About me
Priyanka Sabharwal, MD, PhD, is an attending neurologist and epilepsy specialist affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Sabharwal specializes in treating patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders, concussions, and traumatic brain injury.
Her treatment methods revolve around a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach towards the care of patients with epilepsy. She believes in comprehensive epilepsy care that encompasses the use of medications, dietary therapies such as the ketogenic diet (proven to reduce the frequency of seizures in patients with epilepsy), medications, integrative therapies, surgical approaches, and electrical brain stimulation. For complex patients with epilepsy, Dr. Sabharwal also offers novel neuromodulation therapies including the vagal nerve stimulator, and responsive neurostimulation. For these devices, she works with a multi-disciplinary team, including neurosurgeons, neuropsychiatrists, neuropsychologists, nurse practitioners, and dieticians.
Her clinical interests include epilepsy, seizures, concussions, traumatic brain injury, care of women with epilepsy, and the transition of care of pediatric epilepsy patients to adult epilepsy care. In current times, children with childhood epilepsy are living longer, and at times have complex and challenging needs. Dr. Sabharwal is dedicated to identifying and addressing gaps in the transition of care to ensure that pediatric epilepsy patients who are at risk of poor transition can be identified early, in turn promoting uninterrupted and adequate care for this vulnerable population.
Her research interests include refractory epilepsy (surgical care of people with epilepsy), women with epilepsy, and raising awareness of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients). During her PhD work, Dr. Sabharwal researched mechanisms that control neuronal diversity in the nervous system. She showed that GDE2, a six-transmembrane protein, was important for generation of force-generating alpha motor neurons in the nervous system, in turn establishing GDE2 as a key regulator of motor neuron diversity.
Dr. Sabharwal received her medical degree from King George Medical College in India. She then pursued a PhD in Neurosciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she studied neurogenesis during the formation of the nervous system. She then joined New York University School of Medicine to pursue a three-year neurology residency, where she served as Chief Resident, followed by a one-year sub-specialty fellowship in neurophysiology and a one-year sub-specialty fellowship in epilepsy.
She is a member of the American Epilepsy Society, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. She is the recipient of America’s Top Physicians (2017), awarded by the Consumer Research Council of America.
Philosophy of Care
“To me, my patients’ health is personal. Epilepsy and other neurological disorders can affect every single aspect of someone’s life and can place them in a very vulnerable position. They need someone they can trust, and I am that person.
“The foundation of my practice is compassion. Most of my patients come to me with a condition that is very challenging. I am by my patients’ side throughout the entire experience. I listen to their concerns, and ask meaningful questions in order to understand their life goals. Most importantly, I communicate clearly and openly with them, so that they fully understand the reality of their diagnosis.
“With honesty and transparency, I build trust with my patients so that I can provide them care in the best way possible.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Atonic Epilepsy Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Inpatient Epilepsy Monitoring
- Migraine
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Movements
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Brain Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Congenital Malformations Of Nervous System
- Convulsions
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Gait And Balance Problems
- General Sensations And Perceptions
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hereditary Ataxia
- Hydrocephalus
- Idiopathic Neuropathy
- Lack Of Coordination
- Migraine
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Secondary Parkinsonism
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Atonic Epilepsy Treatment
- Central Nervous Electrical Activity Monitoring
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dystonia Treatment
- Eeg Monitoring
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electromyography
- Epilepsy Education
- Epilepsy Education And Counseling
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Inpatient Epilepsy Monitoring
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Muscle Biopsy
- Neurological Exam
- Neuromuscular Testing
- Seizure Treatment
- Status Epilepticus Treatment
- Stroke And Cerebrovascular Medicine
- Stroke Care
- Transcranial Doppler
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 7th Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-877-2171Fax 855-354-3967
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
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Sentara Health
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Network OA
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst EPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Classic 3500
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- HighMark
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Administrators
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- IH-PPO
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice POS II
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS
- IH-HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- First Health PPO
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Navigate
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- OA Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurology
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2017)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2017)
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (2016)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2016)
Residency: New York University School of Medicine (2015)
Graduate: New York University Medical Center (2015)
Internship: Griffin Hospital (2012)
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)
Graduate: Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education (2005)
Medical School: King Georges Medical University (2003)