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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Nonscarring Hair Loss
- Nontoxic Goiter
- Obesity
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteoporosis
- Ovarian Dysfunction
- Parathyroid Disorders
- Pituitary Disorders
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Postprocedural Complications
- Prediabetes
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- 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
- Bone Density Testing
- Celiac Plexus Block
- 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
- Hormone Level Regulation
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Hypothyroidism Treatment
- Insulin Resistance Treatment
- 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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
200 E 33rd St
Ste 329
Baltimore, MD, 21218
200 E 33rd St
Ste 551
Baltimore, MD, 21218
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
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HighMark
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Network OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- TRICARE for Life East
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice POS II
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Sentara Health
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA EPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Navigate
- CareFirst EPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- POS OA
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice POS
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Beech Street PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
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