About me
Dr. Chami is an experienced, fellowship trained, board certified transplant nephrologist with more than 15 years of experience in the field.
She joins the team as the associate medical director of kidney transplantation as well as the transplant fellowship director. She comes to MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute from Tufts Medicine where she served as the medical director of kidney transplantation.
Dr. Chami has been featured in multiple news stories and appeared on the cover of Boston magazine Top Doctors.
She earned her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, completed a nephrology fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Transplant Fellowship at Emory University where she practiced as a transplant nephrologist for 10 years.
Her areas of special interest and expertise include kidney transplantation, immune suppression management, including once monthly belatacept immunosuppression infusions, living kidney donation, and managing patients before and after kidney transplantation.
Her research focuses on the use of belatacept to improve the long term survival of renal grafts, HLA matching in kidney transplantation, and expanding living donor criteria by exploring acceptance criteria. Her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and she has authored book chapters as well as presented at national conferences and meetings. She is a member of the American Society of Transplantation, the Transplantation Society, and the American Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Chami is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.
Dr. Chami’s medical approach is to care for every patient as a whole person. She treats each patient as a unique individual, tailoring treatment plans to fit their specific needs and personal goals.
When she is not working, she enjoys travel, live music and exploring international cuisines.
Clinical areas of focus
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Hematuria
- High Blood Pressure
- Hypertension
- Kidney Stones
- Long Term Drug Therapy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anuria
- Azotemia
- Berger's Disease
- Blood In Urine
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Tubulo
- Chronic Tubulointerstitial Disease
- Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephritis
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Contracted Kidney
- Cystinuria
- Diabetes Mellitus Due To Underlying Condition
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Dialysis Care
- Disorders Of Renal Tubular Function
- Electrolyte Disorders
- End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Fluid Overload
- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
- Hematuria
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
- High Blood Pressure
- Hydronephrosis
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypernatremia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis
- Hypokalemia
- Interstitial Nephritis
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Infection (PYELONEPHRITIS)
- Kidney Inflammation
- Kidney Stones
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lupus Nephritis
- Medullary Sponge Kidney
- Membranous Nephropathy
- Minimal Change Disease
- Nephrocalcinosis
- Nephrolithiasis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nephrotic Syndrome Due To Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
- Neutropenia
- Obstructive And Reflux Uropathy
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Proteinuria
- Proteinuria (EXCESS PROTEIN IN URINE)
- Pyelonephritis
- Rapidly Progressive Nephritic Syndrome
- Recurrent Hematuria
- Renal Agenesis And Reduction Defects Of Kidney
- Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal Cyst
- Renal Cysts
- Renal Hypertension
- Renal Insufficiency
- Renal Tubular Acidosis
- Renovascular Disease
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Small Kidney
- Systemic Connective Tissue Involvement
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Uremia
- Vasculitis
- Wilms Tumor
Procedures I perform
- Acute Kidney Injury Treatment
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test
- Cardiorenal Syndrome Treatment
- Creatinine Clearance Test
- Duplex Scan Of Abdominal Organs
- Electrolyte Imbalance Treatment
- Electrolyte Management
- Electrolyte Panel
- End Stage Renal Disease Treatment
- Fluid Management
- Fluid Overload Management
- Fluid Overload Treatment
- Graft Placement
- Hematuria Treatment
- Hyperkalemia Treatment
- Hypertension Treatment
- Kidney Function Test
- Limited Retroperitoneal Ultrasound
- Lupus Nephritis Treatment
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Nephrectomy
- Nephritic Syndrome Treatment
- Nephrocalcinosis Treatment
- Nephrology Consultation
- Nephrotic Syndrome Treatment
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
- Peritoneal Cavity Irrigation With Dialysate
- Phosphorus Management
- Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Management
- Potassium Management
- Proteinuria Treatment
- Renal Biopsy
- Renal Nutrition Counseling
- Renal Vein Thrombosis Treatment
- Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Treatment
- Sodium Management
- Urinary Filtration Performance
- Vascular Access Creation
- Vascular Access Management
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
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UHC Passport
- HighMark
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- POS OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Beech Street PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-HMO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- OA Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare Direct
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Employee Health Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE for Life East
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Classic 3500
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Navigate
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-PPO
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Emory University Hospital-GME (2011)
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital (2009)
Internship: Emory University School Of Medicine (2006)
Medical School: McGill University (2003)