About me
Akrithi U. Garren, MD, is an attending rheumatologist affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As an adult rheumatologist, Dr. Garren sees patients for all autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, vasculitis, gout, and many more. Having undergone rigorous training at top academic centers in the country, Dr. Garren is experienced in treating medically complex patients.
Dr. Garren received her medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She then completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, followed by a two-year rheumatology fellowship at Duke University Hospital, where she completed the Duke Medical Education Leadership Track. She is a member of the American College of Rheumatology.
Her treatment methods include a number of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies as well as intra-articular and intra-bursal injections. She is proficient in administering non-ultrasound-guided steroid injections in the joints, specifically the shoulders, knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, and toes.
The field of rheumatology is rapidly evolving, now moving closer to a treat-to-target approach that can hopefully one day be personalized to each patient. Dr. Garren prides herself on staying at the forefront of rheumatology research and treatment advancements.
She has a special interest in clinical education, specifically working with medical trainees in the outpatient clinic and inpatient hospital setting. She was recognized for her dedication to clinical education when she received the inaugural Nancy Allen Teaching Award during her fellowship at Duke University Hospital.
Dr. Garren’s research interests are centered around optimizing medical education to medical trainees so they can better serve patients in the future. She also focuses on quality improvement initiatives to improve how care is delivered to patients within the field of rheumatology.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care is to trust and listen to the patient above all else. Each patient knows themself the best and, as a physician, I recognize the importance of openly receiving information and input from the patient on his or her health to help guide my treatment recommendations and approach.
“I love building lasting relationships with patients and accompanying them as they continue on their healthcare journeys. My goal is to approach each patient like I would my own family member. All patients who see me in the clinic deserve and will receive my respect and empathy. When it comes to patient care, I believe in two-way regular communication, attention to detail, efficient completion of tasks, and full transparency.
“Medically complex rheumatology patients need multidisciplinary care. I pride myself on my ability to work well with providers in other specialties. Teamwork is essential to delivering complete care to the rheumatologic patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Myositis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogrens
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Vasculitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Anti Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Aortic Arteritis
- Arthralgia
- Arthritis
- Arthritis Of Multiple Joints
- Arthropathy
- Behcet Syndrome
- Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease
- Cranial Arteritis
- Crest
- Crystalline Arthritis
- Cutaneous Vasculitis
- Dermatomyositis
- Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
- Enthesitis
- Erythema Nodosum
- Familial Mediterranean Fever
- Fibromyalgia
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Gonococcal Arthritis
- Gout
- Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
- Iga Vasculitis
- Igg 4 Related Diseases
- Inflammatory Polyarthropathy
- Isolated Central Nervous System Vasculitis
- Joint Disorder Of Multiple Joints
- Joint Effusion
- Joint Swelling
- Lupus Nephritis
- Macrophage Activation Syndrome
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
- Monoarticular Arthritis
- Myositis
- Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Periodic Fever Syndromes
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Polyarthralgia
- Polyarthropathy
- Polychondritis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Polymyositis
- Positive Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test
- Post Infectious Arthritis
- Pseudogout
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Raynaud's Disease
- Reactive Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sacroiliitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogrens
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Still's Disease
- Synovitis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Systemic Scleroderma
- Tenosynovitis
- Tophus
- Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease
- Uveitis
- Vasculitis
Procedures I perform
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Blood Test
- Biologic Therapy For Rheumatologic Diseases
- Joint Injection
- Non Surgical Management Of Osteoarthritis
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
- Cigna Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- I-SNP
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Cigna Network Open Access
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Carefirst EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Student Resources
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Kaiser Signature
- Tricare East Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- United Golden Rule
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna HMO
- United Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Tricare for Life East
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Navigate
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Innovation Health: PPO
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Select
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Virginia Premier
- United Choice Plus
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- WellPoint Maryland
- Cigna EPO
- United Select Plus (POS)
- D-SNP)
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Tricare East Prime
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
Education
Fellowship Program: Duke University Medical Center (2021)
Residency Program: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (2016)