About me
Kristen Whitaker, MD, MS is a board-certified medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Prior to joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Whitaker served as an assistant professor at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase, in Philadelphia, PA for four years, where she treated patients with breast cancer and patients at high risk for developing breast and other types of cancers.
Dr. Whitaker specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. She is a member of the multidisciplinary team that makes up the Breast Health Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Whitaker’s approach to patient care is centered around collaboration with other providers and patients and providing evidence-based recommendations for patient care. She strives to take the unique needs of each of her patients into consideration and incorporates newer tools, such as genetic testing and tumor molecular profiling, to tailor treatments for her patients. Her goal is to ensure that her patients have the best possible outcomes from their cancer while taking care to minimize the number of therapies, side effects of therapy and personal hardships that patients experience because of their cancer treatment.
When Dr. Whitaker meets with patients, she is optimistic and positive because she knows that there are many effective therapy options available that can treat and, in many cases, cure her patients. While chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were once the cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, today Dr. Whitaker is excited to offer her patients newer therapies, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which improve cancer outcomes with less side effects. She is particularly excited that MedStar Washington Hospital Center has many clinical trial options, allowing patients from diverse backgrounds earlier access to what may become the breast cancer treatments of the future.
Dr. Whitaker is passionate about working towards eliminating racial health disparities, especially among patients with cancer. To that end, she has been published and has received multiple awards, including the 2022 NIH Loan Repayment Health Disparities Award and a 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Cancer Research.
Dr. Whitaker received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She then completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at George Washington University, prior to completing a three-year fellowship in hematology/oncology at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago. She simultaneously completed a Master of Science at the University of Chicago while completing her fellowship. She is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Philosophy of care
“As a native Washingtonian, I am honored to be back in my hometown serving my community. As a physician, my goal is to empower each of my patients to make the best decisions about their healthcare by educating them about the most up-to-date and proven treatment for their cancer. It is also important to me to take the time to answer questions and address concerns my patients may have at any time during their cancer journey. My patients quickly learn that there is no question that is too big or too small for us to talk about. I value collaboration from my patients and other providers and make myself readily available to both to address any questions or concerns, as I realize this is essential to providing the best possible care for my patients. I enjoy getting to know my patients as individuals and building a relationship where my patients trust me and have confidence that I always have their best interests.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Oncology Consultation
- Pathology Consultation
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
Procedures I perform
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Cancer Surgery
- Bladder Tumor Removal
- Blood Banking
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Biopsy
- Cancer Pain Management
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials Participation
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Cancer Treatment
- Kidney Resection
- Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy For Prostate Cancer
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymph Node Removal
- Metastatic Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Consultation
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Pathology Consultation
- Penile Cancer
- Penile Cancer Surgery
- Penile Tumor Removal
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Surgery
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Renal Cancer Treatment
- Renal Metastases Treatment
- Seminoma Treatment
- Subdural Grid Placement
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Cancer Surgery
- Testicular Tumor Removal
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
- Urinary Tract Cancer Treatment
- Uveitic Glaucoma Treatment
- Vascular Access Device Management
- Venous Access Device Removal
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
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- United Student Resources
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice POS
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Beech Street PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Basic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- HighMark
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-HMO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TRICARE East Select
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- First Health PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Medicare FFS
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Navigate
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA EPO
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- TRICARE East Prime
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology/Medical Oncology
Fellowship: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (2018)
Residency: George Washington University School of Medicine (2015)
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine (2012)