About me
Deepak Chander, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board-certified in hematology and oncology and specializes in treating cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer.
Dr. Chander has an interest in treating neuroendocrine tumors, which typically originate in the small intestine, pancreas, or lungs. As a medical doctor, he treats a range of gastrointestinal cancers with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. He believes in using the latest medical therapies to allow patients to experience the best quality of life possible.
Beyond cancer, Dr. Chander believes in taking care of the “whole patient,” including patients’ other medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. As cancer patients can present with complex medical needs, he works closely with caregivers and colleagues to ensure that every patient receives the best care for their unique situation. In particular, he has a focus on understanding and minimizing drug toxicity. He believes that advances in medicine can lead to new treatments that reduce the toxicity of cancer drugs and hopes to make clinical trials available to Washington Hospital Center patients.
Dr. Chander was interested in medicine from an early age, driven by scientific curiosity and a desire to care for people. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from George Washington University in 2006, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2011. Following his studies, Dr. Chander completed a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at LSU Health Science Center and an Internal Medicine Residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation and subsequently served in various clinical roles, including as a hospitalist/nocturnist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Holy Spirit Hospital.
Before joining Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Chander practiced as an oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In 2024, he moved to the Washington, DC, area to be closer to family. Now, he looks forward to delivering world-class cancer care to the capital’s diverse populations through his work at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Chander is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society of Hematology. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling but remains a proud New Orleanian, with Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Saints, and his family always close to his heart.
Philosophy of Care
“First and foremost, I believe in having compassion for patients and their experiences, treating the person in front of me rather than just the disease. A cancer diagnosis is intimidating for everyone, and people want to know if they can take a pill, get treatment at home, and carry on with their regular life. I strongly want people to preserve their quality of life while undergoing treatment, so we aim to provide the best options with that in mind.
“I want patients to know that I hear them, that I have their interest at heart, and that the most important thing to me is that they feel their best, mentally and physically. I put patients first and am always happy to collaborate with surgeons, radiologists, and other colleagues to deliver the best care. A happy patient is a happy doctor.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Body Region Injury
- Bone Disorders
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Digestive System Complications
- Emergency Use Of U07
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Fever
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Adrenal Insufficiency Treatment
- Antineoplastic Injection
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Component Transfusion
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Density Testing
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Sarcoma Treatment
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Survivorship Care
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Cushing's Syndrome Treatment
- Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Germ Cell Tumor Treatment
- Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
- Growth Hormone Excess Treatment
- Iliac Bone Marrow Extraction
- Immunotherapy
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Leukemia Treatment
- Lumbar Puncture
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Osteosarcoma Treatment
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment
- Sarcoma Treatment
- Tumor Resection
- Venous Access Device Irrigation
- Venous Blood Collection
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
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-POS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Navigate
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Basic
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE for Life East
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HighMark
- POS OA
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice POS
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Fund PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA EPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Police and Fire Clinic
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Sentara Health
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice POS II
- IH-HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Student Resources
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Louisiana State University School Of Medicine (2020)
Residency: Ochsner Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine (2011)