About me
Ami Chitalia, MD, is board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative medicine. Additionally, she is board certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology and a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. As a hematologist and medical oncologist, Dr. Chitalia focuses on the treatment of breast cancer through the use of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted novel therapies through clinical trials. She also specializes in symptom management and setting goals of care as they pertain to patients with an advanced or complicated diagnoses.
Each day, more research points to stepping away from chemotherapy and using novel, targeted agents to fight breast cancer. These therapies are among Dr. Chitalia’s clinical interests, as is the incorporation of her palliative care training to her oncology practice. Her research interests include curriculum development for trainees focused on palliative care as it pertains to the field of oncology. Additionally, Dr. Chitalia is passionate about studying health disparities related to breast cancer treatment.
Dr. Chitalia received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She then joined MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for residency in Internal Medicine before completing a one-year fellowship in Hospice and Palliative medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Chitalia then returned to Medstar Georgetown University Hospital to complete a three-year fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology. She is now a staff physician at the affiliated Medstar Washington Cancer Institute.
Philosophy of Care
“My goal in taking care of patients is to treat the patient as a whole, addressing not just their breast cancer but also trying to focus on symptom management, and the psychosocial and emotional aspects of their treatment. In order to be able to address all of the patient’s needs, I take the time to listen and make sure I know what the patient hopes to accomplish.
“I provide clear explanations regarding the diagnosis and treatment recommendations, allowing each patient to make informed decisions regarding his or her care. When appropriate, I educate my patients on available and relevant clinical trials, as participating in them opens up additional treatment options for the patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Cancer Pain Management
- Chemoradiation
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Etoposide Therapy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Intra-Arterial Infusion Of Chemotherapy
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Tumor Markers
- Adenocarcinoma
- Anemia Of Chronic Disease
- B Cell Lymphoma
- Basal Cell Carcinoma Of Skin
- Benign Neoplasm Of Kidney
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Benign Neoplasm Of Urinary Organs
- Bladder Carcinoma
- Bleeding Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Breast Cancer
- Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
- Deficiency Of Essential Nutrients
- Diseases Of The Small Intestine
- Disorders Of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Gastric Cancer
- Hemorrhagic Conditions
- History Of Breast Cancer
- Hodgkin Disease
- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Cancer
- Larynx Cancer
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Ascites
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Cervix Uteri
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Retroperitoneum
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Testicle
- Malignant Pleural Effusion
- Melanoma In Situ
- Menstrual Disorders
- Metastatic Cancer
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
- Myopathies
- Nasopharynx Cancer
- Neoplasm Analysis
- Neutropenia
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Papillary Carcinoma Of Breast
- Personal History Of Cancer
- Plasma Cell Neoplasms
- Poisoning
- Radiodermatitis
- Secondary Lymph Node Cancer
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Stomatitis And Related Lesions
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism
- Submandibular Gland Cancer
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome
- Ureteral Cancer
- Venous Embolism
- Vitamin Deficiency Anemia
Procedures I perform
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Antineoplastic Injection
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Brachytherapy
- Breast Cancer
- Cancer Pain Management
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cardiac Cell Therapy
- Chemoradiation
- Chemosensitization
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Dopamine Therapy
- Etoposide Therapy
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperthermia
- I-131 Therapy
- Immune System Modulator Therapy
- Immunoglobulin Administration
- Immunotherapy
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Internal Radiation Therapy
- Intra-Arterial Infusion Of Chemotherapy
- Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Laser Therapy
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant
- Methylation Profiling
- Muscle Injection
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Palliative Care
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- Proton Beam Radiosurgery
- Radiation Sensitization
- Radiation Therapy
- Relapse Prevention Therapy
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Surgical Oncology Surgery
- Tumor Embolization
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
- Tumor Resection
- Vaccinations
- Venous Access Device Irrigation
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 HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Student Resources
- Choice POS II
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS
- IH-POS
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- POS OA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Navigate
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Network OA
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA PPO
- OA Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UHC Passport
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- First Health PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center (2017)
Fellowship: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2014)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center (2013)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (2010)