About me
Sara Berkey, MD, is a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus.
Dr. Berkey’s treatment methods involve both medical and surgical (in-office and operating room) techniques. She is specialty trained and certified to perform minimally invasive robotic surgery using the da Vinci® robotic surgery system. Robotic surgery reduces pain and discomfort, and therefore narcotic use; reduces recovery time; and allows patients to go home sooner, compared to traditional open surgical techniques.
Her clinical interests include improving the quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor conditions and treating young people with colorectal cancer. Her research interests include improving enhanced surgical recovery pathways to help improve patient outcomes. Dr. Berkey is passionate about increasing colon cancer screening rates in the African American population, the highest risk racial/ethnic group for colorectal cancer in the U.S.
Dr. Berkey received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, where she was named Valedictorian of her class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She then completed a seven-year general surgery residency program, including two years of dedicated research time, with the University of Pittsburgh before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a specialty fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, and the Association of Women Surgeons.
Dr. Berkey enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and spending time on the water.
Philosophy of Care
“The foundation of providing excellent care is a strong patient-physician relationship built on empathy, clear communication, and collaboration. From the very first time I meet my patients, I take the time to listen to their concerns and understand what their goals are for treatment. I emphasize teamwork between myself and my patients, as well as between myself and my colleagues, in order to provide the best possible care to my patients.
I feel honored when my patients say that they would recommend me to their friends and family.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Condyloma
- Anal Dysplasia
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Fistula
- Anal Pain
- Anal Polyp
- Anal Warts
- Anorectal Abnormalities
- Appendiceal Carcinoid
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Small Bowel
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon
- Bladder Fistula
- Bowel Perforations
- Colonic Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Colonic Volvulus
- Colorectal Disorders
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Colovaginal Fistula
- Colovesical Fistula
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Enterovesical Fistula
- Familial Polyposis
- Fecal Incontinence
- Foreign Body (ANUS-RECTUM)
- Foreign Body (COLON-INTESTINE)
- Gallbladder Disease
- Hemorrhoids
- Hereditary Colon Cancer
- Hereditary Polyposis
- Hernia
- Ileitis
- Ileo Colonic Fistula
- Incarcerated Hernia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Carcinoid Tumor
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Colon
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Paget's Disease Of The Perianal Skin
- Parastomal Hernia
- Peridiverticular Abscess
- Pouchitis
- Presacral Tumor
- Proctitis
- Pruritus Ani
- Pseudopolyposis Of Colon
- Radiation Proctitis
- Rectal Abscess
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Hemorrhage
- Rectal Mass
- Rectal Prolapse
- Rectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Severe Dysplasia Of Rectum
- Sigmoid Vesical Fistula
- Stoma Complications
- Turcot Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Cerclage
- Anal Dilation
- Anal Fissure Fistulectomy
- Anal Fistula Repair
- Anal Incontinence Surgery
- Anal Sphincterotomy
- Anorectal Manometry
- Anorectal Myectomy
- Bowel Resection
- Cancer Risk Reduction Surgery
- Colectomy
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Screening
- Colostomy
- Colostomy Revision
- Complex Hernia Repair
- Da Vinci
- Da Vinci Cholecystectomy
- Excision Of External Hemorrhoidal Tags And Papillae
- Fissurectomy
- Hemicolectomy
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hernia Repair
- Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis Surgery
- Ileocolic Resection
- Ileostomy
- Laparoscopic Anterior Resection
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
- Laparoscopic Colostomy Reversal
- Laparoscopic Colostomy Surgery
- Laparoscopic Rectal Prolapse Repair
- Laparoscopic Total Proctocolectomy With Ileal Pouch
- Laparoscopic Treatment Of Small Bowel Obstruction
- Low Anterior Resection
- Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
- Non Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment
- Ostomy
- Ostomy Care
- Ostomy Removal
- Partial Colectomy
- Proctectomy
- Proctocolectomy
- Proctoplasty For Stenosis
- Proctoscopy
- Prolapse Colostomy
- Refashioning Of Colostomy
- Removal Anal Seton Marker
- Repair Of Colovaginal Fistula
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Robotic Colorectal Surgery
- Robotic Proctectomy
- Seton Placement
- Sigmoidectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Sphincter Sparing Surgery
- Sphincterotomy
- Stoma Reversal
- Subtotal Colectomy
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
- Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Transanal Resection Surgery
- Transrectal Drainage Of Pelvic Abscess
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
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Cigna Indemnity
- United Choice
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- United Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Select
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Signature
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Carefirst EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- United Choice Plus
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Cigna Network Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Navigate
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Golden Rule
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- United Student Resources
- WellPoint Maryland
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna EPO
- Tricare for Life East
- I-SNP
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Medicaid - Virginia
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Medicaid - Maryland
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Tricare East Prime
- CareFirst Administrators
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- D-SNP)
- Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Innovation Health: POS
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Tricare East Select
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2020)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Tulane University (2012)