Christine T Trankiem, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgery
Languages: English
(202) 877-3173
About me
Christine Trankiem Wall, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and critical care surgeon. She is the Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Regional Chief of the same for MedStar Health. Dr. Trankiem serves as State Chair for the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and participates in the education of medical students, physicians in training, and peers. She is a member of the Medical Board and Medical Executive Committee of the hospital.
Dr. Trankiem specializes in trauma, general surgery including gastrointestinal and bowel surgery, and surgical critical care. Her clinical interests include robotic surgery, rib and sternal fracture fixation, gastrointestinal surgery, necrotizing acute soft tissue infections (or flesh eating bacteria), critical events team training and communication, and community violence prevention and outreach. As Chief of the Gold Acute Care Surgery Team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Trankiem has an added level of expertise in taking care of patients with seemingly straightforward general surgery issues that may develop into critical care needs. Patients who come to MedStar for care will also be treated by other physicians in the Gold Acute Care Surgery Team, in addition to being treated by Dr. Trankiem.
Dr. Trankiem earned her undergraduate degree from the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh, pursued post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and obtained her medical degree from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and completed her fellowship training with the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Los Angeles County Hospital at the University of Southern California.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Trankiem came to Washington, DC for the opportunity to provide advanced trauma and surgical care to area residents. Dr. Trankiem is an advocate for team care. Data shows that a team always outperforms an individual. For this reason, she is passionate about surgical education and critical events team training. When not searching for innovative approaches to care for trauma patients, Dr. Trankiem enjoys spending time with her husband and son hiking, white water rafting, and adventure travelling.
Philosophy of Care
“Mental wellness, spiritual well-being, nutrition, social work and physical therapy are all essential in order to bring the patient as a whole to their best state of health. Through this philosophy, I bring care to my patients in a compassionate and thoughtful way. Communication is the cornerstone of my practice. It is important to me to not only educate and update the patient in order to address their disease but to also communicate with their families.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Damage Control Surgery
- Gynecologic Laparotomy
- Hemorrhagic Shock Resuscitation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Abdominal Hernia
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Anal Abscess
- Aneurysm
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Artery Disorders
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Bacterial Pneumonia
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bleeding Disorders
- Body Region Injury
- Brain Disorders
- Burn Injuries
- Chest Burn And Corrosion
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Appendicitis
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Colon Disease
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Disorders Of White Blood Cells
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Head, Face, And Neck Burn And Corrosion
- Hip And Thigh Blood Vessel Injury
- Hip And Thigh Open Wound
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Incisional Hernia
- Intrathoracic Organ Injury
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Leg Amputation
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Blood Vessel Injury
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Muscle Disorders
- Myocarditis
- Neck Injury
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Pelvic Organ Injury
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Pleural Disease
- Pneumothorax And Air Leak
- Postprocedural States
- Respiratory Disorders
- Retroperitoneum Disorders
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Shock
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Blood Vessel Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Limb Burn
- Shoulder Open Wound
- Skull Fractures
- Superficial Abdomen Injury
- Tendinous Disorders
- Thoracic Cavity Open Wound
- Thorax Blood Vessel Injury
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Venous Embolism
- Ventral Hernia
- Wrist And Hand Burn And Corrosion
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Procedures I perform
- Abdomen Skin Repair
- Abdominal Aorta Restriction
- Abdominal Wall Infection Drainage
- Abdominal Wall Stoma Repair
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Abdominal Wall Tumor Resection
- Appendix Resection
- Buttock Subcutaneous Tissue Excision
- Chest Skin Repair
- Colocutaneous Anastomosis
- Colostomy
- Control Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding
- Control Peritoneal Cavity Bleeding
- Cyst Decortication
- Cystorrhaphy, Simple
- Damage Control Surgery
- Descending Colectomy
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Endoscopic Inspection Of Tracheobronchial Tree
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Escharotomy
- Excision Of Large Intestine
- Excision Of Pancreas
- Excision Of Stomach
- Fasciotomy
- Gallbladder Resection
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Gastrocutaneous Fistula Takedown
- Gastrointestinal Lavage
- Gastrointestinal Trauma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrorrhaphy, Suture Of Perforated Duodenal Or Gastric Ulcer
- Gastrostomy
- Gastrostomy, Open
- Gynecologic Laparotomy
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hemorrhagic Shock Resuscitation
- Hemothorax Evacuation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hepatic Artery Occlusion
- Incision And Drainage Of Bartholin's Gland Abscess
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Insertion Of Infusion Device Into Lower Vein
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Ischiorectal Abscess Drainage
- IVC Filter Placement
- Jejunostomy
- Jejunum Resection
- Jejunum Supplement
- Jejunum To Ileum Bypass
- Jejunum Transplant
- Laparoscopic Splenectomy
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Leg Muscle Excision
- Liver Drainage With Catheter
- Liver Packing Removal
- Lower Arm Skin Excision
- Lumpectomy With Radiation
- Omentum Release
- Partial Colectomy
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Pseudocyst Drainage
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Peritoneal Cavity Drainage
- Pleural Cavity Drainage
- Rectal Excision
- Rectum Resection
- Repair Left Lower Leg Subcutaneous Tissue
- Repair Of Anterior Abdominal Hernia
- Revision Synthetic Substitute
- Saline Contrast Study
- Sigmoid Colon Resection
- Small Intestine Cancer Surgery
- Small Intestine Repair
- Spleen Resection
- Splenectomy
- Splenic Flexure Mobilization
- Stomach Drainage
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aortography
- Thoracostomy
- Thoracotomy With Therapeutic Wedge Resection
- Total Colectomy
- Tracheostomy
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Transverse Colon Resection
- Tube Thoracostomy
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Veno-Venous Bypass
- Ventral Hernia Repair With Mesh
- Ventriculostomy
- Whole Lung Lavage
- Wound Dressing Change
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 Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open HMO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Choice Fund PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Sentara Health
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-POS
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Network OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-Open POS Plus
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- POS OA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UHC Passport
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE East Prime
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TRICARE for Life East
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-PPO
- Navigate
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Fellowship: University of Southern California School of Medicine (2007)
Residency: Temple University Hospital (2006)
Medical School: Hahnemann University Hospital-CLOSED (2001)