About me
Cristina Merkhofer, MD, MHS, is a medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in treating head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and thyroid cancers. She also specializes in thoracic cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies.
As a medical oncologist, Dr. Merkhofer oversees medication-based treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. She collaborates with colleagues in radiation oncology, surgery, and other medical specialties to develop personalized treatment plans for her patients. She cares deeply about making her patients feel heard and giving them enough information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dr. Merkhofer graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a Master of Health Science in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She obtained her MD at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency in internal medicine and participated in the Global Health and Underserved Populations track at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Merkhofer then completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
With a strong background in global health and health services research, Dr. Merkhofer strives to improve access to oncology care in the DC area and bring promising new therapies to her patients. For her prior research in advanced lung cancer, she has been honored with a 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, a 2020 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, and the Stork Petersdorf Lung Cancer Research Award. She is an active member of ASCO and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that the physician-patient relationship is sacred. I see my patients as whole people with unique goals, histories, and challenges, and not just defined by their illness. My goal is to help my patients understand their illness and to provide strong support so that they can make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. I am committed to bringing the latest treatments to my patients and to improving access to oncology care in the DC area.”
About MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington and MedStar Georgetown are part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Consultation
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Radiation Therapy
- Submandibular Gland Cancer
- Tumor Marker Testing
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anal Cancer
- Anemia
- Benign Neoplasm Of Kidney
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Bleeding Disorders
- Bone Marrow Cancer
- Brain Tumor
- Breast Cancer
- Clotting Disorders
- Colon Cancer
- Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
- Esophagus Cancer
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Hodgkin Disease
- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Cancer
- Kaposi's Sarcoma
- Kidney Cancer
- Larynx Cancer
- Liposarcoma
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Lymph Nodes
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Melanoma
- Mesothelioma
- Metastatic Cancer
- Metastatic Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Nasopharynx Cancer
- Neoplasm Analysis
- Neutropenia
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreas Cancer
- Papillary Carcinoma Of Breast
- Personal History Of Cancer
- Plasma Cell Neoplasms
- Platelet Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Secondary Lymph Node Cancer
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Skin Cancer
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Submandibular Gland Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Thalassemia
- Tongue Cancer
- Tonsil Cancer
Procedures I perform
- Anemia Management
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clot Treatment
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Disorder Diagnosis
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Clinical Trial Management
- Cancer Genetics Evaluation
- Cancer Pain Management
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials
- Coagulopathy Management
- Colorectal Cancer Treatment
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Management
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Intravenous Antibiotics
- Leukemia Treatment
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymphoma Management
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Magnesium Imbalance Treatment
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Muscle Injection
- Neutropenia Management
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Oncology Consultation
- Pain Management Consultation
- Pain Medication Management
- Palliative Care
- Palliative Care Consultation
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Radiation Therapy
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
- Surgical Oncology Surgery
- Thrombophilia Management
- Tumor Biopsy
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Venous Access Device Irrigation
- Vitamin Deficiency Management
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
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Employee Health Plan
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-EPO Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Network OA
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- HighMark
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- POS OA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Navigate
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Basic
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- OA Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare Direct
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Washington School of Medicine (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-GME (2017)
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health (2014)