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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- OA Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Sentara Health
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UHC Passport
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Administrators
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Basic
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- First Health PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Network OA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HighMark
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice Fund PPO
- Choice POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Employee Health Plan
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Hematology
Fellowship: Louisiana State University School Of Medicine (2020)
Residency: Ochsner Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine (2011)