Christine T Trankiem, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgery
Languages: English
(202) 877-3173
About me
Christine Trankiem Wall, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and critical care surgeon. She is the Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Regional Chief of the same for MedStar Health. Dr. Trankiem serves as State Chair for the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and participates in the education of medical students, physicians in training, and peers. She is a member of the Medical Board and Medical Executive Committee of the hospital.
Dr. Trankiem specializes in trauma, general surgery including gastrointestinal and bowel surgery, and surgical critical care. Her clinical interests include robotic surgery, rib and sternal fracture fixation, gastrointestinal surgery, necrotizing acute soft tissue infections (or flesh eating bacteria), critical events team training and communication, and community violence prevention and outreach. As Chief of the Gold Acute Care Surgery Team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Trankiem has an added level of expertise in taking care of patients with seemingly straightforward general surgery issues that may develop into critical care needs. Patients who come to MedStar for care will also be treated by other physicians in the Gold Acute Care Surgery Team, in addition to being treated by Dr. Trankiem.
Dr. Trankiem earned her undergraduate degree from the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh, pursued post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and obtained her medical degree from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and completed her fellowship training with the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Los Angeles County Hospital at the University of Southern California.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Trankiem came to Washington, DC for the opportunity to provide advanced trauma and surgical care to area residents. Dr. Trankiem is an advocate for team care. Data shows that a team always outperforms an individual. For this reason, she is passionate about surgical education and critical events team training. When not searching for innovative approaches to care for trauma patients, Dr. Trankiem enjoys spending time with her husband and son hiking, white water rafting, and adventure travelling.
Philosophy of Care
“Mental wellness, spiritual well-being, nutrition, social work and physical therapy are all essential in order to bring the patient as a whole to their best state of health. Through this philosophy, I bring care to my patients in a compassionate and thoughtful way. Communication is the cornerstone of my practice. It is important to me to not only educate and update the patient in order to address their disease but to also communicate with their families.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Damage Control Surgery
- Gynecologic Laparotomy
- Hemorrhagic Shock Resuscitation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Abdominal Hernia
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Anal Abscess
- Aneurysm
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Artery Disorders
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Bacterial Pneumonia
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bleeding Disorders
- Body Region Injury
- Brain Disorders
- Burn Injuries
- Chest Burn And Corrosion
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Appendicitis
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Colon Disease
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Disorders Of White Blood Cells
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Head, Face, And Neck Burn And Corrosion
- Hip And Thigh Blood Vessel Injury
- Hip And Thigh Open Wound
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Incisional Hernia
- Intrathoracic Organ Injury
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Leg Amputation
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Blood Vessel Injury
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Muscle Disorders
- Myocarditis
- Neck Injury
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Pelvic Organ Injury
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Pleural Disease
- Pneumothorax And Air Leak
- Postprocedural States
- Respiratory Disorders
- Retroperitoneum Disorders
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Shock
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Blood Vessel Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Limb Burn
- Shoulder Open Wound
- Skull Fractures
- Superficial Abdomen Injury
- Tendinous Disorders
- Thoracic Cavity Open Wound
- Thorax Blood Vessel Injury
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Venous Embolism
- Ventral Hernia
- Wrist And Hand Burn And Corrosion
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Procedures I perform
- Abdomen Skin Repair
- Abdominal Aorta Restriction
- Abdominal Wall Infection Drainage
- Abdominal Wall Stoma Repair
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Abdominal Wall Tumor Resection
- Appendix Resection
- Buttock Subcutaneous Tissue Excision
- Chest Skin Repair
- Colocutaneous Anastomosis
- Colostomy
- Control Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding
- Control Peritoneal Cavity Bleeding
- Cyst Decortication
- Cystorrhaphy, Simple
- Damage Control Surgery
- Descending Colectomy
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Endoscopic Inspection Of Tracheobronchial Tree
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Escharotomy
- Excision Of Large Intestine
- Excision Of Pancreas
- Excision Of Stomach
- Fasciotomy
- Gallbladder Resection
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Gastrocutaneous Fistula Takedown
- Gastrointestinal Lavage
- Gastrointestinal Trauma Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrorrhaphy, Suture Of Perforated Duodenal Or Gastric Ulcer
- Gastrostomy
- Gastrostomy, Open
- Gynecologic Laparotomy
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hemorrhagic Shock Resuscitation
- Hemothorax Evacuation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hepatic Artery Occlusion
- Incision And Drainage Of Bartholin's Gland Abscess
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Insertion Of Infusion Device Into Lower Vein
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Ischiorectal Abscess Drainage
- IVC Filter Placement
- Jejunostomy
- Jejunum Resection
- Jejunum Supplement
- Jejunum To Ileum Bypass
- Jejunum Transplant
- Laparoscopic Splenectomy
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Leg Muscle Excision
- Liver Drainage With Catheter
- Liver Packing Removal
- Lower Arm Skin Excision
- Lumpectomy With Radiation
- Omentum Release
- Partial Colectomy
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Pseudocyst Drainage
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Peritoneal Cavity Drainage
- Pleural Cavity Drainage
- Rectal Excision
- Rectum Resection
- Repair Left Lower Leg Subcutaneous Tissue
- Repair Of Anterior Abdominal Hernia
- Revision Synthetic Substitute
- Saline Contrast Study
- Sigmoid Colon Resection
- Small Intestine Cancer Surgery
- Small Intestine Repair
- Spleen Resection
- Splenectomy
- Splenic Flexure Mobilization
- Stomach Drainage
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aortography
- Thoracostomy
- Thoracotomy With Therapeutic Wedge Resection
- Total Colectomy
- Tracheostomy
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Transverse Colon Resection
- Tube Thoracostomy
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Veno-Venous Bypass
- Ventral Hernia Repair With Mesh
- Ventriculostomy
- Whole Lung Lavage
- Wound Dressing Change
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
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna HMO
- IH-HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- OA Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE for Life East
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- First Health PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Navigate
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Network OA
- Sentara Health
- UHC Passport
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice POS
- POS OA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Fellowship: University of Southern California School of Medicine (2007)
Residency: Temple University Hospital (2006)
Medical School: Hahnemann University Hospital-CLOSED (2001)