About me
Michael B. Atkins, MD, is deputy director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Scholl Professor and vice chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized expert in the management of patients with high-risk and metastatic melanoma or kidney cancer.
Dr. Atkins co-directs the Melanoma Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the Melanoma Research Program within the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute. In addition, he leads kidney cancer research within the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Center and the MedStar Health system. He is a world-renowned expert in clinical and translational research in both of these patient populations, having led the Kidney Cancer Program and co-led the Melanoma Program at the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center for over a decade each, until his departure for Georgetown Lombardi in 2012. Dr. Atkins is also one of the leading authorities in cancer immunotherapy, having been a founding member and leader of the Cytokine Working Group, and leader of the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Immunotherapy Interest Group. He has led major multi-investigator clinical and translational research efforts in melanoma and kidney cancer that have uncovered critical biology of these diseases, led to the FDA approval of over 20 new treatments, and have completely revolutionized the treatment and the prognosis for patients. He continues to lead cutting-edge research projects that promise to further advance the care and outlook for patients with these diseases.
Dr. Atkins is also an international authority in the management of patients with either melanoma or kidney cancer. He edits the melanoma, kidney cancer and immunotherapy sections for UpToDate®, the universally available on-line medical textbook, and is co-editor of the fifth and 6th editions of the textbook Cutaneous Melanoma. He serves on the Board of the Directors and co-chairs the Scientific Advisory Council of the Melanoma Research Foundation, is Chair of the Melanoma Research Alliance Medical Advisory Panel, and is a past member of the nominating committee for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Council. He is also past president of the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. He has published over 500 scientific and review articles, co-edited five books, and given over 700 lectures worldwide.
Dr. Atkins is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. For over 30 years, Dr. Atkins has treated patients with advanced melanoma and kidney cancers. He believes that too many patients follow the initial advice they receive, and always encourages patients to seek a second opinion from subject matter experts to establish a comprehensive treatment plan before starting therapy. This will maximize their chances of receiving the optimal approach to their disease and determine if they are eligible for cutting-edge clinical trials. Dr. Atkins’ approach to patients is to always focus on the opportunities for cure, utilizing novel therapies like immune therapy and the timely integration of multidisciplinary care (meaning teams of physicians from medical oncology, surgery, and radiation oncology all work together to develop a unique treatment plan.) With many new therapies available – and even better ones in development – patients with widely metastatic disease have the opportunity for long-term, disease-free, and subsequent treatment-free survival, enabling them to return to their normal lives.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
- Cancer Treatment Monitoring
- Melanoma Treatment
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Vaccinations
Procedures I perform
- A1c Testing
- Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Bone Density Scan
- Brca Gene Testing
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Treatment Monitoring
- Cancer Treatment Sensitivity Testing
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials
- Computed Tomography
- Cortical Mapping
- Dopamine Therapy
- Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis
- Flow Immunophenotyping
- Genetic Counseling
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunohistochemistry Staining
- Immunotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Investigational Liver Transplant Therapies
- Kidney Function Test
- Killer Cell Therapy
- Liquid Biopsy
- Liver Biopsy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Melanoma Resection
- Melanoma Treatment
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Oncology Consultation
- Pathology Consultation
- Pet-Ct Scan
- Pharmacogenomics
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Proteomic Testing
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- Skin Cancer Treatment
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Vaccinations
- Wide Local Excision
- X-Ray
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
- CareFirst NASCO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Choice POS
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-POS
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Navigate
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Choice POS II
- POS OA
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Sentara Health
- IH-POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Medicare FFS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS Plus
- UHC Passport
- Beech Street PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- HighMark
- TRICARE East Prime
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center (1987)
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center (1986)
Residency: Tufts Medical Center (1984)
Internship: Tufts Medical Center (1981)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1980)