About me
Bergen Kassoff, PA-C, is a nationally certified physician assistant at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Health Medical Center at Mitchellville. She specializes in gastroenterology and closely collaborates with Dr. Danny Shearer, Dr. Gary Thompson, and Dr. Arthur West. She is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Ms. Kassoff is skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions, including but not limited to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis, gastritis, H. pylori infection, peptic ulcer disease, pancreaticobiliary disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colitis. Additionally, she is deeply committed to cancer prevention and regularly conducts preprocedural visits for colorectal cancer screenings. Her comprehensive approach to care includes lifestyle modifications, medication management, and other therapeutic interventions.
A native of the DMV, Ms. Kassoff began her medical career as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. She went on to Pennsylvania and graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral neuroscience. After her undergraduate studies, she worked in clinical research at Children’s National Hospital. Although passionate about research, Ms. Kassoff wanted to have direct involvement in patient care, so she decided to get her Master of Science in physician assistant studies at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Ms. Kassoff is honored to be back home serving the community that raised her.
Philosophy of Care
"My approach to healthcare is centered on a patient-first philosophy, emphasizing compassionate, holistic care tailored to each individual's unique needs. I want my patients to know that I am their advocate and will strive to help them reach their health goals. I believe in the importance of patient education and empowerment, ensuring that those under my care are fully informed and active participants in their treatment plans.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Distention
- Abnormal Bowel Movement
- Abnormal Stool
- Anal Fissure
- Bleeding Hemorrhoids
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colonoscopy
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Rectal Pain
- Stomach Pain
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Bloating
- Abdominal Distention
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Amylase Blood Test
- Abnormal Bowel Movement
- Abnormal Liver Function Blood Test
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alcoholic Liver Disease
- Allergic Esophagitis
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Fistula
- Anal Itching
- Anal Pain
- Anal Spasm
- Anemia
- Annular Pancreas
- Anorexia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Autoimmune Enteropathy
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bleeding Hemorrhoids
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Dysmotility
- Bright Red Blood Per Rectum
- Celiac Disease
- Choking Sensation
- Cholangitis
- Cholecystitis
- Cholelithiasis
- Cholestasis
- Chronic Abdominal Pain
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Chronic Pancreatitis
- Clostridium Difficile
- Colitis
- Collagenous Colitis
- Colonic Inertia
- Colonic Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
- Diarrhea
- Digestive Disorders
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Drug Induced Liver Injury
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dyspepsia
- Dysphagia
- Early Satiety
- Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase Level
- Elevated Lipase
- Eosinophilic Colitis
- Eosinophilic Enteritis
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic Gastritis
- Epigastric Pain
- Eructation
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Disease
- Esophageal Diverticulum
- Esophageal Mass
- Esophageal Motility Disorders
- Esophageal Spasm
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophageal Thickening
- Esophageal Ulcer
- Esophageal Varices
- Esophagitis
- Family History Of Colon Cancer
- Family History Of Colon Polyps
- Fatty Liver
- Fecal Impaction
- Fecal Incontinence
- Flatulence
- Focal Nodular Hyperplasia
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallbladder Polyp
- Gastric Ulcer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Stromal Tumors
- Gastrointestinal Amyloid
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrojejunal Ulcer
- Gastroparesis
- Giardiasis
- Gluten Sensitivity
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hematemesis
- Hemochromatosis
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Hepatomegaly
- Hiatal Hernia
- Ileitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Intractable Vomiting
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Ischemic Bowel
- Ischemic Colitis
- Jaundice
- Lactose Intolerance
- Left Upper Quadrant Pain
- Liver Disease
- Liver Mass
- Lymphocytic Colitis
- Lynch Syndrome
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Stomach
- Melena
- Microscopic Colitis
- Motility Disorders
- Nausea
- Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Obstipation
- Obstructive Jaundice
- Odynophagia
- Ogilvie Syndrome
- Pancreas Divisum
- Pancreatic Cyst
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Pancreatic Pseudocyst
- Pancreaticobiliary Disease
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic Ulcer
- Peritonitis
- Pernicious Anemia
- Personal History Of Colonic Polyps
- Peutz Jeghers Syndrome
- Polyposis Syndrome
- Portal Hypertension
- Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy
- Positive Hemoccult Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
- Proctitis
- Rectal Bleeding
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Right Lower Quadrant Pain
- Right Upper Quadrant Pain
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Small Bowel Disease
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Steatorrhea
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Disorders
- Stomach Pain
- Swallowing Problem
- Toxic Liver Injury
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative Proctitis
- Vomiting
- Whipple's Disease
- Wilson's Disease
Procedures I perform
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Screening
- Endoscopy
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
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- United Choice Plus
- Tricare for Life East
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Signature
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- I-SNP
- Kaiser Select
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Tricare East Prime
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Innovation Health: POS
- D-SNP)
- Cigna Indemnity
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Optimum Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Tricare East Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- United Navigate
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Carefirst EPO
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Virginia Premier
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- WellPoint Maryland
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Aetna HMO
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Medicaid - Maryland
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna EPO
- United Golden Rule
Education
Graduate: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (2023)