Teresa Craig, MD in Oklahoma City: Medical and Surgical Oncology Near Northwest Medical Centers
Teresa Craig, MD is a medical and surgical oncologist in Oklahoma City who diagnoses and treats solid tumors, including breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers. Her practice operates within or near the Northwest Oklahoma City medical corridor, serving patients who need both chemotherapy management and coordination with surgical teams. She accepts most major insurance plans and works with both self-referred and physician-referred patients.
What She Treats and How the Practice Works
Dr. Craig focuses on malignant solid tumors rather than hematologic malignancies (blood cancers and lymphomas). Her scope includes initial diagnostic consultation, staging, treatment planning, chemotherapy administration, targeted therapy, and surveillance after treatment. Patients typically arrive through three pathways: direct self-referral, referral from a primary care physician, or referral from a surgeon after a biopsy confirms cancer. The first appointment usually includes a full history, physical exam, review of imaging and pathology, and a treatment discussion. Depending on the cancer type and stage, she may recommend chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy followed by surgery, surgery followed by chemotherapy, or clinical trial enrollment if eligible.
How to Compare Oncologists in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's oncology landscape centers on three main systems: Oklahoma Health (OU Medicine) with the Stephenson Cancer Center in Midtown, Integris Cancer Institute across multiple Integris locations, and community-based independent practices. Stephenson Cancer Center, the academic referral hub, excels at complex cases, clinical trials, and molecular tumor profiling but typically has longer consultation wait times (two to four weeks) and may require referral through OU Medicine. Integris offers faster scheduling (often one to two weeks) and distributed access across six or more Oklahoma City locations, with slightly less research-intensive practice. Independent oncologists like Dr. Craig, if available through a recognized clinic network, often combine shorter appointment availability with continuity, though their tumor boards and experimental protocols are smaller than academic centers.
The choice depends on cancer complexity. Early-stage breast or colon cancer in a patient with no comorbidities may be well managed in private or hospital-based community oncology practices. Rare tumor types, stage IV disease, consideration for early-phase clinical trials, or need for molecular testing beyond standard panels often warrant Stephenson's resources. Insurance network affiliation also matters: Stephenson is part of OU Medicine's network, Integris operates its own health plan, and independent practices like Dr. Craig's typically accept Medicare, commercial plans (United, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross), and Oklahoma Medicaid.
Referral Process and Insurance Logistics
Most insurance plans do not require a referral from a primary care doctor to see an oncologist, but some Medicare Advantage plans and a few commercial plans do. Call the practice or Dr. Craig's office directly with your insurance card and recent pathology or imaging reports to confirm coverage and copay expectations. Out-of-pocket costs vary widely by plan and stage of treatment: a single chemotherapy infusion session ranges from a $50 copay on a good plan to $500 to $1,500 under higher-deductible plans or for specialty drugs. Always request an estimate before starting treatment if you are uninsured or high-deductible; oncology social workers at most practices can also direct you to copay assistance programs and pharmaceutical company drug programs that may reduce out-of-pocket cost.
Who This Practice Suits
Dr. Craig's practice is most useful for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent solid tumors who prefer continuity in a community or clinic setting and whose cancers fit standard protocols (chemotherapy-responsive breast, lung, colon, ovarian, or gastric cancer). It is less suited for patients seeking experimental immunotherapy trials unavailable outside an academic center, those requiring complex gene sequencing and tumor board review, or those with rare histologies (carcinoid, mesothelioma, sarcoma) that may benefit from tertiary referral. Patients with advanced stage disease who are open to clinical trial enrollment should ask whether the practice participates in sponsored trials or has relationships with Stephenson or other trial networks.
What a First Visit Involves
Bring your original pathology report (not just the diagnosis letter), imaging reports or CDs (CT, MRI, PET if available), a current medication list including supplements, and insurance information. Expect the visit to last 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Dr. Craig will review the tumor stage, grade, and any genetic or molecular markers, perform a physical exam, discuss treatment goals and toxicity concerns, and often recommend starting chemotherapy within one to two weeks. If surgery is being considered, she will coordinate with the surgical team. At the end of the first visit, you should leave with a written treatment plan, expected timeline, and a follow-up appointment scheduled.
Scheduling, Location, and Parking
Confirm current hours and phone number with the practice directly. Oklahoma City oncology clinics typically operate Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with chemotherapy infusion centers staying open into early evening to accommodate working patients. Parking at most community oncology practices in Oklahoma City is free, street-level, or low-cost hospital-affiliated structures; ask when you call whether the practice location has dedicated patient parking or if you will use a shared medical building lot.
A reliable oncologist who maintains quick appointment availability and clear communication about treatment intent serves patients navigating one of medicine's most intensive treatments. Dr. Craig's practice fills that role for solid tumor patients in Oklahoma City seeking community-based care without the delays of academic referral centers.
