About me
Priyanka Kanth, MD, MS, is a gastroenterologist and Associate Professor at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Fellowship-trained and board-certified in gastroenterology, Dr. Kanth is the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown and sees patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.
She graduated from medical school and completed her internship at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, MAHE University, India. She completed a residency in internal medicine at University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, where she was Chief Medical Resident, and a residency in colorectal and general surgery at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in the United Kingdom, as well as a fellowship in gastroenterology at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Kanth’s areas of clinical expertise include colon polyps, serrated colon polyps, hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, serrated polyposis syndrome, hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer genetics, and the prevention of colon cancer.
She has served as principal investigator and site principal investigator for several studies on issues related to gastrointestinal cancer. Her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including NEJM, JAMA, Genetic Epidemiology, Gut, Gastroenterology, Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, and Journal of National Comprehensive Cancer Network. She also has presented at numerous national and international conferences.
Dr. Kanth believes in educating her patients so they are aware of their personal and family history of gastrointestinal and other cancers. This knowledge is important, because many of these cancers can be prevented and detected early, especially in the case of genetic conditions that increases cancer risk. She is a firm believer in listening to her patients, answering all their questions, and coming to a mutual decision about their care.
In her spare time, she enjoys movies, traveling, and spending time with family.
Learn more about our Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention program
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Genomic Testing For Cancer
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Procedures I perform
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Risk Management
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Celiac Disease Treatment
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopy
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Testing
- Familial Cancer Syndrome Management
- Family History-Based Cancer Risk Assessment
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Stenting
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Consultation
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tumor Removal
- Genetic Counseling For Hereditary Cancer Risk
- Genetic Testing For Cancer Susceptibility
- Genetic Testing For Hereditary Cancer
- Genomic Testing For Cancer
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inherited Cancer Risk Evaluation And Management
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
- Liver Biopsy
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Arthritis Treatment
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
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
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Beech Street PPO
- Network OA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Basic
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Student Resources
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- OA Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- TRICARE East Prime
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Navigate
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- POS OA
- IH-Open POS II
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- TRICARE for Life East
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Graduate: University of Utah Physician Assistant Program (2015)
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College Mangalore (2001)
Awards
- 2021: American Gastroenterological Association Fellow (AGAF)
- 2019: SCOPY award (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence) from the American College of Gastroenterology for organizing the colon cancer awareness event and for the best original tactic- ‘visit the endo unit’ video
- 2018: Hind Rattan Award (Jewel of India award) by the NRI Welfare Society, New Delhi, India
- 2017: Fellowship of American College of Gastroenterology (FACG)
- 2016: Selected for the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
- 2016: Selected for the Vice President’s Clinical & Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholars Program, University of Utah
- 2013: Awarded a travel grant to attend Digestive Disease Week conference for the Fellowship2Leadership Salix Fellows’ Program.
- 2009: Maxwell O Phelps award for Scholarship in Medicine by University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.
- 2008: Service excellence award for excellent patient care by Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT.
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Facebook live event on colon cancer screening organized by Medstar Health, March 2023 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plxnD2D-veU
- https://www.agingmattersonline.com/radio-show Conversation w/ Priyanka Kanth, MD, about signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic screening, and treatment for colorectal cancer, and lifestyle changes to reduce risk. March 2022.
- Why should you get your colorectal cancer screening at 45
- Tour of Colon Cancer Exhibit, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- Facebook live event on colon cancer screening organized, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- 6 Colon Cancer Symptoms That Are Easily Overlooked, U.S News & World Report
- How our researchers and physicians work to end health disparities, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- University of Utah Health presented One in a Million, a documentary on gene discovery, premiered at a sponsored event during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, February 2019