Issam Essa Cheikh, MD| Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism | MedStar Health
About me
Issam Cheikh, MD, FACP, FACE, is Emeritus Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and director of the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency training in internal medicine at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cheikh completed his fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland.
He founded the Division of Endocrinology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and developed the endocrinology fellowship training program along with one of the largest diabetes and endocrine practices in the region. Dr. Cheikh has directed the longest-running annual diabetes symposium of its kind since 1976 and has gained numerous awards for teaching and service. Dr. Cheikh is a adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Issam Cheikh, MD, named 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 "Top Docs" by Baltimore Magazine for endocrinology/diabetes care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adrenal Venous Sampling
- Graves Disease
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Treatment
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Insulin Resistance Treatment
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Pituitary Hormone Management
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Adrenal Crisis
- Adrenal Gland Disorder
- Adrenal Gland Disorders (E.G. CUSHING'S SYNDROME, PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA)
- Adrenal Mass
- Adrenal Tumor
- Adult Osteomalacia
- Anemia Due To Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Calcium Disorders
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Bladder
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes In Pregnancy
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Disorders Of Amino
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Disorders Of Pancreatic Internal Secretion
- Disorders Of Pituitary Gland
- Disorders Of Renal Tubular Function
- Disorders Of Thyroid
- Drug Or Chemical Induced Diabetes Mellitus
- Endocrine Disorders
- Erectile Dysfunction Due To Hormonal Imbalance
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Gallbladder Disease
- Grave's Disease
- Gynecomastia
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- High Cholesterol
- Hirsutism
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hyperfunction Of Pituitary Gland
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypertrichosis
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Insulin Pump Management
- Insulin Resistance
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Endocrine Glands
- Menstrual Disorders
- Nonscarring Hair Loss
- Nontoxic Goiter
- Obesity
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteoporosis
- Ovarian Dysfunction
- Parathyroid Disorders
- Pituitary Disorders
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Postprocedural Complications
- Prediabetes
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism
- Testicular Dysfunction
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Nodules
- Thyroid Storm
- Thyrotoxic Crisis
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Vitamin Deficiency
Procedures I perform
- Adrenal Disorder Treatment
- Adrenal Hormone Management
- Adrenal Hormone Regulation
- Adrenal Surgery
- Adrenal Venous Sampling
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
- Cushing's Syndrome Treatment
- Diabetes Management
- Diabetes Prevention
- Enterectomy
- Fine-Needle Aspiration Of Thyroid Nodule
- Glucose Control Management
- Goiter Treatment
- Grave's Disease Treatment
- Growth Hormone Management
- Growth Hormone Stimulation Test
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Treatment
- Hormone Level Regulation
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment
- Hypothyroidism Treatment
- Insulin Resistance Treatment
- Nutrition Counseling
- Obesity Treatment
- One-On-One Diabetes Education
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Pain Medication Management
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Pioglitazone Therapy
- Pituitary Disorder Treatment
- Pituitary Hormone Management
- Pituitary Surgery
- Pituitary Tumor Surgery
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Prediabetes Management
- Testicular Ultrasound
- Thyroid Cancer Treatment
- Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy
- Thyroid Medication Management
- Thyroid Nodule Treatment
- Thyroid Storm Surgery
- Thyroidectomy
- Weight Management Program
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
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-PPO
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Navigate
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- OA Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- HighMark
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- UHC Passport
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Basic
- Beech Street PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- Network OA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- POS OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst NASCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Choice POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System (1975)
Residency: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1973)
Internship: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1971)
Medical School: University of Damascus School of Medicine (1968)
Awards
- 2015-2017, 2019, 2020-2025 Top Doctor, Baltimore magazine