About me
Alexandra B. Lachner, PA-C, is a board-certified breast surgery physician assistant at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Working under the supervision of Dr. Meghan Milburn, Dr. Amy Fernow, and Dr. Maen Farha, PA Lachner sees patients with breast-related concerns, such as breast pain and breast lumps, and performs breast cancer risk assessments.
Her scope of practice includes screening, evaluating, and referring her patients for breast-related conditions. As a breast pain specialist, she conducts clinical breast exams, takes comprehensive family and lifestyle histories, and orders screening or diagnostic imaging as needed. She supports breast cancer patients throughout their cancer journey, offering post-operative care and follow-up treatments.
A strong advocate for patient education and empowerment, PA Lachner teaches patients how to perform self-breast exams and counsels them on when to seek medical evaluation. She manages the cases of patients at a high risk for breast cancer, collaborating with them to determine whether a more proactive or conservative approach is best for their lifestyle and health goals.
Her clinical and research interests lie in screening high-risk breast cancer patients and providing education in risk reduction, including the use of low dosages of hormone therapy medication when appropriate.
PA Lachner earned her Bachelor of Science in geology from Towson University and a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she was inducted into the Alpha Eta Honor Society.
She is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Academy of Physician Associates, and she is a US Air Force combat veteran.
Philosophy of Care
“I find great satisfaction in providing a calm and safe space where patients feel comfortable sharing their concerns and anxieties. I welcome questions and encourage patients to be their own health advocates and take the initiative in their own care. My patients can expect me to advocate for and support them throughout their journey, whether it is discussing their imaging results, assessing cancer risks, or addressing breast pain.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Breast Imaging
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
- Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
- Breast Pain
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breast Imaging
- Abnormal Mammogram
- Abnormal Mammogram Results
- Absent Breast Tissue
- Acquired Absence Of Breast
- Areola Deformity
- Asymmetric Breasts
- Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH)
- Axillary Web Syndrome
- Benign Breast Disease
- Benign Breast Tumor
- Brca1 And Brca2 Genetic Mutation
- Breast Abscess
- Breast Asymmetry
- Breast Calcifications
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Complications
- Breast Cancer Recurrence
- Breast Capsular Contracture
- Breast Cysts
- Breast Deformity
- Breast Density
- Breast Disorders
- Breast Disorders And Nipple Discharge
- Breast Hypoplasia
- Breast Infections
- Breast Inflammation
- Breast Lesions
- Breast Lymphedema
- Breast Mass
- Breast Pain
- Breast Reconstruction Complications
- Breast Sarcoma
- Breast Skin Irritation
- Breast Tenderness
- Breastfeeding
- Capsular Contracture
- Circulatory System Complications
- Congenital Breast Deformities
- Congenital Malformations Of Breast
- Deformed Breast
- Dense Breast Tissue
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
- Ductal Ectasia
- Enlarged Breast Lymph Nodes
- Estrogen Receptor Status
- Family History Of Breast Cancer
- Fibroadenoma
- Fibroadenoma Of Breast
- Genetic Predisposition To Breast Cancer
- Hematoma
- Her2neu Receptor
- Infections Of Breast
- Infections Of Breast Associated With Pregnancy And Lactation
- Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
- Lymphedema
- Male Breast Enlargement (GYNECOMASTIA)
- Mastitis
- Microcalcifications
- Nerve Damage After Breast Surgery
- Nipple Areola Reconstruction
- Nipple Discharge
- Nipple Inversion
- Papillary Carcinoma Of Breast
- Phyllodes Tumors
- Poland Syndrome
- Radiation Therapy Complications
- Reconstructed Breast Deformity Revision
- Sebaceous Adenoma
- Seroma
- Seroma Of Breast
- Unusual Breast Changes
Procedures I perform
- Breast Cancer Chemoprevention
- Breast Cancer Pain Management
- Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
- Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
- Breast Cancer Screening
- Breast Cancer Surgery
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Breast Cyst Removal
- Breast Infection Treatment
- Breast Seroma Aspiration
- Clinical Trials For Breast Cancer Treatment
- Diagnostic Breast Imaging
- Diagnostic Mammography
- Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
- Fish Testing For Breast Cancer
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 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Medicare Direct
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Choice POS II
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Employee Health Plan
- POS OA
- Network OA
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- OA Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open POS II
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Navigate
- Sentara Health
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
Education
Board Certification: National Committee on Certification of Physician Assistants
Graduate: Texas Tech University (2025)