About me
Blerta Hamza, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in adult gerontology at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in the management of cancerous and noncancerous nodules (abnormal spots) in the lungs. She is also a member of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
Her approach to care centers on nurturing trusting and compassionate relationships that empower patients to prioritize their overall well-being. She begins by having empathetic and insightful conversations about their conditions, wellness goals, and healthcare barriers. She also performs exams that include reviews of medical histories and imaging tests. She then collaborates with an experienced and multidisciplinary team of specialists – pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists – to develop personalized treatment, management, and support plans.
Blerta is dedicated to advancing the early detection of lung nodules to identify cancers when they are most curable. Her research interests focus on boosting enrollment in tobacco cessation programs to reduce the risks of adverse health issues. She is also excited about the hospital’s new Lung Nodule Clinic that provides comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring options at one convenient location. Referring physicians should know that Blerta is committed to sharing regular updates about their patients’ progress while providing evidence-based care to optimize the quality of their lives.
Philosophy of care
“My admiration of healthcare workers started when I was a child with an illness of my mother. The compassion and patience given to her by doctors, nurses, and other clinicians sparked my initial drive to enter the field. That journey included working in inpatient hospital settings, where I cared for many patients with late-stage lung cancer. These two experiences motivated me to eventually specialize in lung nodule medicine and educate people about the importance of early screenings.”
About the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is 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.
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
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Kaiser Signature
- I-SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Student Resources
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Optimum Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Innovation Health: POS
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- United Navigate
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Cigna EPO
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Tricare East Select
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- D-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Select Plus (POS)
- United Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Cigna Indemnity
- Tricare East Prime
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Tricare for Life East
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Carefirst EPO
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- United Choice Plus
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Virginia Premier
- WellPoint Maryland
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Golden Rule
- Kaiser Select
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
Education
Other Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center, -
Graduate Education: George Washington University (2020)
Awards
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing, Phi Epsilon Chapter Golden Key International Honor Society