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