Issam Essa Cheikh, MD| Endocrinology | MedStar Health
About me
Issam Cheikh, MD, FACP, FACE, is Emeritus Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and director of the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency training in internal medicine at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cheikh completed his fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland.
He founded the Division of Endocrinology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and developed the endocrinology fellowship training program along with one of the largest diabetes and endocrine practices in the region. Dr. Cheikh has directed the longest-running annual diabetes symposium of its kind since 1976 and has gained numerous awards for teaching and service. Dr. Cheikh is a adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Issam Cheikh, MD, named 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 "Top Docs" by Baltimore Magazine for endocrinology/diabetes care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Adrenal Disorders
- Adrenal Mass
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Goiter
- Grave's Disease
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Insulin Pump
- Insulin Resistance
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Pituitary Disorders
- Pituitary Tumor
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Prediabetes
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Glucose Metabolism
- Achondroplasia
- Addison's Disease
- Adrenal Adenoma
- Adrenal Atrophy
- Adrenal Disorders
- Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Adrenal Mass
- Adrenal Neoplasm
- Adrenal Nodules
- Adrenogenital Syndrome
- Androgen Excess
- Androgen Insensitivity
- Bartter Syndrome
- Calcium Metabolism
- Carcinoid Syndrome
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Congenital Hypothyroidism
- Conn Syndrome
- Cushing Syndrome
- Diabetes Insipidus
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetic Coma
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Disorders Of Sexual Differentiation
- Disorders Of Water Balance
- Ectopic Hyperparathyroidism
- Elevated Acth
- Elevated Growth Hormone
- Endocrine Complications Of Transplant
- Endocrine Disorders
- Familial Dyslipidemia
- Familial Hyperparathyroidism
- Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia
- Feminizing Syndrome
- Glucagonoma
- Glucocorticoid Deficiency
- Glycogen Storage Disease
- Goiter
- Grave's Disease
- Growth Disorders
- Growth Hormone Abnormalities
- Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Gynecomastia
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- History Of Pituitary Mass
- Hurthle Cell Cancer
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperglycemia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypo Thalamic Pituitary Disorder
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypogonadism
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypopituitarism
- Hypothyroidism
- Inborn Errors Of Metabolism
- Insulin Resistance
- Insulinoma
- Islet Cell Hyperplasia
- Islet Cell Tumor
- Low T3
- Low T4
- Male Infertility
- Mccune Albright Syndrome
- Metabolic Abnormalities
- Metabolic Bone Diseases
- Metabolic Disorders (INHERITED)
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Moon Facies
- Morbid Obesity
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B
- Myxedema
- Nodular Goiter
- Non Toxic Goiter
- Obesity
- Osteopenia
- Osteoporosis
- Ovarian Failure
- Panhypopituitarism
- Parathyroid Adenoma
- Parathyroid Cancer
- Parathyroid Disease
- Parathyroid Hyperplasia
- Parathyroid Mass
- Pheochromocytoma
- Pineal Gland Dysfunction
- Pituitary Adenoma
- Pituitary Disorders
- Pituitary Tumor
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome
- Prader Willi Syndrome
- Precocious Puberty
- Prediabetes
- Premature Adrenarche
- Pseudohermaphroditism
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism
- Rickets
- Secondary Amenorrhea
- Secondary Hyperaldosteronism
- Short Stature
- Testicular Dysfunction
- Testosterone Deficiency
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Cyst
- Thyroid Disorder
- Thyroid Nodule
- Thyroid Orbitopathy
- Thyroid Storm
- Thyroiditis
- Thyrotoxic Exophthalmos
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Toxic Diffuse Goiter
- Toxic Nodular Goiter
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Virilizing Syndrome
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Weight Problem
Procedures I perform
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Diabetes Education
- Fine Needle Aspiration Of Thyroid
- Insulin Pump
- Radioiodine Therapy
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy
- Thyroid Function Blood Panel
- Thyroid Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guided Thyroid Biopsy
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 Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Student Resources
- United Select Plus (POS)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- United Golden Rule
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- D-SNP)
- I-SNP
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Choice Plus
- United Choice
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Navigate
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Signature
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Kaiser Select
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Cigna Indemnity
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Cigna EPO
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland
- Virginia Premier
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Optimum Choice
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Tricare for Life East
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Tricare East Select
- Tricare East Prime
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Carefirst EPO
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System (1975)
Residency: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore (1973)
Medical School: University of Damascus School of Medicine (1968)
Awards
- 2015-2017, 2019, and 2020 Top Doctor, Baltimore magazine