Issam Essa Cheikh, MD| 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
- Bone Density Testing
- 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
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Choice POS II
- IH-POS Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HighMark
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Medicare Direct
- First Health PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Navigate
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Student Resources
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open HMO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- POS OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna HMO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-POS
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- BlueChoice Open Access
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- UHC Passport
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
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