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
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Fever
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Malaise And Fatigue
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage Of Limbs
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Eye And Adnexa
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Adult T-Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Alpha-Thalassemia Major Treatment
- Amyloidosis Treatment
- Anemia Management
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Component Transfusion
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Survivorship Care
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Treatment
- Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment
- Genetic Counseling
- Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
- Growth Hormone Excess Treatment
- Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment
- Hematology Consultation
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treatment
- Hemophilia Treatment
- Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
- Immunotherapy
- Leukemia Treatment
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Red Blood Cell Transfusion
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
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Administrators
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Beech Street PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Student Resources
- POS OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Navigate
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- First Health PPO
- Network OA
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Employee Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS II
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HighMark
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Sentara Health
- IH-POS Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice POS
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Medicare Direct
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
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)