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