Victor Ciofoaia, MD

Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

Victor Ciofoaia, MD is a board-certified advanced gastroenterologist affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. Before joining MedStar Health, Dr. Ciofoaia was an advanced interventional endoscopist/gastroenterologist with Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Clinic Healthcare System. He served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Quinnipiac University’s Frank H. Netter School of Medicine and was also a clinical informatics physician advisor and hospitalist clinical educator at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT. 

Dr. Ciofoaia practices with a focus on advanced diagnostic tools and treatment procedures. He utilizes cutting-edge diagnostic tools, including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and advanced luminal endoscopy for the early detection and treatment of malignant and premalignant lesions. He has a special interest in endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS).

His research interests include finding new and effective treatment options for pancreatitis and for the management of pancreatic lesions. During his fellowship, he focused on the study of inflammation in chronic pancreatitis, for which he received a National Pancreas Foundation grant. In 2019, the American Gastroenterological Association presented him with an Early Career Research Award. 

Dr. Ciofoaia is passionate about using information technology and clinical informatics to improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients. He participated in the first FDA-approved clinical trial exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in colonoscopy for the improvement of polyp detection and is currently involved in multiple clinical informatics projects.

Dr. Ciofoaia received his medical degree from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania, where he graduated with high honors. He completed his internal medicine residency at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut, affiliated with the Yale University School of Medicine. He then completed his gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center/DC VA Medical Center, followed by an advanced interventional endoscopy fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, where he practiced as a consultant before returning to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

He is a member of the American Pancreatic Association (APA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES).

Dr. Ciofoaia is fluent in Romanian. 

Philosophy of Care

“Every patient is a unique individual and, for this reason, I put a lot of thought into each patient’s presentation. I take into account their risk factors and their goals for treatment before I present them with a diagnosis and treatment options.

“It is very important for patients to have a clear understanding of the role of each treatment intervention. An important part of my practice is investing the time in each patient’s care to explain my treatment recommendations in detail. I feel honored when my patients express that I fully understand their concerns and that we both agree on a treatment plan.

“I consider myself not just a physician, but also a scientist. I try to improve the scientific foundation of the care that is provided to each of my patients and therefore make a positive impact in their lives. 

“When it comes to providing the best care possible, a collaborative effort between physicians is fundamental. When a patient is referred to me for an advanced procedure, I always try to communicate and collaborate regularly with their referring physicians and consultants from other specialties, such as oncology, surgery, or radiology.”