About me
Cristina Merkhofer, MD, MHS, is a medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in treating head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and thyroid cancers. She also specializes in thoracic cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies.
As a medical oncologist, Dr. Merkhofer oversees medication-based treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. She collaborates with colleagues in radiation oncology, surgery, and other medical specialties to develop personalized treatment plans for her patients. She cares deeply about making her patients feel heard and giving them enough information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dr. Merkhofer graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a Master of Health Science in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She obtained her MD at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency in internal medicine and participated in the Global Health and Underserved Populations track at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Merkhofer then completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
With a strong background in global health and health services research, Dr. Merkhofer strives to improve access to oncology care in the DC area and bring promising new therapies to her patients. For her prior research in advanced lung cancer, she has been honored with a 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, a 2020 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, and the Stork Petersdorf Lung Cancer Research Award. She is an active member of ASCO and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that the physician-patient relationship is sacred. I see my patients as whole people with unique goals, histories, and challenges, and not just defined by their illness. My goal is to help my patients understand their illness and to provide strong support so that they can make the best health decisions for themselves and their families. I am committed to bringing the latest treatments to my patients and to improving access to oncology care in the DC area.”
About MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington and MedStar Georgetown are part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, which combines medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research across MedStar Health. Our research engine, the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region. This partnership means we provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and the latest breakthroughs in cancer care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adrenal Neoplasm
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Adrenal Neoplasm
- Anaplastic Cancer Of Thyroid
- Braf V600e V600k Mutations
- Brain Metastases
- Cancer
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- Cancer Pain
- Cancer Related Fatigue
- Cancer Survivor
- Carcinoma Of Unknown Primary
- Egfr Mutation
- Endocrine Complications Of Cancer Therapy
- Follicular Cancer Of Thyroid
- Head And Neck Tumors
- Large Cell Cancer Of The Lung
- Liver Metastases
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Mass
- Malignant Lung Tumors
- Medullary Cancer Of Thyroid
- Mesothelioma
- Oral Complications Of Cancer
- Oral Lesions
- Orbit Cancer
- Palate Cancer
- Papillary Cancer Of Thyroid
- Pulmonary Metastases
- Side Effects Of Cancer Treatment
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Nose
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Tongue
- Thoracic Cancer
- Thymus Cancer
- Tracheal Cancer
Procedures I perform
- Adjuvant Chemotherapy
- Anticoagulation
- Biological Targeted Therapy
- Blood Transfusion Therapy
- Cancer Chemotherapy
- Cancer Genomics
- Cancer Immunotherapy
- Chemoradiation
- Clinical Trials
- Early Detection Of Cancer
- Head And Neck Cancer Genomics
- Lung Cancer Genomics
- Personalized Cancer Therapy
- Targeted Molecular Therapy
- Thyroid Cancer Genomics
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
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Select
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Aetna HMO
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Cigna Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Signature
- Tricare Reserve Select
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Tricare East Select
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Innovation Health: PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Optimum Choice
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Tricare for Life East
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Tricare East Prime
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Golden Rule
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- United Navigate
- WellPoint Maryland
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Carefirst EPO
- Virginia Premier
- United Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Choice Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna EPO
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna Network Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- I-SNP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- D-SNP)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Fellowship: University of Washington School of Medicine (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-GME (2017)
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health (2014)