About me
Deepak Chander, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board-certified in hematology and oncology and specializes in treating cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer.
Dr. Chander has an interest in treating neuroendocrine tumors, which typically originate in the small intestine, pancreas, or lungs. As a medical doctor, he treats a range of gastrointestinal cancers with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. He believes in using the latest medical therapies to allow patients to experience the best quality of life possible.
Beyond cancer, Dr. Chander believes in taking care of the “whole patient,” including patients’ other medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. As cancer patients can present with complex medical needs, he works closely with caregivers and colleagues to ensure that every patient receives the best care for their unique situation. In particular, he has a focus on understanding and minimizing drug toxicity. He believes that advances in medicine can lead to new treatments that reduce the toxicity of cancer drugs and hopes to make clinical trials available to Washington Hospital Center patients.
Dr. Chander was interested in medicine from an early age, driven by scientific curiosity and a desire to care for people. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from George Washington University in 2006, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2011. Following his studies, Dr. Chander completed a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at LSU Health Science Center and an Internal Medicine Residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation and subsequently served in various clinical roles, including as a hospitalist/nocturnist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Holy Spirit Hospital.
Before joining Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Chander practiced as an oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In 2024, he moved to the Washington, DC, area to be closer to family. Now, he looks forward to delivering world-class cancer care to the capital’s diverse populations through his work at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Chander is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society of Hematology. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling but remains a proud New Orleanian, with Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Saints, and his family always close to his heart.
Philosophy of Care
“First and foremost, I believe in having compassion for patients and their experiences, treating the person in front of me rather than just the disease. A cancer diagnosis is intimidating for everyone, and people want to know if they can take a pill, get treatment at home, and carry on with their regular life. I strongly want people to preserve their quality of life while undergoing treatment, so we aim to provide the best options with that in mind.
“I want patients to know that I hear them, that I have their interest at heart, and that the most important thing to me is that they feel their best, mentally and physically. I put patients first and am always happy to collaborate with surgeons, radiologists, and other colleagues to deliver the best care. A happy patient is a happy doctor.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Fever
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage Of Limbs
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Eye And Adnexa
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Adult T-Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Alpha-Thalassemia Major Treatment
- Amyloidosis Treatment
- Anemia Management
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Component Transfusion
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Survivorship Care
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
- Growth Hormone Excess Treatment
- Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Hematology Consultation
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treatment
- Hemophilia Treatment
- Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
- Immunotherapy
- Leukemia Treatment
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
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
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-POS
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare Direct
- Optimum Choice
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Navigate
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Beech Street PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Student Resources
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Choice POS
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Hematology
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Fellowship: Louisiana State University School Of Medicine (2020)
Residency: Ochsner Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine (2011)