About me
Cristina Merkhofer, MD, MHS, is a medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in treating head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and thyroid cancers. She also specializes in thoracic cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies.
As a medical oncologist, Dr. Merkhofer oversees medication-based treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. She collaborates with colleagues in radiation oncology, surgery, and other medical specialties to develop personalized treatment plans for her patients. She cares deeply about making her patients feel heard and giving them enough information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dr. Merkhofer graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a Master of Health Science in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She obtained her MD at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency in internal medicine and participated in the Global Health and Underserved Populations track at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Merkhofer then completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
With a strong background in global health and health services research, Dr. Merkhofer strives to improve access to oncology care in the DC area and bring promising new therapies to her patients. For her prior research in advanced lung cancer, she has been honored with a 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, a 2020 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, and the Stork Petersdorf Lung Cancer Research Award. She is an active member of ASCO and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that the physician-patient relationship is sacred. I see my patients as whole people with unique goals, histories, and challenges, and not just defined by their illness. My goal is to help my patients understand their illness and to provide strong support so that they can make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. I am committed to bringing the latest treatments to my patients and to improving access to oncology care in the DC area.”
About MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington and MedStar Georgetown are part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Consultation
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Tumor Marker Testing
Procedures I perform
- Anemia Management
- Antiangiogenic Therapy
- Blood Cell Count
- Blood Chemistry Test
- Blood Clot Treatment
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Disorder Diagnosis
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Cancer Clinical Trial Management
- Cancer Genetics Evaluation
- Cancer Pain Management
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials
- Coagulopathy Management
- Colorectal Cancer Treatment
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Management
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Intravenous Antibiotics
- Leukemia Treatment
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Lung Cancer Treatment
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymphoma Management
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Magnesium Imbalance Treatment
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Neutropenia Management
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Oncology Consultation
- Pain Management Consultation
- Palliative Care Consultation
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
- Surgical Oncology Surgery
- Thrombophilia Management
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Vitamin Deficiency 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 Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- POS OA
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS II
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- OA Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HighMark
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Navigate
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Student Resources
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-EPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-POS
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Network OA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Washington School of Medicine (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-GME (2017)
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health (2014)