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