About me
Sara Berkey, MD, is a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus.
Dr. Berkey’s treatment methods involve both medical and surgical (in-office and operating room) techniques. She is specialty trained and certified to perform minimally invasive robotic surgery using the da Vinci® robotic surgery system. Robotic surgery reduces pain and discomfort, and therefore narcotic use; reduces recovery time; and allows patients to go home sooner, compared to traditional open surgical techniques.
Her clinical interests include improving the quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor conditions and treating young people with colorectal cancer. Her research interests include improving enhanced surgical recovery pathways to help improve patient outcomes. Dr. Berkey is passionate about increasing colon cancer screening rates in the African American population, the highest risk racial/ethnic group for colorectal cancer in the U.S.
Dr. Berkey received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, where she was named Valedictorian of her class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She then completed a seven-year general surgery residency program, including two years of dedicated research time, with the University of Pittsburgh before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a specialty fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, and the Association of Women Surgeons.
Dr. Berkey enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and spending time on the water.
Philosophy of Care
“The foundation of providing excellent care is a strong patient-physician relationship built on empathy, clear communication, and collaboration. From the very first time I meet my patients, I take the time to listen to their concerns and understand what their goals are for treatment. I emphasize teamwork between myself and my patients, as well as between myself and my colleagues, in order to provide the best possible care to my patients.
I feel honored when my patients say that they would recommend me to their friends and family.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Bowel Obstruction
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Enterocele Repair
- Hemorrhoids
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Open Colectomy
- Perianal Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Cancer Surgery
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Accessory Sinuses Cancer
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Bladder Disorders
- Bladder Incontinence
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonic Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Digestive System Complications
- Diverticulitis
- Female Genital Tract Fistulae
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gastric Cancer
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Incisional Hernia
- Paracolostomy Hernia
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Perianal Pain
- Pilonidal Cyst
- Pruritus
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Fissure
- Rectal Pain
- Spinal Stenosis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Itching
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Ventral Hernia
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Canal Reconstruction
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Colectomy
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Colostomy
- Colostomy Revision
- Endorectal Advancement Flap
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- J-Pouch Surgery
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy
- Open Colectomy
- Perianal Surgery
- Rectal Cancer Surgery
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Small Bowel Resection
- Stoma Revision
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 4th Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-877-4599miles away
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
- IH-PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Medicare FFS
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- First Health PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Sentara Health
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Police and Fire Clinic
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Network OA
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Choice POS
- First Health PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HighMark
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Student Resources
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Tulane University (2012)