best. She is knowledgeable and takes the time to ask questions and know about my overall health, not just what my labs report.

First doctor, in years, to get my diabetes under control. She listens, which is rare in today’s doctors visits. She share ideas and considers your concerns.

Saw Dr. Rao for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I read her a list of symptoms (including low body temp, fatigue, dry eyes, hair loss, depression, etc.) All classic hashimoto's symptoms. I told her my TSH had been within normal, which is often the case for hashi's patients, but that I was still suffering. She ended up testing 2 thyroid values. ONLY 2! TSH and Free T4. No T3, no reverse T3, nothing to check my antibodies. Both of my values were within normal and she had preemptively told me she follows the antiquated treatment for Hashimoto's which is to not offer medication to patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. So here I am, all the symptoms and told that they could be caused by "something unrelated to thyroid" and casually told to "maybe see a rheumatologist". This is a classic Hashimoto's struggle, but I honestly thought a Duke doctor would be up to date on modern treatment options and at the very least test all of the important thyroid values. Highly disappointed by my appointment.