About me
Sara Berkey, MD, is a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus.
Dr. Berkey’s treatment methods involve both medical and surgical (in-office and operating room) techniques. She is specialty trained and certified to perform minimally invasive robotic surgery using the da Vinci® robotic surgery system. Robotic surgery reduces pain and discomfort, and therefore narcotic use; reduces recovery time; and allows patients to go home sooner, compared to traditional open surgical techniques.
Her clinical interests include improving the quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor conditions and treating young people with colorectal cancer. Her research interests include improving enhanced surgical recovery pathways to help improve patient outcomes. Dr. Berkey is passionate about increasing colon cancer screening rates in the African American population, the highest risk racial/ethnic group for colorectal cancer in the U.S.
Dr. Berkey received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, where she was named Valedictorian of her class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She then completed a seven-year general surgery residency program, including two years of dedicated research time, with the University of Pittsburgh before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a specialty fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, and the Association of Women Surgeons.
Dr. Berkey enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and spending time on the water.
Philosophy of Care
“The foundation of providing excellent care is a strong patient-physician relationship built on empathy, clear communication, and collaboration. From the very first time I meet my patients, I take the time to listen to their concerns and understand what their goals are for treatment. I emphasize teamwork between myself and my patients, as well as between myself and my colleagues, in order to provide the best possible care to my patients.
I feel honored when my patients say that they would recommend me to their friends and family.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Condyloma
- Anal Dysplasia
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Fistula
- Anal Pain
- Anal Polyp
- Anal Warts
- Anorectal Abnormalities
- Appendiceal Carcinoid
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Small Bowel
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon
- Bladder Fistula
- Bowel Perforations
- Colonic Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Colonic Volvulus
- Colorectal Disorders
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Colovaginal Fistula
- Colovesical Fistula
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Enterovesical Fistula
- Familial Polyposis
- Fecal Incontinence
- Foreign Body (ANUS-RECTUM)
- Foreign Body (COLON-INTESTINE)
- Gallbladder Disease
- Hemorrhoids
- Hereditary Colon Cancer
- Hereditary Polyposis
- Hernia
- Ileitis
- Ileo Colonic Fistula
- Incarcerated Hernia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Carcinoid Tumor
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Colon
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Paget's Disease Of The Perianal Skin
- Parastomal Hernia
- Peridiverticular Abscess
- Pouchitis
- Presacral Tumor
- Proctitis
- Pruritus Ani
- Pseudopolyposis Of Colon
- Radiation Proctitis
- Rectal Abscess
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Hemorrhage
- Rectal Mass
- Rectal Prolapse
- Rectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Severe Dysplasia Of Rectum
- Sigmoid Vesical Fistula
- Stoma Complications
- Turcot Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Cerclage
- Anal Dilation
- Anal Fissure Fistulectomy
- Anal Fistula Repair
- Anal Incontinence Surgery
- Anal Sphincterotomy
- Anorectal Manometry
- Anorectal Myectomy
- Bowel Resection
- Cancer Risk Reduction Surgery
- Colectomy
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Screening
- Colostomy
- Colostomy Revision
- Complex Hernia Repair
- Da Vinci
- Da Vinci Cholecystectomy
- Excision Of External Hemorrhoidal Tags And Papillae
- Fissurectomy
- Hemicolectomy
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hernia Repair
- Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis Surgery
- Ileocolic Resection
- Ileostomy
- Laparoscopic Anterior Resection
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
- Laparoscopic Colostomy Reversal
- Laparoscopic Colostomy Surgery
- Laparoscopic Rectal Prolapse Repair
- Laparoscopic Total Proctocolectomy With Ileal Pouch
- Laparoscopic Treatment Of Small Bowel Obstruction
- Low Anterior Resection
- Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
- Non Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment
- Ostomy
- Ostomy Care
- Ostomy Removal
- Partial Colectomy
- Proctectomy
- Proctocolectomy
- Proctoplasty For Stenosis
- Proctoscopy
- Prolapse Colostomy
- Refashioning Of Colostomy
- Removal Anal Seton Marker
- Repair Of Colovaginal Fistula
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Robotic Colorectal Surgery
- Robotic Proctectomy
- Seton Placement
- Sigmoidectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Sphincter Sparing Surgery
- Sphincterotomy
- Stoma Reversal
- Subtotal Colectomy
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
- Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Transanal Resection Surgery
- Transrectal Drainage Of Pelvic Abscess
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- United Healthcare Choice
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- FIRST HEALTH
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Tricare Prime
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2020)
Residency Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Tulane School of Medicine (2012)