About me
Rajiv Parikh, MD, MPHS, is an attending plastic and reconstructive surgeon affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Assistant Clinical Professor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. As a plastic and reconstructive specialist, he performs reconstructive surgery, from head to toe, to restore form and function in patients with cancer or traumatic injuries.
Dr. Parikh specializes in breast reconstruction after breast cancer, functional limb salvage for patients with traumatic injuries, chronic wounds, and/or oncological defects, and facial paralysis surgery. He also treats patients with peripheral nerve injuries in the upper and lower extremity as well as performs body contouring procedures, such as breast reductions and breast lifts.
Dedicated to bringing the safest, most novel techniques to his patients, Dr. Parikh performs microsurgical reconstruction and utilizes enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (ERAS) to minimize pain and improve patient outcomes. He is specialty-trained in autologous microvascular breast reconstruction techniques and in restoring sensation to women’s breasts, both after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. He also performs unique treatments with lymphovenous bypass (LVB), or vascularized lymph node transplants, to prevent and treat lymphedema in women with breast cancer undergoing axillary lymph node dissections. He employs novel techniques to treat facial paralysis, such as nerve transfer procedures.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Parikh is invested in the advancement of his field and is an active researcher, having published more than 40 scientific papers and book chapters. Currently, he is investigating health disparities, value-based healthcare delivery, surgical outcomes, and surgical treatment decision-making among the breast cancer and extremity reconstruction populations.
As an early adopter and leading investigator on enhanced recovery after surgery protocols; which aim to reduce pain, minimize the need for narcotics, and get patients back to their normal function earlier; Dr. Parikh is dedicated to improving patient satisfaction after surgery.
Dr. Parikh received his medical degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, where he earned membership to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He then joined Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. During his time at Washington University, he also completed a Master of Population Health Sciences degree and a clinical research fellowship with the university’s Institute of Public Health, which was supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award. Finally, he completed specialty fellowship training in microsurgery and oncological reconstruction at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Dr. Parikh was an inaugural recipient of the Plastic Surgery Foundation Clinical Research Leaders Scholarship Award. He is involved, on a national level, with plastic surgery organizations and has served as a resident ambassador to the Editorial Board, and is currently a peer-reviewer, for the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS).
In his free time, Dr. Parikh enjoys spending time with his wife, traveling, playing basketball and soccer, and alpine skiing.
Philosophy of Care
“I am a firm believer in a personalized patient-centered approach to care. My philosophy is to provide care that is respectful of individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and to ensure that patient values guide all clinical decisions. This approach requires a true partnership with patients, one where I really listen to the individual patient’s needs and aspirations.
“I always use a shared-decision making process where patients are actively engaged. I use examples and plain language to explain different treatment o
Clinical areas of focus
- Limb Salvage
- Microsurgical Nerve Reconstruction
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Mohs Reconstruction
- Mohs Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Perforator Flap Reconstruction
- Serratus Anterior Flap Breast Reconstruction
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Bilateral Breast Augmentation
- Body Contouring
- Breast Cyst Removal
- Breast Implant Revision
- Breast Lift With Implants
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breast Reduction
- Breast Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Chest Skin Repair
- Chest Subcutaneous Tissue Excision
- Chest Wall Reconstruction
- Cleft Lip And Palate Treatment
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Clubfoot Correction
- Craniofacial Reconstruction
- Excision Of Left Tarsal
- Excision, Excessive Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue
- Facelift
- Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Facial Nerve Repair
- Femoral Nerve Reposition
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Finger Contracture Release
- Flap Reconstruction
- Foot Skin Replacement
- Forearm Lipectomy
- Hand Decompressive Fasciotomy
- Hand Replantation
- Jejunum Supplement
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Limb Salvage
- Liposuction
- Mastectomy
- Mastopexy
- Microsurgery
- Microsurgical Nerve Reconstruction
- Microsurgical Procedures
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Extremities
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Head And Neck
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Trunk
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Mohs Reconstruction
- Mohs Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Nerve Graft
- Nipple Reconstruction
- Ostectomy
- Perforator Flap Reconstruction
- Perineum Skin Replacement
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- Post-Bariatric Surgery Body Contouring
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Release Abdomen Muscle, Open
- Repair Of Intermediate Wound
- Repair Of Median Nerve
- Scar Revision
- Serratus Anterior Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Simple Mastectomy
- Skin Graft
- Skin Graft Urethroplasty
- Sternal Debridement
- Suction Assisted Lipectomy, Upper Extremity
- Thorax Muscle Transfer
- Tissue Expander Placement
- Tissue Expansion
- Toe Replacement Surgery
- Toe To Hand Transfer
- Transfer Scalp Subcutaneous Tissue
- Transfer Upper Leg Skin
- Vestibuloplasty
- Wound Care
- Wound Closure
- Wound Repair
- Wound Skin Substitute
- Z-Plasty
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
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- OA Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Direct
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HighMark
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- POS OA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Navigate
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Network OA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS
- IH-PPO
- First Health PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-POS
- Sentara Health
- IH-Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-HMO
- Choice POS II
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2021)
Residency: Washington University School of Medicine (2020)
Medical School: University of South Florida (2012)
Awards
- Clinical Research Leaders Scholarship, Inaugural Recipient: The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32), National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute)
- Most Outstanding Presentation, James Barrett Brown Research Day, Washington University School of Medicine)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA)