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