About me
Mariana Vigiola Cruz, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon at MedStar Southern Maryland with fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery, including complex laparoscopic, robotic, and bariatric procedures.
Dr. Vigiola primarily manages surgical problems of the abdomen and abdominal wall, including pathologies of the stomach, intestine, colon, appendix, gallbladder, spleen and other organs, as well as several types of hernias. She has a particular interest in treating conditions such as acid reflux and hiatal or paraesophageal hernia. She emphasizes minimally invasive techniques in elective and emergency cases to achieve surgical goals through smaller incisions with limited trauma, less postoperative pain, and shorter recovery times. She has a clinical interest in the impact of nutrition and diet in health and healing, and incorporates this knowledge into her practice.
Dr. Vigiola strongly believes in universal access to surgical care and education. She is committed to global health, providing care to underserved communities, and has clinical experience in various settings around the world, including locations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Whether educating patients, training young surgeons, or performing operations, she strives to make a difference in sustainable and meaningful ways wherever she has the privilege to practice.
Dr. Vigiola earned her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, followed by a general surgery residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, where she also served as Administrative Chief Resident. During her residency, she completed a research fellowship at the MedStar Health Research Institute’s Firefighters Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, focusing on burn injury and wound healing. After residency, she pursued clinical fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal, bariatric, and minimally invasive surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. During that time, she also served as Instructor in Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She has additionally completed postgraduate education in Clinical Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Andalusia, Spain.
Dr. Vigiola has presented her work at regional and national surgical conferences and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery.
Dr. Vigiola speaks fluent Spanish and French, as well as basic Portuguese and Italian. When she is not taking care of patients, she loves adventure traveling, being active outdoors, exploring international cuisines and cultures, and spending time with her family, friends, and rescue dogs.
Philosophy of Care “I feel enormously privileged to do this job. I place a lot of emphasis in patient education and fully informed consent, so that anyone under my care is properly versed in their treatment options and possible outcomes and procedures. My goal is to provide transparent communication, professional recommendations, and technical expertise that align with the patient’s best interest, to deliver safe, appropriate, and individualized care. I would like my patients to feel they are in hands they can trust and are comforted and reassured during a challenging time.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdomen And Abdominal Wall Disorders
- Advanced Laparoscopic And Robotic Surgery
- Gallbladder Disorders
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Hiatal Hernia
- Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery
- Paraesophageal Hernia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen And Abdominal Wall Disorders
- Abdominal Adhesions
- Abdominal Hernia
- Abdominal Mass
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Achalasia
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Appendicitis
- Benign Tumor
- Body Mass Index
- Bowel Obstruction
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Appendix
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Intestine
- Diseases Of Spleen
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Feeding Tube Placement
- Femoral Hernia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallbladder Disorders
- Gallstone Pancreatitis
- Gallstones
- Gastric Tumors
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Gastrointestinal Ulcer
- Hiatal Hernia
- Incisional Hernia
- Inguinal Hernias
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Intestinal Perforation
- Lipoma
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Paraesophageal Hernia
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Postoperative Adhesions
- Retroperitoneum Disorders
- Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Skin Swelling And Lumps
- Small Bowel Obstruction
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Tumors
- Stomach Ulcers
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Ventral Hernia
- Wound Dehiscence
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Abdominal Wall Surgery
- Abdominoplasty
- Adrenal Surgery
- Advanced Laparoscopic And Robotic Surgery
- Appendicitis Treatment
- Appendix Resection
- Breast Biopsy
- Breast Cancer Surgery
- Colectomy
- Colon Resection
- Colostomy
- Fundoplication
- Gallbladder Removal
- Gastrectomy
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastric Ulcer Surgery
- Gastrostomy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hernia Repair
- Ileostomy
- Intestinal Resection
- Ischiorectal Abscess Drainage
- Jejunostomy
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy With Cholangiography
- Laparoscopy
- Lesion Excision
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Meckel's Diverticulectomy
- Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Myotomy Gastrointestinal
- Oncologic Surgery
- Partial Colectomy
- Peritoneal Cavity Drainage
- Pyloromyotomy
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Repair Of Anterior Abdominal Hernia
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoid Colon Resection
- Small Bowel Resection
- Small Intestine Repair
- Spleen Removal
- Stomach Resection
- Tumor Removal
- Tumor Resection
- Wound Closure
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
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- HighMark
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Blue Choice Advantage
- POS OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- Aetna Basic
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare Direct
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- First Health PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell (2020)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2019)
Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey (2013)