About me
Mariana Vigiola Cruz, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon at MedStar Southern Maryland with fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery, including complex laparoscopic, robotic, and bariatric procedures.
Dr. Vigiola primarily manages surgical problems of the abdomen and abdominal wall, including pathologies of the stomach, intestine, colon, appendix, gallbladder, spleen and other organs, as well as several types of hernias. She has a particular interest in treating conditions such as acid reflux and hiatal or paraesophageal hernia. She emphasizes minimally invasive techniques in elective and emergency cases to achieve surgical goals through smaller incisions with limited trauma, less postoperative pain, and shorter recovery times. She has a clinical interest in the impact of nutrition and diet in health and healing, and incorporates this knowledge into her practice.
Dr. Vigiola strongly believes in universal access to surgical care and education. She is committed to global health, providing care to underserved communities, and has clinical experience in various settings around the world, including locations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Whether educating patients, training young surgeons, or performing operations, she strives to make a difference in sustainable and meaningful ways wherever she has the privilege to practice.
Dr. Vigiola earned her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, followed by a general surgery residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, where she also served as Administrative Chief Resident. During her residency, she completed a research fellowship at the MedStar Health Research Institute’s Firefighters Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, focusing on burn injury and wound healing. After residency, she pursued clinical fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal, bariatric, and minimally invasive surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. During that time, she also served as Instructor in Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She has additionally completed postgraduate education in Clinical Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Andalusia, Spain.
Dr. Vigiola has presented her work at regional and national surgical conferences and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery.
Dr. Vigiola speaks fluent Spanish and French, as well as basic Portuguese and Italian. When she is not taking care of patients, she loves adventure traveling, being active outdoors, exploring international cuisines and cultures, and spending time with her family, friends, and rescue dogs.
Philosophy of Care “I feel enormously privileged to do this job. I place a lot of emphasis in patient education and fully informed consent, so that anyone under my care is properly versed in their treatment options and possible outcomes and procedures. My goal is to provide transparent communication, professional recommendations, and technical expertise that align with the patient’s best interest, to deliver safe, appropriate, and individualized care. I would like my patients to feel they are in hands they can trust and are comforted and reassured during a challenging time.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Pain
- Gallstones
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Hemorrhoids
- Venous Embolism
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Abdominal Adhesions
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Abdominal Hernia
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Acquired Absence Of Organs
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Abscess
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Artery Disorders
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Atherosclerosis
- Bladder Disorders
- Body Mass Index
- Body Region Injury
- Bowel Obstruction
- Breast Abscess
- Breast Disorders
- Breast Inflammation
- Breast Lump
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Polyps
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Early Complications Of Trauma
- Esophageal Stricture
- Female Genital Tract Fistulae
- Femoral Hernia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hip And Thigh Open Wound
- Incisional Hernia
- Liver Cancer
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Muscle Disorders
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Pilonidal Cyst
- Postprocedural States
- Rectal Cancer
- Rib Fracture
- Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Complications
- Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Skin Cancer
- Skin Swelling And Lumps
- Small Bowel Obstruction
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Ulcers
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Vein Disorders
- Venous Embolism
- Ventral Hernia
- Wound Dehiscence
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
- Network OA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- POS OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Choice POS II
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Student Resources
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- OA Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Basic
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Sentara Health
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-EPO Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Navigate
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell (2020)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2019)
Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey (2013)