About me
Jennifer A. Kanakry, MD, is a board-certified hematologist specializing in cellular therapies for blood cancers, including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, autologous stem cell transplantation, and chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy. She is the medical director of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Dr. Kanakry earned her medical degree from Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed both her Internal Medicine residency and Hematology fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Prior to joining MedStar Georgetown, Dr. Kanakry was a senior clinician at the Center for Immuno-Oncology at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. She has served as principal and associate investigator on numerous clinical trials, leading clinical research focused on hematopoietic cell transplantation and other cellular immunotherapies for blood cancers and inborn errors of immunity. Her overall clinical research focus has been to investigate novel ways to make transplant and other cellular immunotherapies more accessible, less toxic, and more effective, focusing particularly on understudied cancers such as mature T- and NK-cell lymphomas.
Dr. Kanakry is the author of more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals, as well as book chapters, and has spoken nationally and internationally on topics in hematology and oncology. She is a member of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and participates in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Working Committees.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Kanakry works alongside her patients, engaging a multidisciplinary team of specialists to figure out the best path forward. Clear, consistent communication with the treatment team and patient and family are key to streamlining the process. By working together and communicating well, she strives to give her patients direction, clarity, information, and support, so they can focus on healing and hope.
About MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Georgetown is part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant
- Blood Cancer Treatment
- Blood Cancers
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Examination
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Bone Marrow Tap
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy
- Disorders Of White Blood Cells
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Marrow Ablation
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment
- Stem Cell Collection
- Stem Cell Harvesting
- Stem Cell Therapy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Tumor Markers
- Blood Cancers
- Blood Disorders
- Blood Transfusion Reactions
- Bone Marrow Cancer
- Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
- Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
- Clotting Disorders
- Coagulopathy
- Cutaneous Lymphoma
- Diseases Of Blood And Blood
- Disorders Of White Blood Cells
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Hodgkin Disease
- Leukemia
- Leukocytosis
- Leukocytosis (HIGH WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT)
- Leukopenia
- Lymphoma
- Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
- Neoplasms Of Lymphoid, Hematopoietic And Related Tissue
- Neutropenia
- Plasma Cell Neoplasms
- Platelet Disorders
- Red Blood Cell Disorders
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Sickle Cell Disease
Procedures I perform
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant
- Autologous Blood Donation
- Autotransfusion
- Blood Cancer Diagnosis
- Blood Cancer Treatment
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Examination
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Bone Marrow Tap
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Follicular Lymphoma Treatment
- Hematology Consultation
- Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
- Iliac Bone Marrow Extraction
- Immunohistochemistry Testing
- Leukemia Treatment
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Marrow Ablation
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Treatment
- Neutropenia Management
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
- Platelet Transfusion
- Red Blood Cell Exchange
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Stem Cell Collection
- Stem Cell Harvesting
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Tumor Marker Testing
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 Choice Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Network OA
- IH-EPO Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- POS OA
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- TRICARE for Life East
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare FFS
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- OA Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- First Health PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HighMark
- CareFirst NASCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice POS II
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Choice Fund PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Student Resources
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Navigate
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- TRICARE East Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2013)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2010)
Medical School: Geisel School Of Medicine At Dartmouth (2007)