About me
Mahmoud Kheirbek, MD, is Chairman of the Neonatology/Pediatrics Department at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Kheirbek specializes in neonatology and is double board-certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine and pediatrics. He holds professional memberships with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the DC Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics. Throughout his career, Dr. Kheirbek has received several awards, including Nurses’ Choice for the 50th Anniversary of MedStar Washington Hospital Center Collaboration Award with Nursing Staff and Resident of the Year at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center.
Dr. Kheirbek works with high-risk pregnancies and premature babies to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive care to mothers and children. At MedStar Health, he and his department treat the largest number of premature and extreme premature babies in the district. He treats babies for a variety of diseases including respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal jaundice, neonatal sepsis, and issues around feeding and nutritional support. In addition, he specializes in stabilizing and caring for babies that are born with congenital heart disease.
In the future, Dr. Kheirbek is excited to continue developing programs that optimize the nutritional support of newborns. He hopes to bring in more mothers exclusively for breastfeeding and/or use donor breast milk. His department is also instituting CMV screening in babies that fail hearing tests. Additionally, they are in the implementation phase of an IVH prevention protocol in small babies. Dr. Kheirbek believes that fetal surgery for diseases such as spinal myelomeningocele and urologic problems is a promising trend that is showing improvements in outcomes nationwide.
Dr. Kheirbek first discovered his passion for newborns while obtaining his medical degree at Damascus University in Syria. He completed a residency at Children’s Hospital in Damascus prior to his residency at Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s. In 1990, he completed a fellowship program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and has been working there ever since.
Philosophy of care
“I love babies and treat every newborn that is in my care as if they were my own. My approach is to equip families with evidence-based information so that they are empowered to make the best decision for their child. When I meet with families, I take the time to educate them about their baby’s condition and all their possible treatment options. I am always honest and transparent about what can be done for the child; if I believe they would be better served in another location or facility, I will not hesitate to say so because my priority is the best interest of the baby. I know that every family is different, and their value system and personal wishes will always be taken into consideration when developing a treatment plan for their child.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Body Cooling Therapy
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation
- Dopamine Therapy
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Neonatal Aspiration Syndrome
- Neonatal Sepsis
- Newborn Hypoglycemia
- Newborn Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Newborn With Birth Asphyxia
- Non-Invasive Ventilation
- Premature Birth
- Retinopathy Of Prematurity
- Therapeutic Hypothermia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Findings On Neonatal Screening
- Apnea In Newborns
- Asphyxia Of Newborn
- Birth Defects Due To Maternal Conditions
- Birth Injury To Skeleton
- Bowel Obstruction In Newborns
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Conditions Of Integument Specific To Newborn
- Conditions Originating In Perinatal Period
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Congenital Pneumonia
- Dentofacial Abnormality
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Disturbances Of Cerebral Status Of Newborn
- Feeding Problems In Newborns
- General Symptoms
- Hemolytic Disease Of Newborn
- High Blood Pressure In Newborn
- Hyperbilirubinemia Of Newborn
- Hypoglycemia Of Newborn
- Hypospadias
- Infection After Transplant
- Interstitial Emphysema
- Neonatal Aspiration Syndrome
- Neonatal Bowel Obstruction
- Neonatal Pneumonia
- Neonatal Sepsis
- Newborn Affected By Complications Of Placenta, Cord And Membranes
- Newborn Complications From Labor And Delivery
- Newborn Complications From Maternal Pregnancy
- Newborn Hypoglycemia
- Newborn Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Newborn With Birth Asphyxia
- Omphalocele
- Perinatal Hematological Disorders
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Of Newborn
- Premature Birth
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Respiratory Conditions
- Respiratory Failure In Newborn
- Retinal Disease
- Retinopathy Of Prematurity
- Syndactyly
- Syphilis Infection
- Transitory Disorders Of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Ventilator
Procedures I perform
- Atrial Line Insertion
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Body Cooling Therapy
- Breastfeeding Assistance
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Treatment
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation
- Cystitis Treatment
- Delivery Room Resuscitation
- Dopamine Therapy
- Endotracheal Intubation
- Enterocele Repair
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fetal Renal Disorders Management
- Gastric Surgery
- Genital Abnormalities Treatment
- Infectious Disease Treatment
- Intensive Care
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Lactation Consultation
- Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment
- Neonatal Cardiac Care
- Neonatal Circumcision
- Neonatal Dermatology
- Neonatal Hematology
- Neonatal Immunology
- Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Care
- Neonatal Neurosurgery
- Neonatal Orthopedic Care
- Neonatal Physiotherapy
- Neonatal Renal Care
- Neonatal Urology
- Newborn Follow-Up Care
- Newborn Initial Hospital Care
- Newborn Initial Stabilization
- Newborn Subsequent Hospital Care
- Non-Invasive Ventilation
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Pediatric Gout Treatment
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Perinatal Asphyxia Treatment
- Perinatal Pathology
- Postpartum Care
- Pregnancy Complications Evaluation
- Psychiatric Occupational Therapy
- Reproductive Medicine
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treatment
- Retinopathy Of Prematurity Treatment
- Skin Phototherapy
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
- Speech Therapy
- Surfactant Therapy
- Therapeutic Hypothermia
- Thrombocytapheresis
- Transplant Glomerulopathy Treatment
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Vestibular Testing
- Vision Screening
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
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Navigate
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Student Resources
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA EPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Network OA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice POS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Core Essential (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Medicare Direct
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Choice POS II Open Access
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-HMO
- UHC Passport
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-POS
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice Fund PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice POS II
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- POS OA
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (1990)
Residency: Rush University Medical Center (1988)
Internship: Rush University Medical Center (1986)
Internship: Rush University Medical Center (1985)
Residency: University of Damascus (1983)
Medical School: University of Damascus School of Medicine (1979)