About me
Kirsten Hawkins, MD, is an adolescent medicine specialist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Hawkins discovered her love for adolescent medicine during medical school. She went on to complete adolescent medicine subspecialty training after her pediatric residency, focusing on the unique needs of teenage patients and their families.
Adolescent medicine combines Dr. Hawkins' interest in different areas of medicine, including sports medicine, endocrinology, gynecology, and reproductive health. An athlete as a teen and an avid cyclist and skier today, she also offers first-hand experience in the areas of nutrition and sports medicine. With an educational and multidisciplinary approach to care, Dr. Hawkins helps teens and their families navigate the many physical and emotional changes of adolescence. She works with a patient-focused team and works collaboratively with community-based behavioral health specialists and dieticians.
Dr. Hawkins is a fellow of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She has received several honors for her teaching and research including the John Eisenberg Career Development Award from the Georgetown Women in Medicine. She is a graduate of the MedStar Teaching Scholars program which included the AAMC’s Medical Education Research Certification (MERC) and Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Certificate Programs.
Dr. Hawkins is active in several professional societies. She is the former president of the Chesapeake Regional chapter of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine and has served on the national subcommittee on electronic health record. She is a former member of the board of the District of Columbia’s chapter of the AAP and served as chair of the nominating committee. She is board certified in pediatrics and adolescent medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Hawkins has testified before the District of Columbia’s City Council on topics ranging from concussions to health education in schools.
Dr. Hawkins is frequently invited to speak at meetings of professional societies. Her lecture topics include adolescent confidentiality in the digital age, menstrual disorders, teen substance abuse, adolescent vaccination, adolescent transition to adult care, and communicating with teens. Dr. Hawkins is a reviewer for the Journal of Adolescent Health and the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Her research has been published in scientific journals, including the Journal of Adolescent Health, Pediatric Dermatology, Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, and Research and Health Education & Behavior. She has written chapters on adolescent confidentiality and transition to adult healthcare.
Dr. Hawkins research interests include:
- Adolescent Transition to Adult Health Care
- Adolescent Confidentiality
- Pediatric Medical Education
- Teaching Communication Skills
- Adolescent Cancer Prevention
- Adolescent nicotine use and prevention
Dr. Hawkins is an associate professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine, chief of the adolescent medicine section at MedStar Georgetown and in July 2014, became the director of the pediatric residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. In these roles, she provides clinical and academic instruction for more than 60 pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents and 200 medical students annually.
Clinical areas of focus
- Asthma
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation And Treatment
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Camp Physicals
- Feeding Difficulties In Newborns
- Feeding Problems In Toddlers
- Growth And Development Monitoring
- Immunization Administration
- Lactation Counseling
- Musculoskeletal Injury
- Nutrition Counseling
- Pediatric Sick Visit
- School Physical
- School Physical
- Sports Physicals
- Well Child Exam
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Breathing In Newborns
- Abnormal Findings On Neonatal Screening
- Acute Bronchiolitis In Infants
- Acute Sinusitis
- Acute Tonsillitis In Children
- Acute Upper Respiratory Infections Of Multiple Sites
- Allergic Contact Dermatitis
- Allergic Reactions In Children
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergies
- Anemia In Children
- Arm Injury
- Arm Pain In Children
- Asthma
- Asthma Attack
- Asthma In Children
- Asthma Management
- Atopic Dermatitis (ECZEMA) In Children
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Baby Acne
- Baby Reflux
- Bacterial Pneumonia
- Bedwetting
- Behavioral Problems
- Blocked Tear Ducts
- Blood In Stool
- Bone Disorders In Children
- Breastfeeding Difficulties
- Bronchiolitis
- Burn Injuries
- Candidiasis
- Cellulitis
- Chest Pain
- Child Anxiety Disorders
- Child Asthma
- Child Constipation
- Child Speech Problems
- Child Tantrums
- Cold And Flu In Children
- Colic In Infants
- Common Cold In Children
- Constipation
- Cradle Cap
- Croup
- Delayed Speech And Language Development
- Developmental Delays In Toddlers
- Ear Foreign Body
- Ear Infections In Children
- Ear Pain In Children
- Eczema
- Enuresis
- Environmental Allergies
- Eye Problems In Children
- Feeding Difficulties In Newborns
- Feeding Problems In Toddlers
- Fever In Children
- Flu In Children
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Growing Pains
- Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
- Head Injury
