About me
Cristina Merkhofer, MD, MHS, is a medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in treating head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and thyroid cancers. She also specializes in thoracic cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies.
As a medical oncologist, Dr. Merkhofer oversees medication-based treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. She collaborates with colleagues in radiation oncology, surgery, and other medical specialties to develop personalized treatment plans for her patients. She cares deeply about making her patients feel heard and giving them enough information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dr. Merkhofer graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a Master of Health Science in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She obtained her MD at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency in internal medicine and participated in the Global Health and Underserved Populations track at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Merkhofer then completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
With a strong background in global health and health services research, Dr. Merkhofer strives to improve access to oncology care in the DC area and bring promising new therapies to her patients. For her prior research in advanced lung cancer, she has been honored with a 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, a 2020 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, and the Stork Petersdorf Lung Cancer Research Award. She is an active member of ASCO and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that the physician-patient relationship is sacred. I see my patients as whole people with unique goals, histories, and challenges, and not just defined by their illness. My goal is to help my patients understand their illness and to provide strong support so that they can make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. I am committed to bringing the latest treatments to my patients and to improving access to oncology care in the DC area.”
About MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington and MedStar Georgetown are part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Consultation
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Tumor Marker Testing
Procedures I perform
- Anemia Management
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clot Treatment
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Disorder Diagnosis
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Clinical Trial Management
- Cancer Genetics Evaluation
- Cancer Pain Management
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials
- Coagulopathy Management
- Colorectal Cancer Treatment
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Management
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Intravenous Antibiotics
- Leukemia Treatment
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymphoma Management
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Magnesium Imbalance Treatment
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Neutropenia Management
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Oncology Consultation
- Pain Management Consultation
- Palliative Care Consultation
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
- Surgical Oncology Surgery
- Thrombophilia Management
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Vitamin Deficiency 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
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- POS OA
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Choice POS
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- HighMark
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Optimum Choice
- IH-PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Navigate
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-POS
- IH-Open POS II
- Medicare FFS
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Network OA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Washington School of Medicine (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-GME (2017)
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health (2014)