About me
Priyanka Sabharwal, MD, PhD, is an attending neurologist and epilepsy specialist affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Sabharwal specializes in treating patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders, concussions, and traumatic brain injury.
Her treatment methods revolve around a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach towards the care of patients with epilepsy. She believes in comprehensive epilepsy care that encompasses the use of medications, dietary therapies such as the ketogenic diet (proven to reduce the frequency of seizures in patients with epilepsy), medications, integrative therapies, surgical approaches, and electrical brain stimulation. For complex patients with epilepsy, Dr. Sabharwal also offers novel neuromodulation therapies including the vagal nerve stimulator, and responsive neurostimulation. For these devices, she works with a multi-disciplinary team, including neurosurgeons, neuropsychiatrists, neuropsychologists, nurse practitioners, and dieticians.
Her clinical interests include epilepsy, seizures, concussions, traumatic brain injury, care of women with epilepsy, and the transition of care of pediatric epilepsy patients to adult epilepsy care. In current times, children with childhood epilepsy are living longer, and at times have complex and challenging needs. Dr. Sabharwal is dedicated to identifying and addressing gaps in the transition of care to ensure that pediatric epilepsy patients who are at risk of poor transition can be identified early, in turn promoting uninterrupted and adequate care for this vulnerable population.
Her research interests include refractory epilepsy (surgical care of people with epilepsy), women with epilepsy, and raising awareness of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients). During her PhD work, Dr. Sabharwal researched mechanisms that control neuronal diversity in the nervous system. She showed that GDE2, a six-transmembrane protein, was important for generation of force-generating alpha motor neurons in the nervous system, in turn establishing GDE2 as a key regulator of motor neuron diversity.
Dr. Sabharwal received her medical degree from King George Medical College in India. She then pursued a PhD in Neurosciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she studied neurogenesis during the formation of the nervous system. She then joined New York University School of Medicine to pursue a three-year neurology residency, where she served as Chief Resident, followed by a one-year sub-specialty fellowship in neurophysiology and a one-year sub-specialty fellowship in epilepsy.
She is a member of the American Epilepsy Society, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. She is the recipient of America’s Top Physicians (2017), awarded by the Consumer Research Council of America.
Philosophy of Care
“To me, my patients’ health is personal. Epilepsy and other neurological disorders can affect every single aspect of someone’s life and can place them in a very vulnerable position. They need someone they can trust, and I am that person.
“The foundation of my practice is compassion. Most of my patients come to me with a condition that is very challenging. I am by my patients’ side throughout the entire experience. I listen to their concerns, and ask meaningful questions in order to understand their life goals. Most importantly, I communicate clearly and openly with them, so that they fully understand the reality of their diagnosis.
“With honesty and transparency, I build trust with my patients so that I can provide them care in the best way possible.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Atonic Epilepsy Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Inpatient Epilepsy Monitoring
- Migraine
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Movements
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Brain Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Congenital Malformations Of Nervous System
- Convulsions
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Gait And Balance Problems
- General Sensations And Perceptions
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hereditary Ataxia
- Hydrocephalus
- Idiopathic Neuropathy
- Lack Of Coordination
- Migraine
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Secondary Parkinsonism
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Atonic Epilepsy Treatment
- Central Nervous Electrical Activity Monitoring
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dystonia Treatment
- Eeg Monitoring
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electromyography
- Epilepsy Education
- Epilepsy Education And Counseling
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Inpatient Epilepsy Monitoring
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Muscle Biopsy
- Neurological Exam
- Neuromuscular Testing
- Seizure Treatment
- Status Epilepticus Treatment
- Stroke And Cerebrovascular Medicine
- Stroke Care
- Transcranial Doppler
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 7th Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-877-2171Fax 855-354-3967
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
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Network OA
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-EPO Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Navigate
- UHC Passport
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- HealthyBlue PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Medicare Direct
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Basic
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE East Prime
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- OA Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA PPO
- First Health PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Choice POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Student Resources
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- POS OA
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Sentara Health
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HighMark
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurology
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2017)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2017)
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2016)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2016)
Residency: New York University School of Medicine (2015)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2015)
Internship: Griffin Hospital (2012)
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)
Graduate: Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education (2005)
Medical School: King Georges Medical University (2003)