- Head Lice
- Headache In Children
- Health Counseling
- Hives
- Impetigo In Children
- Infection
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Influenza
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Knee Pain In Children
- Language Developmental Delays
- Lead Poisoning In Children
- Learning Disabilities In Children
- Leg Pain In Children
- Medically Complex Child
- Middle Ear Pain
- Musculoskeletal Injury
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
- Nausea And Vomiting In Kids
- Newborn Care
- Newborn Feeding Disorders
- Nightmares In Children
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Nursemaid's Elbow
- Nutrition Counseling
- Obesity In Children
- Oral Thrush
- Otitis Externa (SWIMMER'S EAR)
- Otitis Media
- Overweight Children
- Pediatric Allergies
- Pediatric Anemia
- Pediatric Sinusitis
- Pediatric Skin Conditions (E.G. ECZEMA, ACNE)
- Pink Eye (CONJUNCTIVITIS)
- Pinworms
- Pneumonia In Children
- Poor Appetite In Children
- Premature Birth
- Premature Infant
- Reflux In Infants
- Roseola
- Rubella
- Runny Nose
- Scabies In Children
- Scarlet Fever
- School Physical
- Sinusitis In Children
- Skin And Soft Tissue Infections
- Skin Infections In Children
- Skin Rashes In Children
- Speech Disorders
- Sprains And Strains In Children
- Strep Throat
- Swimmer's Ear
- Testicular Pain
- Throat Pain
- Tinea Infections
- Underimmunization
- Underweight In Kids
- Unexplained Fever
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Urticaria
- Vaccination Concerns
- Vaccinations For Children
- Vaginitis
- Viral Exanthem In Children
- Viral Infection
- Vision Problems In Children
- Vomiting In Children
- Well Child Exam
- Whooping Cough (PERTUSSIS)
- Wound Infections In Children
- Wrist And Hand Pain
Procedures I perform
- Acid Reflux Treatment
- Annual Well Child Exam
- Antibiotic Therapy
- Anxiety Disorder Screening
- Anxiety Management
- Asthma Action Plan
- Asthma Attack Treatment
- Asthma Medication Management
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation And Treatment
- Autism Screening And Diagnosis
- Breastfeeding Assistance
- Camp Physicals
- Child Development Guidance
- Child Developmental Assessment
- Cholesterol Screening
- Conjunctivitis Treatment
- Constipation Education
- Counseling For Anxiety And Depression
- Counseling For Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Counseling For Behavioral Issues
- Counseling For Children
- Counseling For Chronic Illness
- Counseling For Developmental Disorders
- Counseling For Down Syndrome
- Counseling For Feeding Problems
- Counseling For Intellectual Disabilities
- Daycare Physical
- Developmental Assessments
- Developmental Delay Diagnosis
- Developmental Follow-Up
- Dietary Counseling
- Growth And Development Monitoring
- Growth Development Screening
- Healthy Lifestyle Guidance
- Immunization Administration
- Infant Nutrition Counseling
- Infection Treatment
- Injury Prevention
- Lactation Counseling
- Newborn Care
- Nutrition And Diet Counseling
- Pediatric Asthma Management
- Pediatric Asthma Screening
- Pediatric Autism Screening
- Pediatric Nutrition Counseling
- Pediatric Sick Visit
- Pediatric Well Visit
- Physical Activity Counseling
- Physical Exam For School
- Safety And Injury Prevention Counseling
- School Physical
- Sleep Counseling
- Sports Physicals
- Telemedicine Treatment
- Telemedicine Visit
- Vaccinations
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
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- OA Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA EPO
- HighMark
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE for Life East
- Employee Health Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Choice POS
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Navigate
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Passport
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-POS Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- TRICARE East Prime
- Medicare FFS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare Direct
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- TRICARE East Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Network OA
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine
Fellowship: Children's National Medical Center (2006)
Residency: Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2003)
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Selected Research:
Pediatric to Adult Transition: A Quality Improvement Model for Primary Care
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues published in the Journal of Adolescent Health on this project in 2014. The quality improvement model is now being replicated in health systems across the country.
The Effects of Framed Messages for Engaging Adolescents with Online Smoking Prevention Interventions:
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues have presented research with online smoking prevention interventions at Pediatrics Academic Society and published the work in Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, And Research
Recommendations for Electronic Health Record Use for Delivery of Adolescent Health Care
Dr. Hawkins and colleagues on the Electronic Health Committee from the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine published a position paper on the use of electronic health records with special consideration for adolescent confidentiality and privacy.