About me
Joan Breece, RN, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in adult geriatrics and acute care at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in tobacco cessation counseling and lung cancer screenings. She also is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence.
Joan’s approach to care centers on providing compassionate and comprehensive services. She begins by engaging in thoughtful conversations with patients to fully understand their conditions and empathetically address their concerns. For those who need lung cancer screenings, she thoroughly conducts physical examinations and clearly explains test results. For others who are in the Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Program, she offers evidence-based educational tools and medication management assistance to maximize treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects. In collaboration with experienced interventional pulmonologists, she supports patients during every step towards healthier and nicotine-free lives.
Joan is dedicated to raising awareness about the evolving criteria for lung cancer screenings among current and former smokers. One such screening is the low-dose CT scan – a safe, painless, and brief 10-minute procedure that captures detailed images of the lungs to detect nodules or abnormal growths. She also is passionate about new strategies to address the use of smokeless tobacco or vape pens. In addition to containing nicotine, these products are addictive and linked to cancer. Referring physicians should know that she is dedicated to keeping them well informed about their patients’ progress while delivering prompt and coordinated care.
Philosophy of Care
“It’s not always easy to get and stay healthy. When linked with tobacco-smoking habits, it can be even harder. That’s why I applaud patients – without judgement – throughout their journeys toward freedom from nicotine. And at every turn, I’m ready to help them identify actionable solutions to physical, social, and emotional barriers.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Alcohol Abuse Counseling
- Buprenorphine Treatment
- Illicit Drug Overdose Treatment
- Mental Wellness Programs
- Pain Medication Management
Conditions and procedures
Procedures I perform
- 12-Step Program
- Alcohol Abuse Counseling
- Behavioral Activation
- Biofeedback
- Bioinformatics
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Community Health
- Community Health Education
- Disease Management Education
- Disease Prevention
- Dopamine Therapy
- Existential Group Therapy
- Exposure And Response Prevention
- Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing
- Geriatric Health Coaching
- Grief Counseling
- Group Therapy
- Health Promotion Counseling
- Hypnotherapy
- I-131 Therapy
- Illicit Drug Overdose Treatment
- Infusion Therapy
- Inpatient Palliative Care
- Job Coaching
- Kinesiology
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Mentorship Program
- Neuropsychological Testing
- Pain Medication Management
- Palliative Care
- Palliative Care Coordination
- Pediatric Advocacy
- Peer Support Groups
- Pharmacological Therapy
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Relapse Prevention
- Reproductive Health Management
- Sti Treatment
- Telehealth
- Time Management Training
- Vaccine Development And Policy
- Visian Icl
- Yoga Coaching
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
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- POS OA
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- OA Plus
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Navigate
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-POS Plus
- Sentara Health
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Choice POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst NASCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- IH-Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Network OA
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Medicare FFS
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TRICARE East Select
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst EPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center,
Graduate: George Mason University (1999)
Awards
- 2013 Nursing Excellence Award in Shared Decision Making-MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- The NP Role in the Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinic, GUMC Update, 2021
- Lung Cancer Screening Patients’ Perceptions of Their Abnormal Results: A Qualitative Study, presented at MedStar Health’s Annual Research Symposium, 2019
- Achieving Healthy Cancer Survivorship Through Integrated Tobacco Control: The Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Program, presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2020
- Achieving Healthy Cancer Survivorship Through Integrated Tobacco Control: Development of the Oncology Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinical Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, presented at MedStar Health’s Annual Research Symposium, 2018-2021
Philips JG, Cordon M, Lobo T, Friberg J, Breece CJ, Beplat M, Kim C, Veytsman I, Russell E, Cusaac L, Ahmed W, Ponder MC, Schilstra P, King L, Goswami D, Wheeley J, Taylor, KL. (2021). Achieving healthy cancer survivorship through integrated tobacco control: development of the oncology Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Clinical Program at MGUH and MWHC (2018-2021). Presented at the MedStar Annual Research Symposium, Washington DC.
Taylor KL, Fallon S, Subramaniam D, Davis KM, To C, Lobo T, Philips, J, Tercyak K, Friberg J, Tynan M, Russell E, Ahmed W, Ponder MC, Cusaac L, Thompson J, Gardner K, Breece J, Kim C, Weiner LM. (2020). Achieving healthy cancer survivorship through integrated tobacco control: The Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) program. Presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, New Orleans LA.
Fallon S, Stephens J, Kim E, Eyestone E, Breece CJ, Anderson E, Taylor KL, and the LSTH Trial Team (2019). Lung cancer screening patients’ perceptions of their abnormal results: A qualitative study. Presented at the MedStar Annual Research Symposium, Washington DC.
2020-present Ongoing presentations to faculty, residents, and students in the Departments of
Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology on Lung Cancer Screening and
Smoking Cessation. Presentations given by Joan Breece, NP, Drs. Eric Anderson, Randi Williams, and Kathryn Taylor.