About me
Suthee Rapisuwon, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, medical geneticist, and hematologist at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a specialist in skin melanomas and genetic medical conditions, Dr. Rapisuwon treats cancers of the skin, prostate, kidney, testicles, and bladder. He also is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and American Association of Cancer Research.
Dr. Rapisuwon’s approach to care centers on providing individualized and comprehensive services. He begins by fully educating patients about their diagnoses and clearly discussing medication, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trial options. He then works with them to design comprehensive care plans. He is passionate about combining standard protocols with medical advances to help patients live heathier lives.
Dr. Rapisuwon is dedicated to advancing cancer research of the skin, eyes, and urinary tract as well as those caused by metabolic, hereditary, and other genetic factors. As a principal and translational researcher, he is part of national studies that examine novel diagnostic tools and medication therapies to treat advanced melanomas, non-melanoma skin cancers, and other diseases. He also has a particular interest in innovative treatments that could provide new hope to people who have complex eye cancers. Referring physicians should know that Dr. Rapisuwon is part of a countrywide network of clinicians who collaborate to connect patients with clinical trial opportunities.
Philosophy of Care
“I’ve devoted my career to clinical research, a field of scientific study focused on discovering better ways to save lives and improve health. Whether such breakthroughs help people defeat cancers or manage them like chronic diseases, every step is important. I hope my commitment to care not only helps current patients, but also leads to new pathways that comforts future generations too.
Additionally, I’m a volunteer doctor with the Marines – yet another way I enjoy serving others and giving back to the community.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Genitourinary Cancer Treatment
- Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopause
- Renal Metastases Treatment
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Wall Biopsy
- Biopsy Of Salivary Gland
- Biopsy Of Tongue
- Bladder Cancer Treatment
- Blood Clot Treatment
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Biopsy
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Management
- Ecmo Cannulation
- Fallopian Tube Removal
- Genitourinary Cancer Treatment
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopause
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Kidney Cancer Treatment
- Laryngoscopy With Tumor Excision
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy For Prostate Cancer
- Metastatic Cancer Treatment
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Palliative Care For Bone Cancer
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- Pharmacological Imaging
- Photon Therapy For Cancer
- Platelet Transfusion
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Renal Metastases Treatment
- Seminoma Treatment
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- Testicular Cancer Treatment
- Thrombocytapheresis
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Uveitic Glaucoma Treatment
- Watchful Waiting For Cancer
- White Blood Cell Transfusion
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- First Health PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Optimum Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Indemnity
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Student Resources
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Beech Street PPO
- HighMark
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- Navigate
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- First Health PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS II
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Clinical Genetics (MD)
Residency: Georgetown University Hospital (2015)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (2012)
Graduate: Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine (2003)
Awards
- Honors, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University (2003)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Dissecting the Treatment-Naïve Ecosystem of Human Melanoma Brain Metastasis, Cell, July 7, 2022
- Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Seviprotimut-L Polyvalent Melanoma Vaccine in Patients with Opst-Resection Melanoma at High Risk of Recurrence, The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, October 2021
- PET/CT Scan and Biopsy-Driven Approach for Safe Anti-PD-1 Therapy Discontinuation in Patients with Advanced Melanoma, The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, October 9, 2021
- Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated with Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Endomyocardial Biopsy Provides Pathological Insights to Dual Diseases. Journal of the American College of Cardiology: CardioOncology, June 1, 2021
- Chronic Immune-Related Adverse Events Following Adjuvant Anti-PD1 Therapy for High-Risk Resected Melanoma, The Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology, May 1, 2021
- A Multicenter Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors as Adjuvant Therapy Following Treatment of Isolated Brain Metastasis, Oncologist, November 23, 2020
- Exceptional Response and Multisystem Autoimmune-Like Toxicities Associated with the Same T-Cell Clone in a Patient with Uveal Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, March 4, 2019
- Clinical Characterization of Colitis Arising from Anti-PD-1 Base Therapy, Oncoimmunology, October 31, 2018
- High Response Rate to PD-1 Blockade in Desmoplastic Melanomas, Nature, January 18, 2018
- Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Melanoma Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy, The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, February 21, 2017
- The Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 Agents in Acral and Mucosal Melanoma, Cancer, November 15, 2016
- Safety And Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 in Patients with Baseline Cardiac, Renal, or Hepatic Dysfunction, The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, October 1, 2016
- Circulating Biomarkers to Monitor Cancer Progression and Treatment, Computational and Structural Biotechnology, June 1, 2016
- Phase II Trial of Imatinib in AIDS-Associated Kaposi’s Sarcoma: AIDS Malignancy Consortium Protocol, Journal of Clinical Oncology, February 10, 2014
- Novel Somatic KIT Exon 8 Mutation with Dramatic Response to Imatinib in a Patient with Mucosal Melanoma: a Case Report, Melanoma Research, 2014
- Multiple Muscle Cell Alterations in a Case of Encephalomyopathy, Ultrastructural Pathology, February 2014
- Discordance Between Cobas BRAFV600 Testing and VE1 Immunohistochemistry in a Melanoma Patient with Bone Marrow Metastases, American Journal of Dermatopathology, September 2016
- Cardiofaciocutaneous and LEOPARD Syndromes, American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C Seminars in Medical Genetics, May 15, 2011