Kristen D Whitaker, MD| Hematology Oncology, Medical Oncology | MedStar Health

Kristen D Whitaker, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

Specialties: Hematology Oncology, Medical Oncology

Languages: English

About me

Kristen Whitaker, MD, MS is a board-certified medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Prior to joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Whitaker served as an assistant professor at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase, in Philadelphia, PA for four years, where she treated patients with breast cancer and patients at high risk for developing breast and other types of cancers.  

Dr. Whitaker specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. She is a member of the multidisciplinary team that makes up the Breast Health Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Whitaker’s approach to patient care is centered around collaboration with other providers and patients and providing evidence-based recommendations for patient care. She strives to take the unique needs of each of her patients into consideration and incorporates newer tools, such as genetic testing and tumor molecular profiling, to tailor treatments for her patients. Her goal is to ensure that her patients have the best possible outcomes from their cancer while taking care to minimize the number of therapies, side effects of therapy and personal hardships that patients experience because of their cancer treatment.  

When Dr. Whitaker meets with patients, she is optimistic and positive because she knows that there are many effective therapy options available that can treat and, in many cases, cure her patients. While chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were once the cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, today Dr. Whitaker is excited to offer her patients newer therapies, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which improve cancer outcomes with less side effects. She is particularly excited that MedStar Washington Hospital Center has many clinical trial options, allowing patients from diverse backgrounds earlier access to what may become the breast cancer treatments of the future. 

Dr. Whitaker is passionate about working towards eliminating racial health disparities, especially among patients with cancer. To that end, she has been published and has received multiple awards, including the 2022 NIH Loan Repayment Health Disparities Award and a 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Cancer Research.  

Dr. Whitaker received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She then completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at George Washington University, prior to completing a three-year fellowship in hematology/oncology at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago. She simultaneously completed a Master of Science at the University of Chicago while completing her fellowship. She is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. 

Philosophy of care 

“As a native Washingtonian, I am honored to be back in my hometown serving my community. As a physician, my goal is to empower each of my patients to make the best decisions about their healthcare by educating them about the most up-to-date and proven treatment for their cancer. It is also important to me to take the time to answer questions and address concerns my patients may have at any time during their cancer journey. My patients quickly learn that there is no question that is too big or too small for us to talk about. I value collaboration from my patients and other providers and make myself readily available to both to address any questions or concerns, as I realize this is essential to providing the best possible care for my patients. I enjoy getting to know my patients as individuals and building a relationship where my patients trust me and have confidence that I always have their best interests.”  

Clinical areas of focus

  • Actinic Keratosis (AK)
  • Adrenal Neoplasm
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Genitourinary Cancers
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Penile Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Renal Metastases
  • Seminoma
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Transitional Cell Carcinoma
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Abdominal Cancer
  • Actinic Keratosis (AK)
  • Adrenal Neoplasm
  • Adverse Effects To Anticoagulants
  • Amyloidosis
  • Anemia
  • Anemia And Bone Marrow Disorders
  • Anemia Of Chronic Disease
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome
  • Antithrombin Deficiency
  • Aplastic Anemia
  • Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Bleeding Disorder
  • Blood Cancer
  • Blood Clotting Disorder
  • Bone Marrow Disorders
  • Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
  • Braf V600e V600k Mutations
  • Brain Metastases
  • Cancer
  • Cancer During Pregnancy
  • Cancer Pain
  • Cancer Related Fatigue
  • Cancer Survivor
  • Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome (CAPS)
  • Coagulation Disorders
  • Cold Agglutinin Disease
  • Cooley Anemia
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Deep Thrombophlebitis
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Diamond Blackfan Anemia
  • Endocrine Complications Of Cancer Therapy
  • Essential Thrombocytosis
  • Factor Eight Disorder
  • Factor Nine Deficiency
  • Factor V Leiden
  • Familial Aplastic Anemia
  • Fanconi Anemia
  • Genitourinary Cancers
  • Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
  • Head And Neck Tumors
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Hemolytic Anemia
  • Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
  • Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia
  • Hereditary Cancer Risk
  • Hereditary Spherocytosis
  • Hypercoagulable State
  • Hypogammaglobulinemia
  • Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia
  • Iron Metabolism Disorders
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
  • Leukocytosis
  • Leukopenia
  • Liver Cancer
  • Liver Metastases
  • Lung Mass
  • Lymphopenia
  • Malignancies Of The Genitourinary System
  • Maternal Hematologic Disorders
  • Metastatic Melanoma
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance
  • Mucosal Melanoma
  • Myelodysplastic Syndrome
  • Neutropenia
  • Oral Complications Of Cancer
  • Pancytopenia
  • Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
  • Penile Cancer
  • Petechiae
  • Platelet Disorder
  • Poems Syndrome
  • Polycythemia
  • Porphyria
  • Post Thrombotic Syndrome (PTS)
  • Primary Myelofibrosis
  • Primary Systemic Amyloidosis
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Protein C Deficiency
  • Protein S Deficiency
  • Prothrombin Gene Mutation
  • Pulmonary Metastases
  • Pure Red Cell Aplasia
  • Purpura
  • Recurrent Thrombosis
  • Red Blood Cell Disorders
  • Renal Metastases
  • Secondary Polycythemia
  • Seminoma
  • Side Effects Of Cancer Treatment
  • Splenic Sequestration
  • Splenomegaly
  • Stomach Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Thalassemia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Thrombocytosis
  • Thrombophilia
  • Thrombotic Disorders
  • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
  • Transitional Cell Carcinoma
  • Venous Occlusive Crisis
  • Von Willebrand Disease
  • White Blood Cell Disorders
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Procedures I perform

  • Adjuvant Chemotherapy
  • Anticoagulation
  • Biological Targeted Therapy
  • Blood Transfusion Therapy
  • Bone Marrow Biopsy
  • Cancer Chemotherapy
  • Cancer Genomics
  • Chemoradiation
  • Clinical Trials
  • Early Detection Of Cancer
  • Lupus Anticoagulant
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

110 Irving Street Northwest
Suite C2149
Washington, DC, 20010

202-877-6998

Fax 202-877-8910

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-877-8910

Insurance

MedStar Medical Group accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Medical Group, please call your insurance company.

  • List of insurance plans we accept
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
    • CIGNA POS/Network POS
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
    • CIGNA Indemnity
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • First Health PPO
    • FIRST HEALTH
    • Tricare Prime
    • Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
    • United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
    • United Healthcare Choice Plus
    • United Student Resources
    • M.D. IPA (HMO)
    • M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
    • Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
    • Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • United Healthcare Choice
    • CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
    • Network OA
    • POS OA & OA Plus
    • CIGNA EPO
    • PPO and PPO Plus
    • Choice Fund PPO
    • CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
    • BlueChoice Open Access
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Open HMO
    • Opoen HMO Option
    • Open EPO Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Open POS II
    • Aetna HMO
    • Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)"
    • CFBCBS EPO
    • CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
    • Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • Kaiser Permanente Select
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Virginia Premier
    • Medicare Fee for Service
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • UHC Community Plan of MD
    • United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)"
    • UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO"
    • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)"

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology

Fellowship Program: University of Chicago Medical Center (2018)

Residency Program: George Washington University Hospital (2015)

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine (2012)

Hospital affiliations