About me
Priyanka Kanth, MD, MS, is a gastroenterologist and Associate Professor at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Fellowship-trained and board-certified in gastroenterology, Dr. Kanth is the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown and sees patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.
She graduated from medical school and completed her internship at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, MAHE University, India. She completed a residency in internal medicine at University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, where she was Chief Medical Resident, and a residency in colorectal and general surgery at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in the United Kingdom, as well as a fellowship in gastroenterology at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Kanth’s areas of clinical expertise include colon polyps, serrated colon polyps, hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, serrated polyposis syndrome, hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer genetics, and the prevention of colon cancer.
She has served as principal investigator and site principal investigator for several studies on issues related to gastrointestinal cancer. Her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including NEJM, JAMA, Genetic Epidemiology, Gut, Gastroenterology, Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, and Journal of National Comprehensive Cancer Network. She also has presented at numerous national and international conferences.
Dr. Kanth believes in educating her patients so they are aware of their personal and family history of gastrointestinal and other cancers. This knowledge is important, because many of these cancers can be prevented and detected early, especially in the case of genetic conditions that increases cancer risk. She is a firm believer in listening to her patients, answering all their questions, and coming to a mutual decision about their care.
In her spare time, she enjoys movies, traveling, and spending time with family.
Learn more about our Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention program
Clinical areas of focus
- Cancer Genetics Evaluation
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Genomic Testing For Cancer
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Oncology Genetics Consultation
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Procedures I perform
- A1c Testing
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Abdominal Wall Stoma Repair
- Arthrocentesis
- Ascending Colectomy
- Autopsy Pathology Examination
- Brca Gene Testing
- Cancer Genetics Consultation
- Cancer Genetics Evaluation
- Cancer Risk Assessment
- Cancer Risk Management
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Cardiovascular Genetics Evaluation
- Celiac Disease Treatment
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Computed Tomography Enterography
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Descending Colectomy
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Excision Of Duodenum
- Excision Of Esophagus
- Excision Of Ileum
- Excision Of Large Intestine
- Excision Of Stomach
- Excision Of Stomach Pylorus
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Testing
- Familial Cancer Syndrome Management
- Family History-Based Cancer Risk Assessment
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Plication
- Gastric Stenting
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Consultation
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Hormone Measurement
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Perforation Repair
- Gastrointestinal Tumor Removal
- Genetic Counseling For Hereditary Cancer Risk
- Genetic Testing For Cancer Susceptibility
- Genetic Testing For Down Syndrome
- Genetic Testing For Hereditary Cancer
- Genetic Testing For Stargardt Disease
- Genomic Testing For Cancer
- Health Promotion Counseling
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Inherited Cancer Risk Evaluation And Management
- Insulin Injection
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Liver Biopsy
- Liver Imaging
- Lower Esophagus Excision
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Lynch Syndrome Testing
- Motion Fluoroscopic Evaluation
- Oncology Consultation
- Oncology Genetics Consultation
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Liver Biopsy
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Rectal Excision
- Rheumatology Treatment
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Small Intestine Cancer Surgery
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Transverse Colectomy
- Tumor Immunohistochemistry
- Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Arthritis Treatment
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Urologic Imaging
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Vein Sclerotherapy
- Virtual Autopsy
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
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Network OA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-POS
- TRICARE East Select
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Navigate
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UHC Passport
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- POS OA
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- OA Plus
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- TRICARE for Life East
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- HighMark
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Choice POS II
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Graduate: University of Utah Physician Assistant Program (2015)
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College Mangalore (2001)
Awards
- 2021: American Gastroenterological Association Fellow (AGAF)
- 2019: SCOPY award (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence) from the American College of Gastroenterology for organizing the colon cancer awareness event and for the best original tactic- ‘visit the endo unit’ video
- 2018: Hind Rattan Award (Jewel of India award) by the NRI Welfare Society, New Delhi, India
- 2017: Fellowship of American College of Gastroenterology (FACG)
- 2016: Selected for the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
- 2016: Selected for the Vice President’s Clinical & Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholars Program, University of Utah
- 2013: Awarded a travel grant to attend Digestive Disease Week conference for the Fellowship2Leadership Salix Fellows’ Program.
- 2009: Maxwell O Phelps award for Scholarship in Medicine by University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.
- 2008: Service excellence award for excellent patient care by Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT.
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Facebook live event on colon cancer screening organized by Medstar Health, March 2023 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plxnD2D-veU
- https://www.agingmattersonline.com/radio-show Conversation w/ Priyanka Kanth, MD, about signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic screening, and treatment for colorectal cancer, and lifestyle changes to reduce risk. March 2022.
- Why should you get your colorectal cancer screening at 45
- Tour of Colon Cancer Exhibit, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- Facebook live event on colon cancer screening organized, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- 6 Colon Cancer Symptoms That Are Easily Overlooked, U.S News & World Report
- How our researchers and physicians work to end health disparities, Huntsman Cancer Institute
- University of Utah Health presented One in a Million, a documentary on gene discovery, premiered at a sponsored event during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, February 2019