Ashtar Chami, MD| Internal Medicine, Transplant Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Dr. Chami is an experienced, fellowship trained, board certified transplant nephrologist with more than 15 years of experience in the field.
She joins the team as the associate medical director of kidney transplantation as well as the transplant fellowship director. She comes to MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute from Tufts Medicine where she served as the medical director of kidney transplantation.
Dr. Chami has been featured in multiple news stories and appeared on the cover of Boston magazine Top Doctors.
She earned her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, completed a nephrology fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Transplant Fellowship at Emory University where she practiced as a transplant nephrologist for 10 years.
Her areas of special interest and expertise include kidney transplantation, immune suppression management, including once monthly belatacept immunosuppression infusions, living kidney donation, and managing patients before and after kidney transplantation.
Her research focuses on the use of belatacept to improve the long term survival of renal grafts, HLA matching in kidney transplantation, and expanding living donor criteria by exploring acceptance criteria. Her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and she has authored book chapters as well as presented at national conferences and meetings. She is a member of the American Society of Transplantation, the Transplantation Society, and the American Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Chami is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.
Dr. Chami’s medical approach is to care for every patient as a whole person. She treats each patient as a unique individual, tailoring treatment plans to fit their specific needs and personal goals.
When she is not working, she enjoys travel, live music and exploring international cuisines.
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Hematuria
- High Blood Pressure
- Hypertension
- Kidney Stones
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Nephritic Syndrome
- Acute Tubular Necrosis
- Amyloidosis
- Amyloidosis Of The Kidney
- Anuria
- Azotemia
- Berger's Disease
- Blood In Urine
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Tubulo
- Chronic Tubulointerstitial Disease
- Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephritis
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Contracted Kidney
- Contrast
- Cystinuria
- Diabetes Mellitus Due To Underlying Condition
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Dialysis Care
- Disorders Of Renal Tubular Function
- Electrolyte Disorders
- End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Fluid Overload
- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
- Hematuria
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
- High Blood Pressure
- Hydronephrosis
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypernatremia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis
- Hypokalemia
- Interstitial Nephritis
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Infection (PYELONEPHRITIS)
- Kidney Inflammation
- Kidney Stones
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lupus Nephritis
- Medullary Sponge Kidney
- Membranous Nephropathy
- Minimal Change Disease
- Nephrocalcinosis
- Nephrolithiasis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nephrotic Syndrome Due To Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
- Neutropenia
- Obstructive And Reflux Uropathy
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Proteinuria
- Proteinuria (EXCESS PROTEIN IN URINE)
- Pyelonephritis
- Rapidly Progressive Nephritic Syndrome
- Recurrent Hematuria
- Renal Agenesis And Reduction Defects Of Kidney
- Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal Cyst
- Renal Cysts
- Renal Hypertension
- Renal Insufficiency
- Renal Tubular Acidosis
- Renovascular Disease
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Small Kidney
- Systemic Connective Tissue Involvement
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Uremia
- Vasculitis
- Wilms Tumor
Procedures I perform
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Treatment
- Acute Kidney Injury Treatment
- Anemia Management
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test
- Cardiorenal Syndrome Treatment
- Creatinine Clearance Test
- Deceased Donor Transplant
- Duplex Scan Of Abdominal Organs
- Electrolyte Imbalance Treatment
- Electrolyte Management
- Electrolyte Panel
- End Stage Renal Disease Treatment
- Fluid Management
- Fluid Overload Management
- Fluid Overload Treatment
- Graft Placement
- Hematuria Treatment
- Hyperkalemia Treatment
- Hypertension Treatment
- Intravenous Pyelogram
- Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
- Kidney Function Test
- Lifestyle Modification
- Limited Retroperitoneal Ultrasound
- Lupus Nephritis Treatment
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Nephrectomy
- Nephritic Syndrome Treatment
- Nephrocalcinosis Treatment
- Nephrology Consultation
- Nephrotic Syndrome Treatment
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
- Peritoneal Cavity Irrigation With Dialysate
- Phosphorus Management
- Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Management
- Potassium Management
- Proteinuria Treatment
- Renal Angioplasty
- Renal Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Renal Artery Stenting
- Renal Biopsy
- Renal Nutrition Counseling
- Renal Stenting
- Renal Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Treatment
- Sodium Management
- Urinary Filtration Performance
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
- Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
- Vascular Access Creation
- Vascular Access Management
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
- HighMark
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Network OA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Student Resources
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- POS OA
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Classic 5000
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Select
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- OA Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Administrators
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Beech Street PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Emory University Hospital-GME (2011)
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital (2009)
Internship: Emory University School Of Medicine (2006)
Medical School: McGill University (2003)