Issam Essa Cheikh, MD| Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism | MedStar Health
About me
Issam Cheikh, MD, FACP, FACE, is Emeritus Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and director of the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency training in internal medicine at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cheikh completed his fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland.
He founded the Division of Endocrinology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and developed the endocrinology fellowship training program along with one of the largest diabetes and endocrine practices in the region. Dr. Cheikh has directed the longest-running annual diabetes symposium of its kind since 1976 and has gained numerous awards for teaching and service. Dr. Cheikh is a adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Issam Cheikh, MD, named 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 "Top Docs" by Baltimore Magazine for endocrinology/diabetes care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adrenal Venous Sampling
- Graves Disease
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Treatment
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Insulin Resistance Treatment
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Pituitary Hormone Management
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Acquired Absence Of Organs
- Adrenal Crisis
- Adrenal Gland Disorder
- Adrenal Gland Disorders (E.G. CUSHING'S SYNDROME, PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA)
- Adrenal Mass
- Adrenal Tumor
- Adult Osteomalacia
- Anemia Due To Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Calcium Disorders
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Bladder
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes In Pregnancy
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Disorders Of Amino
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Disorders Of Pancreatic Internal Secretion
- Disorders Of Pituitary Gland
- Disorders Of Renal Tubular Function
- Disorders Of Thyroid
- Drug Or Chemical Induced Diabetes Mellitus
- Endocrine Disorders
- Erectile Dysfunction Due To Hormonal Imbalance
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Gallbladder Disease
- Grave's Disease
- Gynecomastia
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- High Cholesterol
- Hirsutism
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hyperfunction Of Pituitary Gland
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypertrichosis
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Insulin Pump Management
- Insulin Resistance
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Endocrine Glands
- Menstrual Disorders
- Multiple Myeloma Of The Spine
- Nonscarring Hair Loss
- Nontoxic Goiter
- Obesity
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteoporosis
- Ovarian Dysfunction
- Parathyroid Disorders
- Personal History Of Medical Treatment
- Pituitary Disorders
- Plasma Cell Neoplasms
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Postprocedural Complications
- Prediabetes
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Retinal Disease
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism
- Testicular Dysfunction
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Nodules
- Thyroid Storm
- Thyrotoxic Crisis
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Vitamin Deficiency
Procedures I perform
- Adrenal Disorder Treatment
- Adrenal Hormone Management
- Adrenal Hormone Regulation
- Adrenal Surgery
- Adrenal Venous Sampling
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
- Cushing's Syndrome Treatment
- Diabetes Management
- Diabetes Prevention
- Enterectomy
- Fine-Needle Aspiration Of Thyroid Nodule
- Glucose Control Management
- Goiter Treatment
- Grave's Disease Treatment
- Growth Hormone Management
- Growth Hormone Stimulation Test
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Treatment
- Hormone Level Regulation
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Hypothyroidism Treatment
- Insulin Resistance Treatment
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Lifestyle Modification
- Lobectomy
- Nutrition Counseling
- Obesity Treatment
- One-On-One Diabetes Education
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Pain Medication Management
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Pioglitazone Therapy
- Pituitary Disorder Treatment
- Pituitary Hormone Management
- Pituitary Surgery
- Pituitary Tumor Surgery
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Prediabetes Management
- Testicular Ultrasound
- Thyroid Cancer Treatment
- Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy
- Thyroid Medication Management
- Thyroid Nodule Treatment
- Thyroid Storm Surgery
- Thyroidectomy
- Weight Management Program
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
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- POS OA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- HighMark
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Choice POS
- IH-Open HMO Option
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst EPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Network OA
- Choice Fund PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- Navigate
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optimum Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- First Health PPO
- First Health PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
Education
Board Certification:
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System (1975)
Residency: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1973)
Internship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1971)
Medical School: University of Damascus School of Medicine (1968)
Awards
- 2015-2017, 2019, 2020-2025 Top Doctor, Baltimore magazine