About me
Deepak Chander, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board-certified in hematology and oncology and specializes in treating cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer.
Dr. Chander has an interest in treating neuroendocrine tumors, which typically originate in the small intestine, pancreas, or lungs. As a medical doctor, he treats a range of gastrointestinal cancers with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. He believes in using the latest medical therapies to allow patients to experience the best quality of life possible.
Beyond cancer, Dr. Chander believes in taking care of the “whole patient,” including patients’ other medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. As cancer patients can present with complex medical needs, he works closely with caregivers and colleagues to ensure that every patient receives the best care for their unique situation. In particular, he has a focus on understanding and minimizing drug toxicity. He believes that advances in medicine can lead to new treatments that reduce the toxicity of cancer drugs and hopes to make clinical trials available to Washington Hospital Center patients.
Dr. Chander was interested in medicine from an early age, driven by scientific curiosity and a desire to care for people. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from George Washington University in 2006, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2011. Following his studies, Dr. Chander completed a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at LSU Health Science Center and an Internal Medicine Residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation and subsequently served in various clinical roles, including as a hospitalist/nocturnist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Holy Spirit Hospital.
Before joining Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Chander practiced as an oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In 2024, he moved to the Washington, DC, area to be closer to family. Now, he looks forward to delivering world-class cancer care to the capital’s diverse populations through his work at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Chander is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society of Hematology. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling but remains a proud New Orleanian, with Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Saints, and his family always close to his heart.
Philosophy of Care
“First and foremost, I believe in having compassion for patients and their experiences, treating the person in front of me rather than just the disease. A cancer diagnosis is intimidating for everyone, and people want to know if they can take a pill, get treatment at home, and carry on with their regular life. I strongly want people to preserve their quality of life while undergoing treatment, so we aim to provide the best options with that in mind.
“I want patients to know that I hear them, that I have their interest at heart, and that the most important thing to me is that they feel their best, mentally and physically. I put patients first and am always happy to collaborate with surgeons, radiologists, and other colleagues to deliver the best care. A happy patient is a happy doctor.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Body Region Injury
- Bone Disorders
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Digestive System Complications
- Disorders Of Branched
- Emergency Use Of U07
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Fever
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage Of Limbs
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Eye And Adnexa
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Adrenal Insufficiency Treatment
- Adult T-Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Alpha-Thalassemia Major Treatment
- Amyloidosis Treatment
- Anemia Management
- Antineoplastic Injection
- Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treatment
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Component Transfusion
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Density Testing
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Bone Sarcoma Treatment
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Survivorship Care
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Cushing's Syndrome Treatment
- Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment
- Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment
- Follicular Lymphoma Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Germ Cell Tumor Treatment
- Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
- Growth Hormone Excess Treatment
- Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Hematology Consultation
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treatment
- Hemophilia Treatment
- Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
- Iliac Bone Marrow Extraction
- Immunotherapy
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Leukemia Treatment
- Lumbar Puncture
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Osteosarcoma Treatment
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment
- Sarcoma Treatment
- Tumor Resection
- Unclassified Injection
- Venous Access Device Irrigation
- Venous Blood Collection
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Student Resources
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Sentara Health
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- OA Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- TRICARE East Prime
- Network OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Administrators
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Choice POS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Navigate
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- POS OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HighMark
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Louisiana State University School Of Medicine (2020)
Residency: Ochsner Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine (2011)