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
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-POS
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Police and Fire Clinic
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Network OA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Beech Street PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- POS OA
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Basic
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-EPO Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Navigate
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- OA Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Blue Choice Advantage
Education
Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant
Graduate: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (2023)