Chavalia Joan Breece, ANPBC MSN
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Hematology and Oncology, Counseling, Addiction Counseling
Languages: English
About me
Joan Breece, RN, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in adult geriatrics and acute care at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in tobacco cessation counseling and lung cancer screenings. She also is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence.
Joan’s approach to care centers on providing compassionate and comprehensive services. She begins by engaging in thoughtful conversations with patients to fully understand their conditions and empathetically address their concerns. For those who need lung cancer screenings, she thoroughly conducts physical examinations and clearly explains test results. For others who are in the Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Program, she offers evidence-based educational tools and medication management assistance to maximize treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects. In collaboration with experienced interventional pulmonologists, she supports patients during every step towards healthier and nicotine-free lives.
Joan is dedicated to raising awareness about the evolving criteria for lung cancer screenings among current and former smokers. One such screening is the low-dose CT scan – a safe, painless, and brief 10-minute procedure that captures detailed images of the lungs to detect nodules or abnormal growths. She also is passionate about new strategies to address the use of smokeless tobacco or vape pens. In addition to containing nicotine, these products are addictive and linked to cancer. Referring physicians should know that she is dedicated to keeping them well informed about their patients’ progress while delivering prompt and coordinated care.
Philosophy of Care
“It’s not always easy to get and stay healthy. When linked with tobacco-smoking habits, it can be even harder. That’s why I applaud patients – without judgement – throughout their journeys toward freedom from nicotine. And at every turn, I’m ready to help them identify actionable solutions to physical, social, and emotional barriers.”
Conditions and procedures
Procedures I perform
- Clinical Decision Support
- Disease Prevention
- Telehealth
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
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Network OA
- Choice Fund PPO
- Choice POS
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- OA Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Navigate
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- UHC Passport
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-POS
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-HMO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Student Resources
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- POS OA
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA EPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Optimum Choice
- First Health PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst NASCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Employee Health Plan
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- HighMark
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
Education
Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Graduate: George Mason University (1999)
Awards
- 2013 Nursing Excellence Award in Shared Decision Making-MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- The NP Role in the Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinic, GUMC Update, 2021
- Lung Cancer Screening Patients’ Perceptions of Their Abnormal Results: A Qualitative Study, presented at MedStar Health’s Annual Research Symposium, 2019
- Achieving Healthy Cancer Survivorship Through Integrated Tobacco Control: The Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Program, presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2020
- Achieving Healthy Cancer Survivorship Through Integrated Tobacco Control: Development of the Oncology Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinical Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, presented at MedStar Health’s Annual Research Symposium, 2018-2021
Philips JG, Cordon M, Lobo T, Friberg J, Breece CJ, Beplat M, Kim C, Veytsman I, Russell E, Cusaac L, Ahmed W, Ponder MC, Schilstra P, King L, Goswami D, Wheeley J, Taylor, KL. (2021). Achieving healthy cancer survivorship through integrated tobacco control: development of the oncology Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinical Program at MGUH and MWHC (2018-2021). Presented at the MedStar Annual Research Symposium, Washington DC.
Taylor KL, Fallon S, Subramaniam D, Davis KM, To C, Lobo T, Philips, J, Tercyak K, Friberg J, Tynan M, Russell E, Ahmed W, Ponder MC, Cusaac L, Thompson J, Gardner K, Breece J, Kim C, Weiner LM. (2020). Achieving healthy cancer survivorship through integrated tobacco control: The Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) program. Presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, New Orleans LA.
Fallon S, Stephens J, Kim E, Eyestone E, Breece CJ, Anderson E, Taylor KL, and the LSTH Trial Team (2019). Lung cancer screening patients’ perceptions of their abnormal results: A qualitative study. Presented at the MedStar Annual Research Symposium, Washington DC.
2020-present Ongoing presentations to faculty, residents, and students in the Departments of
Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology on Lung Cancer Screening and
Smoking Cessation. Presentations given by Joan Breece, NP, Drs. Eric Anderson, Randi Williams, and Kathryn Taylor.