Ira David Shocket, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
As Chief of Gastroenterology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Shocket leads the division and its team of GI specialists who provide the latest and most advanced care available in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Dr. Shocket is one of the best gastroenterologists in the region and has been recognized consistently for his work for over two decades. He currently is listed as a Top Doctor in Washingtonian, Consumer Checkbook, US News and World Report, and Best Doctors in America.
His clinical expertise involves colon cancer screening and inflammatory bowel disease.
Committed to his specialty and community, Dr. Shocket is a Board member of the District of Columbia chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and the principal investigator of the Colon Cancer Prevention in the Neighborhood, a community-based colon cancer screening project in Ward 5.
In addition to spending time with his family, Dr. Shocket enjoys playing tennis. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Dr. Shocket is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Primary Care and Gastroenterology. He completed his residency and fellowship training at Boston University School of Medicine in the late 1980s. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1984.
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Esophagus Diseases
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Ulcers
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- EGD With Biopsy
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Evaluation Of Intestinal Pouch
- Endoscopic Injection Therapy
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Test
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Mucosal Ablation
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intra-Abdominal Abscess Drainage
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Drainage
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
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
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- First Health PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Student Resources
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- POS OA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-POS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- First Health PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice Fund PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HighMark
- Choice POS II
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Navigate
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- UHC Passport
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- TRICARE East Prime
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Basic
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- OA Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Network OA
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: Veterans Affairs Boston System (1989)
Residency: Boston University Medical Center (1987)
Internship: Boston University Medical Center (1985)
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine (1984)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025