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
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Student Resources
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TRICARE East Prime
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice POS
- HumanaChoice PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- POS OA
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare Direct
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Sentara Health
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optimum Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA EPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Navigate
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Neurology
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Clinical Neuropsychology
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Epilepsy
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2017)
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2017)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2016)
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2016)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2015)
Residency: New York University School of Medicine (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)