About me
Michael B. Atkins, MD, is deputy director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Scholl Professor and vice chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized expert in the management of patients with high-risk and metastatic melanoma or kidney cancer.
Dr. Atkins co-directs the Melanoma Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the Melanoma Research Program within the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute. In addition, he leads kidney cancer research within the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Center and the MedStar Health system. He is a world-renowned expert in clinical and translational research in both of these patient populations, having led the Kidney Cancer Program and co-led the Melanoma Program at the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center for over a decade each, until his departure for Georgetown Lombardi in 2012. Dr. Atkins is also one of the leading authorities in cancer immunotherapy, having been a founding member and leader of the Cytokine Working Group, and leader of the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Immunotherapy Interest Group. He has led major multi-investigator clinical and translational research efforts in melanoma and kidney cancer that have uncovered critical biology of these diseases, led to the FDA approval of over 20 new treatments, and have completely revolutionized the treatment and the prognosis for patients. He continues to lead cutting-edge research projects that promise to further advance the care and outlook for patients with these diseases.
Dr. Atkins is also an international authority in the management of patients with either melanoma or kidney cancer. He edits the melanoma, kidney cancer and immunotherapy sections for UpToDate®, the universally available on-line medical textbook, and is co-editor of the fifth and 6th editions of the textbook Cutaneous Melanoma. He serves on the Board of the Directors and co-chairs the Scientific Advisory Council of the Melanoma Research Foundation, is Chair of the Melanoma Research Alliance Medical Advisory Panel, and is a past member of the nominating committee for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Council. He is also past president of the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. He has published over 500 scientific and review articles, co-edited five books, and given over 700 lectures worldwide.
Dr. Atkins is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. For over 30 years, Dr. Atkins has treated patients with advanced melanoma and kidney cancers. He believes that too many patients follow the initial advice they receive, and always encourages patients to seek a second opinion from subject matter experts to establish a comprehensive treatment plan before starting therapy. This will maximize their chances of receiving the optimal approach to their disease and determine if they are eligible for cutting-edge clinical trials. Dr. Atkins’ approach to patients is to always focus on the opportunities for cure, utilizing novel therapies like immune therapy and the timely integration of multidisciplinary care (meaning teams of physicians from medical oncology, surgery, and radiation oncology all work together to develop a unique treatment plan.) With many new therapies available – and even better ones in development – patients with widely metastatic disease have the opportunity for long-term, disease-free, and subsequent treatment-free survival, enabling them to return to their normal lives.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
- Cancer Treatment Monitoring
- Melanoma Treatment
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Vaccinations
Procedures I perform
- A1c Testing
- Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Bone Density Scan
- Brca Gene Testing
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Treatment Monitoring
- Cancer Treatment Sensitivity Testing
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials
- Computed Tomography
- Dopamine Therapy
- Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis
- Flow Immunophenotyping
- Genetic Counseling
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunohistochemistry Staining
- Immunotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Investigational Liver Transplant Therapies
- Kidney Function Test
- Killer Cell Therapy
- Liquid Biopsy
- Liver Biopsy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Melanoma Resection
- Melanoma Treatment
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Oncology Consultation
- Pathology Consultation
- Pet-Ct Scan
- Pharmacogenomics
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Proteomic Testing
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- Skin Cancer Treatment
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Vaccinations
- Wide Local Excision
- X-Ray
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
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice POS
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Medicare FFS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- UHC Passport
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- HighMark
- Aetna Basic
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Medicare Direct
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna HMO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-Indemnity
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- MultiPlan, Inc
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA PPO
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-EPO Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- OA Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Navigate
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- United Student Resources
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Prime
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- POS OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center (1987)
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center (1986)
Residency: Tufts Medical Center (1984)
Internship: Tufts Medical Center (1981)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1980)