About me
Bergen Kassoff, PA-C, is a nationally certified physician assistant at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Health Medical Center at Mitchellville. She specializes in gastroenterology and closely collaborates with Dr. Danny Shearer, Dr. Gary Thompson, Dr. Lauren George and Dr. Arthur West. She is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Ms. Kassoff is skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions, including but not limited to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis, gastritis, H. pylori infection, peptic ulcer disease, pancreaticobiliary disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colitis. Additionally, she is deeply committed to cancer prevention and regularly conducts preprocedural visits for colorectal cancer screenings. Her comprehensive approach to care includes lifestyle modifications, medication management, and other therapeutic interventions.
A native of the DMV, Ms. Kassoff began her medical career as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. She went on to Pennsylvania and graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral neuroscience. After her undergraduate studies, she worked in clinical research at Children’s National Hospital. Although passionate about research, Ms. Kassoff wanted to have direct involvement in patient care, so she decided to get her Master of Science in physician assistant studies at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Ms. Kassoff is honored to be back home serving the community that raised her.
Philosophy of Care
"My approach to healthcare is centered on a patient-first philosophy, emphasizing compassionate, holistic care tailored to each individual's unique needs. I want my patients to know that I am their advocate and will strive to help them reach their health goals. I believe in the importance of patient education and empowerment, ensuring that those under my care are fully informed and active participants in their treatment plans.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy
- Diverticulitis
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Enteroscopy
- Gallstones
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Endoscopy
- Urea Breath Test
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Tumor
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Depression
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Diseases
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gas And Bloating
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- H. Pylori Infection
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Ulcers
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Variceal Bleeding
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Anal Electromyography
- Barium Enema
- Bowel Resection
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Diarrhea Management
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enterectomy
- Enteroscopy
- Esophageal Dilation
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Immunoglobulin Administration
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lactose Intolerance Testing
- Liver Biopsy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mrcp (MAGNETIC RESONANCE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY)
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Sonohysterography
- Testicular Ultrasound
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Endoscopy
- Urea Breath Test
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Virtual Autopsy
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
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Navigate
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Administrators
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Sentara Health
- United Student Resources
- IH-HMO
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice Fund PPO
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UHC Passport
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- First Health PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Beech Street PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- OA Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HealthyBlue PPO
- IH-POS
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HumanaChoice PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HighMark
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
Education
Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant
Graduate: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (2023)