Issam Essa Cheikh, MD| Endocrinology | MedStar Health
About me
Issam Cheikh, MD, FACP, FACE, is Emeritus Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and director of the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency training in internal medicine at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cheikh completed his fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland.
He founded the Division of Endocrinology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and developed the endocrinology fellowship training program along with one of the largest diabetes and endocrine practices in the region. Dr. Cheikh has directed the longest-running annual diabetes symposium of its kind since 1976 and has gained numerous awards for teaching and service. Dr. Cheikh is a adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Issam Cheikh, MD, named 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 "Top Docs" by Baltimore Magazine for endocrinology/diabetes care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adrenal Disorders
- Adrenal Mass
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Goiter
- Grave's Disease
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Insulin Pump
- Insulin Resistance
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Pituitary Disorders
- Pituitary Tumor
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Prediabetes
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Glucose Metabolism
- Achondroplasia
- Addison's Disease
- Adrenal Adenoma
- Adrenal Atrophy
- Adrenal Disorders
- Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Adrenal Mass
- Adrenal Neoplasm
- Adrenal Nodules
- Adrenogenital Syndrome
- Androgen Excess
- Androgen Insensitivity
- Bartter Syndrome
- Calcium Metabolism
- Carcinoid Syndrome
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Congenital Hypothyroidism
- Conn Syndrome
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes Insipidus
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetic Coma
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Disorders Of Sexual Differentiation
- Disorders Of Water Balance
- Ectopic Hyperparathyroidism
- Elevated Acth
- Elevated Growth Hormone
- Endocrine Complications Of Transplant
- Endocrine Disorders
- Familial Dyslipidemia
- Familial Hyperparathyroidism
- Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia
- Feminizing Syndrome
- Glucagonoma
- Glucocorticoid Deficiency
- Glycogen Storage Disease
- Goiter
- Grave's Disease
- Growth Disorders
- Growth Hormone Abnormalities
- Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Gynecomastia
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- History Of Pituitary Mass
- Hurthle Cell Cancer
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperglycemia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypo Thalamic Pituitary Disorder
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypogonadism
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypopituitarism
- Hypothyroidism
- Inborn Errors Of Metabolism
- Insulin Resistance
- Insulinoma
- Islet Cell Hyperplasia
- Islet Cell Tumor
- Low T3
- Low T4
- Male Infertility
- Mccune Albright Syndrome
- Metabolic Abnormalities
- Metabolic Bone Diseases
- Metabolic Disorders (INHERITED)
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Moon Facies
- Morbid Obesity
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B
- Myxedema
- Nodular Goiter
- Non Toxic Goiter
- Obesity
- Osteopenia
- Osteoporosis
- Ovarian Failure
- Panhypopituitarism
- Parathyroid Adenoma
- Parathyroid Cancer
- Parathyroid Disease
- Parathyroid Hyperplasia
- Parathyroid Mass
- Pheochromocytoma
- Pineal Gland Dysfunction
- Pituitary Adenoma
- Pituitary Disorders
- Pituitary Tumor
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome
- Prader Willi Syndrome
- Precocious Puberty
- Prediabetes
- Premature Adrenarche
- Pseudohermaphroditism
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism
- Rickets
- Secondary Amenorrhea
- Secondary Hyperaldosteronism
- Short Stature
- Testicular Dysfunction
- Testosterone Deficiency
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Cyst
- Thyroid Disorder
- Thyroid Nodule
- Thyroid Orbitopathy
- Thyroid Storm
- Thyroiditis
- Thyrotoxic Exophthalmos
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Toxic Diffuse Goiter
- Toxic Nodular Goiter
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Virilizing Syndrome
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Weight Problem
Procedures I perform
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Diabetes Education
- Fine Needle Aspiration Of Thyroid
- Insulin Pump
- Radioiodine Therapy
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy
- Thyroid Function Blood Panel
- Thyroid Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guided Thyroid Biopsy
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- CFBCBS EPO
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- United Healthcare Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Tricare Prime
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- FIRST HEALTH
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Student Resources
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System (1975)
Residency: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1973)
Medical School: University of Damascus School of Medicine (1968)
Awards
- 2015-2017, 2019, and 2020 Top Doctor, Baltimore magazine