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
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Oncology Consultation
- Pathology Consultation
- Seminoma
- Submandibular Gland Cancer
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Tumor Markers
- Acquired Hemolytic Anemia
- Adrenal Tumor
- Amyloidosis
- Anal Cancer
- Anemia
- Aplastic Anemia
- Aplastic Anemias And Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
- Basal Cell Carcinoma Of Skin
- Benign Neoplasm Of Kidney
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Benign Neoplasm Of Urinary Organs
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Carcinoma
- Bone Cancer
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Marrow Transplant Graft Failure
- Brain Tumor
- Breast Cancer
- Castleman Disease
- Cervical Cancer
- Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia
- Clotting Disorders
- Colon Cancer
- Cutaneous Melanoma
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
- Endometrial Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophagus Cancer
- Essential Thrombocytosis
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gastric Cancer
- Hemorrhagic Conditions
- Hodgkin Disease
- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lung Cancer
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Bladder
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Cervix Uteri
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Ovary
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Retroperitoneum
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Testicle
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Melanoma
- Menstrual Disorders
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Mesothelioma
- Metastatic Cancer
- Metastatic Kidney Cancer
- Metastatic Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
- Myopathies
- Nasopharynx Cancer
- Necrotizing Vasculopathies
- Neoplasm Analysis
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Neoplasms Of Lymphoid, Hematopoietic And Related Tissue
- Neutropenia
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Dysfunction
- Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor
- Pancreas Cancer
- Papillary Carcinoma Of Breast
- Penile Cancer
- Pericardium Diseases
- Personal History Of Cancer
- Personal History Of Medical Treatment
- Plasma Cell Neoplasms
- Polycythemia Vera
- Prostate Cancer
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Purpura
- Rectal Cancer
- Seborrheic Keratosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Seminoma
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Submandibular Gland Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Thalassemia
- Throat Cancer
- Thrombocytopenia
- Tongue Cancer
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma
- Urinary Tract Cancer
- Urothelial Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Vaginal Cancer
- Venous Embolism
- Vitamin Deficiency Anemia
- Vulvar Cancer
- Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
- Wilms Tumor
Procedures I perform
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Cancer Surgery
- Bladder Tumor Removal
- Blood Banking
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Biopsy
- Cancer Pain Management
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials Participation
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Gynecological Cancer Screening
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intra-Arterial Infusion Of Chemotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Cancer Treatment
- Kidney Resection
- Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy For Prostate Cancer
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymph Node Removal
- Metastatic Cancer Treatment
- Methylation Profiling
- Muscle Injection
- Oncology Consultation
- Pain Medication Management
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Pathology Consultation
- Penile Cancer
- Penile Cancer Surgery
- Penile Tumor Removal
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Surgery
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Radiation Therapy
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Renal Cancer Treatment
- Renal Metastases Treatment
- Seminoma Treatment
- Subdural Grid Placement
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Cancer Surgery
- Testicular Tumor Removal
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Tumor Biopsy
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
- Urinary Tract Cancer Treatment
- Uveitic Glaucoma Treatment
- Vascular Access Device Management
- Venous Access Device Irrigation
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Venous Blood Collection
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
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS II
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Student Resources
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Open HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- POS OA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Navigate
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Network Only Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- First Health PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Network OA
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- HighMark
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (2018)
Residency: George Washington University School of Medicine (2015)
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine (2012)