About me
Bergen Kassoff, PA-C, is a nationally certified physician assistant at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Health Medical Center at Mitchellville. She specializes in gastroenterology and closely collaborates with Dr. Danny Shearer, Dr. Gary Thompson, Dr. Lauren George and Dr. Arthur West. She is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Ms. Kassoff is skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions, including but not limited to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis, gastritis, H. pylori infection, peptic ulcer disease, pancreaticobiliary disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colitis. Additionally, she is deeply committed to cancer prevention and regularly conducts preprocedural visits for colorectal cancer screenings. Her comprehensive approach to care includes lifestyle modifications, medication management, and other therapeutic interventions.
A native of the DMV, Ms. Kassoff began her medical career as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. She went on to Pennsylvania and graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral neuroscience. After her undergraduate studies, she worked in clinical research at Children’s National Hospital. Although passionate about research, Ms. Kassoff wanted to have direct involvement in patient care, so she decided to get her Master of Science in physician assistant studies at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Ms. Kassoff is honored to be back home serving the community that raised her.
Philosophy of Care
"My approach to healthcare is centered on a patient-first philosophy, emphasizing compassionate, holistic care tailored to each individual's unique needs. I want my patients to know that I am their advocate and will strive to help them reach their health goals. I believe in the importance of patient education and empowerment, ensuring that those under my care are fully informed and active participants in their treatment plans.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy
- Diverticulitis
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Enteroscopy
- Gallstones
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Endoscopy
- Urea Breath Test
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Tumor
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Depression
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Diseases
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gas And Bloating
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- H. Pylori Infection
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Ulcers
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Variceal Bleeding
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Anal Electromyography
- Barium Enema
- Bowel Resection
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Diarrhea Management
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enterectomy
- Enteroscopy
- Esophageal Dilation
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Immunoglobulin Administration
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lactose Intolerance Testing
- Liver Biopsy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mrcp (MAGNETIC RESONANCE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY)
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Sonohysterography
- Testicular Ultrasound
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Endoscopy
- Urea Breath Test
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Virtual Autopsy
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
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Navigate
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Student Resources
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- TRICARE East Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst EPO
- OA Plus
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-POS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Sentara Health
- Network OA
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-HMO
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Graduate: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (2023)