About me
Kirsten Hawkins, MD, is an adolescent medicine specialist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Hawkins discovered her love for adolescent medicine during medical school. She went on to complete adolescent medicine subspecialty training after her pediatric residency, focusing on the unique needs of teenage patients and their families.
Adolescent medicine combines Dr. Hawkins' interest in different areas of medicine, including sports medicine, endocrinology, gynecology and reproductive health. An athlete as a teen and an avid cyclist and skier today, she also offers first-hand experience in the areas of nutrition and sports medicine. With an educational and multidisciplinary approach to care, Dr. Hawkins helps teens and their families navigate the many physical and emotional changes of adolescence. She works with a patient-focused team that includes a dietician and works collaboratively with community based behavioral health specialists.
Dr. Hawkins is a fellow of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She has received several honors for her teaching and research including the John Eisenberg Career Development Award from the Georgetown Women in Medicine. She is a graduate of the MedStar Teaching Scholars program which included the AAMC’s Medical Education Research Certification (MERC) and Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Certificate Programs.
Dr. Hawkins is active in several professional societies. She is the former president of the Chesapeake Regional chapter of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine and has served on the national subcommittee on electronic health record. She is a former member of the board of the District of Columbia’s chapter of the AAP and served as chair of the nominating committee. She is the current chair of the committee on Adolescent Health and the chapter's E Cigarette Champion working to reduce teen vaping. She is a faculty member of the Physicians for Reproductive Health’s Adolescent Reproductive Health Education Project. She is board certified in pediatrics and adolescent medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Hawkins has testified before the District of Columbia’s City Council on topics ranging from concussions to health education in schools.
Dr. Hawkins is frequently invited to speak at meetings of professional societies. Her lecture topics include adolescent confidentiality in the digital age, menstrual disorders, teen substance abuse, adolescent vaccination, adolescent transition to adult care, and communicating with teens. Dr. Hawkins is a reviewer for the Journal of Adolescent Health and the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Her research has been published in scientific journals, including the Journal of Adolescent Health, Pediatric Dermatology, Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, and Research and Health Education & Behavior. She has written chapters on adolescent confidentiality and transition to adult healthcare.
Dr. Hawkins research interests include:
- Adolescent Transition to Adult Health Care
- Adolescent Confidentiality
- Pediatric Medical Education
- Teaching Communication Skills
- Adolescent Cancer Prevention
- Adolescent nicotine use and prevention
Dr. Hawkins is an associate professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine, chief of the adolescent medicine section at MedStar Georgetown and in July 2014, became the director of the pediatric residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. In these roles she provides clinical and academic instruction for more than 60 pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents and 200 medical students annually.
Clinical areas of focus
- Acne
- Acne Treatment
- Alcohol Abuse Counseling
- Anxiety And Depression Screening And Treatment
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation And Treatment
- Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
- Concussion Testing And Management
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Eating Disorders
- Fertility Counseling
- Menstrual Disorder Treatment
- Menstrual Disorders
- Migraine
- Violence Prevention Counseling
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Acne
- Acute Nephritic Syndrome
- Acute Sinusitis
- Adolescent Depression
- Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Ankle And Foot Ligament Sprain
- Anxiety
- Appearance And Behavior Symptoms
- Arm Injury
- Asthma
- Birth Defects Due To Maternal Conditions
- Bone Disorders
- Candidiasis
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Child Speech Disorders
- Childhood Diabetes
- Choroidal Nevi
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Conduct Disorders
- Congenital Knee Dislocation
- Congenital Malformations Of Breast
- Congenital Malformations Of Female Genitalia
- Cradle Cap (SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS)
- Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
- Dermatophytosis (RINGWORM)
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Disorders Of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Disorders Of Puberty
- Disorders Of Social Functioning
- Ear Infection
- Eating Disorders
- Eccrine Sweat Disorders
- Eczema
- Eczema (ATOPIC DERMATITIS)
- Emotional Disorders
- Emotional State Symptoms
- Enuresis
- Eye Infections
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Feeding Problems In Newborns
- Fever
- Foot Cartilage Injury
- Fungal Infections
- Gastroenteritis
- Gender Identity Disorders
- Genitourinary Symptoms
- Head Injury
- Herpes
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hives
- Hypertrichosis
- Hypertrophic Skin Disorders
- Impetigo
- Inflammatory Myositis
