About me
Shandiz Shahbazi, MD, is a highly skilled and double board-certified female gastroenterologist at MedStar Health. Dr. Shahbazi earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine internship and residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She elevated her training with a highly sought after fellowship in gastroenterology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Shahbazi is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology.
Along with fellowship training in gastroenterology and hepatology, she has special interests in colon cancer screening, women's gastrointestinal health, gastrointestinal bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver disease. Dr. Shahbazi was recognized and elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society for providing compassionate patient care and excellent clinical services – an honor received by less than five percent of medical school graduates.
Dr. Shahbazi’s approach to care centers on building authentic connections with patients and families through a shared decision-making model based on trust and collaboration. She combines that focus with serving as an advocate for colon cancer screenings and early detection as well as performing precise diagnostics and effective treatments. Such comprehensive services are conveniently available at her offices in Washington, D.C., and McLean, VA.
An award-winning and published physician, she is a lifelong learner who stays informed about advancements in the field through memberships in the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and American Gastroenterological Association.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Shahbazi enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking Persian cuisine, dancing, performing hot yoga, and traveling to explore the world’s cultures and cuisines.
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Pain
- Choledocholithiasis
- Digestive System Diseases
- Duodenitis
- Gallstones
- Gastritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Hemorrhoids
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Vomiting And Nausea
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Acute Pelvic Pain
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Ascites
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Benign Tumor
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Obstruction
- Candidiasis
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colic In Infants
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Congenital Malformations Of Digestive System
- Congenital Malformations Of Esophagus
- Congenital Malformations Of Gallbladder, Bile Ducts And Liver
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Depression
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Endometriosis
- Epigastric Pain
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Hernia
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallstones
- Gas And Bloating
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- General Symptoms
- Genetic Susceptibility To Disease
- H. Pylori Infection
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Melena
- Myocarditis
- Nausea
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Portal Hypertension
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Spinal Stenosis
- Splenectomy
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting
- Vomiting And Nausea
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Anal Electromyography
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Biopsy Of Tongue
- Bleeding Ulcer Treatment
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Celiac Disease Treatment
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Colonoscopy Through Stoma
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Cystitis Treatment
- Diarrhea Treatment
- Dilation Of Esophagus
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagectomy
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Fecal Transplant
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastric Stenting
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrostomy
- H. Pylori Treatment
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- I-131 Therapy
- Immunoglobulin Administration
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Biopsy
- Intragastric Balloon Procedure
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
- Lactose Breath Test
- Lactose Intolerance Testing
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Nausea And Vomiting Management
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Pancreatitis Treatment
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- PH Monitoring
- Rectal Biopsy
- Rectal Excision
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Rheumatology Treatment
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Stomach Cancer Treatment
- Stomach Pain Treatment
- Swallowing Disorder Treatment
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Arthritis Treatment
- Upper Endoscopy
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Urinary Tract Obstruction Treatment
- Urologic Imaging
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Vein Sclerotherapy
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Von Willebrand Factor Replacement
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
- CareFirst EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-POS Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Navigate
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Network OA
- TRICARE East Prime
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-HMO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Sentara Health
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HighMark
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- POS OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Student Resources
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center GME (2024)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2021)
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University (2018)
Awards
- National Institutes of Health Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- American College of Gastroenterology Outstanding Presenter
- American College of Physicians Regional Presentation Award
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Manuscripts:
1. Allais BS, Beatson M, Wang H, Shahbazi S, Bijelic L, Jang S, Venna S. Five-Year Survival in Patients with Nodular and Superficial Spreading Melanomas in the US Population. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2021, April; 84 (4): 1015-1022.
2. Rosenberg, J.J., Higley, C., Shahbazi, S., Lewis, J.H. Selected Highlights and Controversies of Drug Induced Liver Injury from the Recent Literature. World Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy. 2020, Jul; 1(2): 1-16.
3. Goey, A., Peer, C., Sissung, T., Roth, J., Shahbazi, S., Nguyen, J., Annunziata, C.M., Houston, N., Kohn, E.C., Lee, J., Figg, W.D. Effects of 24-hour carboplatin pretreatment on olaparib clearance in women's cancers using noncompartmental and population pharmacokinetic analyses. Cancer Research. 2016, Jul; 76(14): 2043.
4. Shahbazi S, Peer CJ, Figg WD. Prolonged low intensity EPOCH-rituximab has improved toxicity in Burkitt lymphoma compared with standard short, high intensity therapy. Cancer Biology and Therapy. 2014.
5. Peer CJ, Rao M, Spencer SD, Shahbazi S, Steeg PS, Schrump DJ, Figg WD. A rapid ultra HPLC MS/MS method for the quantitation and pharmacokinetic analysis of 3-deazenplanocin A in mice. Journal Chromatography B. 2013.
6. Shahbazi S, Peer CJ, Polizzotto MN, Uldrick TS, Roth J, Wyvill KM, Aleman K, Zeldis JB, Yarchoan R, Figg WD. A sensitive and robust HPLC assay with fluorescence for the quantification of pomalidomide in human plasma for pharmacokinetic analyses. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2014.
Peer Reviewed Abstracts:
1. Shahbazi S, Higley C, Vavilin I, Yan W, Shu A, Neupane, R, Sharma D, Stone B, Stevens A, Haddad N, Nadella S. Trends of gallstone associated acute pancreatitis within a large health management organization. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115: p S27, October 2020.
2. Shu A, Higley C, Nepane R, Sharma D, Stone B, Yan W, Stevens A, Shahbazi S, Vavilin I., Haddad N, Nadella S. Real-world practices of same-admission cholecystectomy in gallstone pancreatitis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115: p S20, October 2020.
3. Vavilin I, Higley C, Shahbazi S, Shu A, Yan W, Neupane R, Sharma D, Stone B, Stevens A, Haddad N, Nadella S. Factors associated with increased length of stay in acute pancreatitis: a review from a large healthcare system. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115: p S1621-1622, October 2020.
4. Yan W, Shahbazi S, Sharma D, Vavilin I, Stone B, Higley C, Shu A, Neupane R, Stevens A, Haddad N, Nadella S. Acute Pancreatitis requiring critical care: Patient characteristics, diagnostic patterns and outcomes from a large multi-state health system. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115: p S51, October 2020.
5. Yan W, Shahbazi S, Vavilin I, Higley C, Shu A, Neupane R, Sharma D, Stone B, Haddad N, Nadella S. Diagnostic trends and clinical course of non-gallstone-non-alcohol-associated acute pancreatitis within a large health system. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115: p S50-S51, October 2020.
6. Alsaadi D, Shahbazi S, Stone B, Yan W, Stevens A, Lewis J.H. Hypoxic Hepatitis is Underrecognized and Underdiagnosed in the ICU. Gastroenterology, Volume 158, Issue 6, S-1140- S1141, May 2020.
7. Alsaadi D, Stone B, Shahbazi S, Yan W, Stevens A, Lewis J.H. The Etiology of Elevated Aminotransferases in the ICU and their Effect on Mortality. Gastroenterology, Volume 158, Issue 6, S-1308, May 2020.
8. Saunders B, Shahbazi S, Wang H, Jang S, Venna S. Five-year survival in patients with nodular and superficial spreading melanomas in the US population. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Vol 74, Issue 5. Poster Abstracts, May 2016.
9. Shahbazi S, Saunders B, Wang H, Jang S, Venna S. (May 2016). Survival in desmoplastic melanoma patients with or without adjuvant radiation. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Vol 74, Issue 5. Poster Abstracts, May 2016.