About me
Dr. Ekong specializes in treating babies and children with a wide range of liver diseases including autoimmune diseases, biliary atresia, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis syndromes, other genetic/metabolic liver diseases, non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, and chronic hepatitis B and C. She also provides care for children who need a liver transplant and those who have undergone liver transplantation.
She is triple-board certified in general pediatrics, pediatric gastroenterology and transplant hepatology, in addition to being a member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. Dr. Ekong attended medical school at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. She then earned her Master of Public Health degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and did a pediatrics residency at Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY. She completed a fellowship in pediatrics/pediatric gastroenterology at Columbia University in New York and a fellowship in pediatrics/transplant hepatology at Northwestern University.
Dr. Ekong’s approach to treating her patients focuses on providing care from a skilled, compassionate multidisciplinary team consisting of clinical psychologists, registered dieticians, transplant pharmacists, and hepatobiliary and transplant surgeons. The team is dedicated to supporting not only the patient, but also the patient’s family as they deal with their child’s illness.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ekong is an active researcher. Her laboratory focuses on developing ways to improve the long-term function of the transplanted liver in children and investigates the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver diseases both before and following liver transplantation. She has published several articles in the American Journal of Transplantation, Hepatology, Liver Transplantation, Pediatric Transplantation, Journal of Immunology, as well as several book chapters on pediatric liver transplantation.
Dr. Ekong is a member of several national societies including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Society for Transplantation (AST), Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) and American Association of Immunologists (AAI). She has held leadership positions with many of these societies.
She has been an invited speaker at several meetings in North America, and Europe.
She is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology/Hepatology) at Georgetown University.
When not at work, Dr. Ekong enjoys traveling and running.
Clinical areas of focus
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Intestinal Atresia
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Liver Function Testing
- Liver Transplant For Toxicity
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Renal Failure Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acquired Absence Of Organs
- Arterial Embolism
- Ascites
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cholestasis
- Cholestasis Of Pregnancy
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformations Of Bile Ducts
- Congenital Malformations Of Gallbladder, Bile Ducts And Liver
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Cytomegaloviral (CMV) Infection
- Cytomegaloviral Disease In Liver Transplant Patients
- Disorders Involving The Immune Mechanism
- Disorders Of Amino
- Disorders Of Aromatic Amino
- Disorders Of Branched
- Disorders Of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Disorders Of Fluid, Electrolyte And Acid
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Disorders Of Sphingolipid Metabolism And Lipid Storage
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Hemochromatosis
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Immunodeficiencies
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Intestinal Atresia
- Intestinal Infections
- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Liver Metastases
- Liver Transplant Rejection
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malabsorption
- Necrotizing Vasculopathies
- Neoplasms Of Lymphoid, Hematopoietic And Related Tissue
- Neutropenia
- Newborn Feeding Problems
- Newborn Hypoglycemia
- Perinatal Digestive System Disorders
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Protozoal Diseases
- Secondary Hypertension
- Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Transplanted Organ Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Viral Hepatitis
- Viral Infection
- Wilson Disease
Procedures I perform
- Acute Liver Failure Treatment
- Adrenal Tumor Treatment
- Arterial Thrombolysis
- Arthrocentesis
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Ascites Treatment
- Autoimmune Hepatitis Diagnosis
- Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Bile Duct Cancer Treatment
- Biopsy Interpretation
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome Treatment
- Celiac Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Cerebral Fibromuscular Dysplasia Treatment
- Chemotherapy For Liver Cancer
- Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystitis Management
- Deceased Donor Liver Transplant
- Dialysis
- Dilation Of Common Hepatic Duct
- Duplex Scan Of Abdominal Organs
- Embolization Of Glomus Tumors
- Endocrinology Care
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis Treatment
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Management
- Fructose Malabsorption Test
- Gallbladder Cancer Treatment
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Adenoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Diverticulosis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Duplication Cyst Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Infection Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Juvenile Polyposis Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphangiectasia Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Melanoma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Varices Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Virus Treatment
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Gene Therapy For Bladder Cancer
- Glucose Breath Test
- Hepatic Artery Angioplasty
- Hepatic Artery Embolization
- Hepatic Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Hepatic Artery Thrombosis Treatment
- Hepatic Encephalopathy Management
- Hepatic Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Hepatic Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Hepatitis E Treatment
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hypertension Treatment
- Immunodeficiency Treatment
- Inferior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Interstitial Nephritis Treatment
- Intra-Abdominal Infection Treatment
- Intragastric Balloon Procedure
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
- Lactose Tolerance Test
- Liver Abscess Drainage
- Liver Arterioportal Fistula Treatment
- Liver Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Liver Biopsy
- Liver Cancer Surgery
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Liver Cyst Drainage
- Liver Function Testing
- Liver Health Screening
- Liver Imaging
- Liver Infection Treatment
- Liver Mass Treatment
- Liver Metastases Treatment
- Liver Necrosis Treatment
- Liver Resection
- Liver Segmentectomy
- Liver Transplant
- Liver Transplant For Toxicity
- Liver Vascular Malformation Treatment
- Lobectomy
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Milk Allergy Treatment
- Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Treatment
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
- Nutrition Counseling
- Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome Treatment
- Pancreas Transplant Rejection Treatment
- Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
- Pancreatic Disease Management
- Paraganglioma Treatment
- Parotid Biopsy
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Diagnostic Liver Excision
- Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube Exchange
- Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Pheochromocytoma Treatment
- Portal Hypertension Treatment
- Portal Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Portal Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Deficiency Treatment
- Radioembolization Of Liver Tumors
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Renal Failure Treatment
- Rhabdomyolysis Treatment
- Skin Allergy Testing
- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Testing
- Splenic Vein Stenosis Treatment
- Stent Placement
- Stomach Drainage
- Superior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis Treatment
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Transplant Evaluation
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Trichiasis Treatment
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Urinary Tract Obstruction Treatment
- Veno-Occlusive Disease Treatment
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Viral Gastroenteritis Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 2nd Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-444-3700Fax 877-680-8194
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 Connect EPO
- POS OA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Network OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- HealthyBlue PPO
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Navigate
- CareFirst NASCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optimum Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Employee Health Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Choice POS II
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Student Resources
- TRICARE East Select
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst EPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-POS
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Core Essential (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-EPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
Fellowship: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2004)
Fellowship: Columbia University Irving Medical Center (2003)
Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center (2000)
Medical School: Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine (1992)
Awards
- 1. Best Doctors, Connecticut Magazine, 2019.
- 2. Fellow Research Award, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition (NASPGHAN), 2002.
- 3. Best Graduate, Pediatrics, Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY, 2000.