- Inflammatory Skin Disorders
- Insect Bites And Stings
- Joint Disorder
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Knee Pain
- Learning Disabilities
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Malabsorption
- Menstrual Disorders
- Mesothelioma
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Migraine
- Mood Disorders
- Nasopharyngitis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Newborn Complications From Maternal Pregnancy
- Newborn Feeding Problems
- Newborn Hypoglycemia
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Obesity In Children
- Obstructive And Reflux Uropathy
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Pneumonia
- Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac
- Proteinuria
- Protozoal Diseases
- Respiratory Failure In Newborn
- Respiratory Tract Infections
- Retinal Disease
- Scholastic Skills Disorder
- Scoliosis
- Skin And Soft Tissue Infections
- Sleep Disorders
- Social Anxiety
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Sports Concussion
- Strains
- Stress Fracture
- Superficial Knee Injury
- Syncope
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tic Disorder
- Tooth Loss
- Type 2 Diabetes In Children
- Urological Disorders
- Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
- Viral Diseases
- Viral Infection
- Vision Disturbances
- Vitamin Deficiency
- Vomiting And Nausea
- Weight Loss
Procedures I perform
- Acne Treatment
- Alcohol Abuse Counseling
- Anesthetic Injection For Sphenopalatine Ganglion
- Anxiety And Depression Screening And Treatment
- Anxiety Disorder Screening
- Anxiety Management
- Asthma Management
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation And Treatment
- Behavioral Health Screening
- Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
- Birth Control Counseling
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Evaluation
- Booster Shots
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Cleft Lip And Palate Treatment
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Concussion Testing And Management
- Congenital Heart Disease Management
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
- Cystitis Treatment
- Diabetes Management
- Down Syndrome Treatment
- Ear Infection Treatment
- Eczema Treatment
- Electrocardiogram
- Fertility Counseling
- Gynecological Examination
- Health Promotion Counseling
- Hearing Testing
- Hemophilia Treatment
- Immunization Administration
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- In-Home Visits
- Intrauterine Device
- Learning Disability Evaluation
- Menstrual Disorder Treatment
- Mental Health Medication Management
- Muscle Injection
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Treatment
- Neonatal Circumcision
- Neurodevelopmental Disorder Evaluation
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Nutrition Counseling
- Obesity Treatment
- Orthopedic Evaluation
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Pap Smear
- Pediatric Autism Screening
- Pediatric Sick Visit
- Pediatric Well Visit
- Physical Exams
- Risk Assessment
- Scoliosis Screening
- Seizure Treatment
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Sleep Disorder Management
- Speech Audiometry With Tympanometry
- Speech Therapy
- Sports Concussion Testing
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Tonsillitis Treatment
- Tourette Syndrome Management
- Travel Health
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
- Vaccinations
- Vaginal Candidiasis Treatment
- Venous Blood Collection
- Violence Prevention Counseling
- Viral Gastroenteritis Treatment
- Vision Screening
- Vitamin Deficiency Screening
- Weight Management Program
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
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Choice POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- UHC Passport
- IH-POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Medicare Direct
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare FFS
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HighMark
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- POS OA
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Navigate
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Choice POS II
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Employee Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA EPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Network Only Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
Fellowship: Children's National Medical Center (2006)
Residency: Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2003)
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Selected Research:
Pediatric to Adult Transition: A Quality Improvement Model for Primary Care
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues published in the Journal of Adolescent Health on this project in 2014. The quality improvement model is now being replicated in health systems across the country.
The Effects of Framed Messages for Engaging Adolescents with Online Smoking Prevention Interventions:
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues have presented research with online smoking prevention interventions at Pediatrics Academic Society and published the work in Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, And Research
Recommendations for Electronic Health Record Use for Delivery of Adolescent Health Care
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues on the Electronic Health Committee from the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine published a position paper on the use of electronic health records with special consideration for adolescent confidentiality and privacy.