About me
Kristen Whitaker, MD, MS is a board-certified medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Prior to joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Whitaker served as an assistant professor at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase, in Philadelphia, PA for four years, where she treated patients with breast cancer and patients at high risk for developing breast and other types of cancers.
Dr. Whitaker specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. She is a member of the multidisciplinary team that makes up the Breast Health Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Whitaker’s approach to patient care is centered around collaboration with other providers and patients and providing evidence-based recommendations for patient care. She strives to take the unique needs of each of her patients into consideration and incorporates newer tools, such as genetic testing and tumor molecular profiling, to tailor treatments for her patients. Her goal is to ensure that her patients have the best possible outcomes from their cancer while taking care to minimize the number of therapies, side effects of therapy and personal hardships that patients experience because of their cancer treatment.
When Dr. Whitaker meets with patients, she is optimistic and positive because she knows that there are many effective therapy options available that can treat and, in many cases, cure her patients. While chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were once the cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, today Dr. Whitaker is excited to offer her patients newer therapies, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which improve cancer outcomes with less side effects. She is particularly excited that MedStar Washington Hospital Center has many clinical trial options, allowing patients from diverse backgrounds earlier access to what may become the breast cancer treatments of the future.
Dr. Whitaker is passionate about working towards eliminating racial health disparities, especially among patients with cancer. To that end, she has been published and has received multiple awards, including the 2022 NIH Loan Repayment Health Disparities Award and a 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Cancer Research.
Dr. Whitaker received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She then completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at George Washington University, prior to completing a three-year fellowship in hematology/oncology at the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago. She simultaneously completed a Master of Science at the University of Chicago while completing her fellowship. She is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Philosophy of care
“As a native Washingtonian, I am honored to be back in my hometown serving my community. As a physician, my goal is to empower each of my patients to make the best decisions about their healthcare by educating them about the most up-to-date and proven treatment for their cancer. It is also important to me to take the time to answer questions and address concerns my patients may have at any time during their cancer journey. My patients quickly learn that there is no question that is too big or too small for us to talk about. I value collaboration from my patients and other providers and make myself readily available to both to address any questions or concerns, as I realize this is essential to providing the best possible care for my patients. I enjoy getting to know my patients as individuals and building a relationship where my patients trust me and have confidence that I always have their best interests.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Oncology Consultation
- Pathology Consultation
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
Procedures I perform
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Cancer Surgery
- Bladder Tumor Removal
- Blood Banking
- Bone Cancer Staging
- Breast Biopsy
- Cancer Pain Management
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Clinical Trials Participation
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Hematology Consultation
- Hepatic Artery Infusion
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Introduction Of Antineoplastic
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Cancer Treatment
- Kidney Resection
- Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy For Prostate Cancer
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Lymph Node Removal
- Metastatic Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Consultation
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Pathology Consultation
- Penile Cancer
- Penile Cancer Surgery
- Penile Tumor Removal
- Prolotherapy Infusions
- Prostate Cancer Surgery
- Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Renal Cancer Treatment
- Renal Metastases Treatment
- Seminoma Treatment
- Subdural Grid Placement
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Cancer Surgery
- Testicular Tumor Removal
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
- Tumor Marker Testing
- Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
- Urinary Tract Cancer Treatment
- Uveitic Glaucoma Treatment
- Vascular Access Device Management
- Venous Access Device Removal
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
110 Irving St NW
Cancer Institute Rm 2149
Washington, DC, 20010
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
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Sentara Health
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Basic
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open POS Plus
- POS OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-Indemnity
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Choice POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst EPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Employee Health Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Navigate
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology/Medical Oncology
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (2018)
Residency: George Washington University School of Medicine (2015)
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine (2012)