About me
Mariana Vigiola Cruz, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon at MedStar Southern Maryland with fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery, including complex laparoscopic, robotic, and bariatric procedures.
Dr. Vigiola primarily manages surgical problems of the abdomen and abdominal wall, including pathologies of the stomach, intestine, colon, appendix, gallbladder, spleen and other organs, as well as several types of hernias. She has a particular interest in treating conditions such as acid reflux and hiatal or paraesophageal hernia. She emphasizes minimally invasive techniques in elective and emergency cases to achieve surgical goals through smaller incisions with limited trauma, less postoperative pain, and shorter recovery times. She has a clinical interest in the impact of nutrition and diet in health and healing, and incorporates this knowledge into her practice.
Dr. Vigiola strongly believes in universal access to surgical care and education. She is committed to global health, providing care to underserved communities, and has clinical experience in various settings around the world, including locations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Whether educating patients, training young surgeons, or performing operations, she strives to make a difference in sustainable and meaningful ways wherever she has the privilege to practice.
Dr. Vigiola earned her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, followed by a general surgery residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, where she also served as Administrative Chief Resident. During her residency, she completed a research fellowship at the MedStar Health Research Institute’s Firefighters Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, focusing on burn injury and wound healing. After residency, she pursued clinical fellowship training in advanced gastrointestinal, bariatric, and minimally invasive surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. During that time, she also served as Instructor in Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She has additionally completed postgraduate education in Clinical Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Andalusia, Spain.
Dr. Vigiola has presented her work at regional and national surgical conferences and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery.
Dr. Vigiola speaks fluent Spanish and French, as well as basic Portuguese and Italian. When she is not taking care of patients, she loves adventure traveling, being active outdoors, exploring international cuisines and cultures, and spending time with her family, friends, and rescue dogs.
Philosophy of Care “I feel enormously privileged to do this job. I place a lot of emphasis in patient education and fully informed consent, so that anyone under my care is properly versed in their treatment options and possible outcomes and procedures. My goal is to provide transparent communication, professional recommendations, and technical expertise that align with the patient’s best interest, to deliver safe, appropriate, and individualized care. I would like my patients to feel they are in hands they can trust and are comforted and reassured during a challenging time.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdomen And Abdominal Wall Disorders
- Advanced Laparoscopic And Robotic Surgery
- Gallbladder Disorders
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Hiatal Hernia
- Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery
- Paraesophageal Hernia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen And Abdominal Wall Disorders
- Abdominal Adhesions
- Abdominal Hernia
- Abdominal Mass
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Achalasia
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Appendicitis
- Benign Tumor
- Body Mass Index
- Bowel Obstruction
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Appendix
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Intestine
- Diseases Of Spleen
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Feeding Tube Placement
- Femoral Hernia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallbladder Disorders
- Gallstone Pancreatitis
- Gallstones
- Gastric Tumors
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Gastrointestinal Ulcer
- Hiatal Hernia
- Incisional Hernia
- Inguinal Hernias
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Intestinal Perforation
- Lipoma
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Paraesophageal Hernia
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Postoperative Adhesions
- Retroperitoneum Disorders
- Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Skin Swelling And Lumps
- Small Bowel Obstruction
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Tumors
- Stomach Ulcers
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Ventral Hernia
- Wound Dehiscence
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Abdominal Wall Surgery
- Abdominoplasty
- Adrenal Surgery
- Advanced Laparoscopic And Robotic Surgery
- Appendicitis Treatment
- Appendix Resection
- Breast Biopsy
- Breast Cancer Surgery
- Colectomy
- Colon Resection
- Colostomy
- Fundoplication
- Gallbladder Removal
- Gastrectomy
- Gastric Surgery
- Gastric Ulcer Surgery
- Gastrostomy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hernia Repair
- Ileostomy
- Intestinal Resection
- Ischiorectal Abscess Drainage
- Jejunostomy
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy With Cholangiography
- Laparoscopy
- Lesion Excision
- Lymph Node Biopsy
- Meckel's Diverticulectomy
- Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Myotomy Gastrointestinal
- Oncologic Surgery
- Partial Colectomy
- Peritoneal Cavity Drainage
- Pyloromyotomy
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Repair Of Anterior Abdominal Hernia
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoid Colon Resection
- Small Bowel Resection
- Small Intestine Repair
- Spleen Removal
- Stomach Resection
- Tumor Removal
- Tumor Resection
- Wound Closure
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
7501 Surratts Rd
Ste 303
Clinton, MD, 20735
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
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-POS
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TRICARE East Prime
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- OA Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice Fund PPO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Navigate
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell (2020)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2019)
Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey (2013)