Arun Bhandari, MD

Arun Bhandari, MD, is a practicing oncologist and hematologist at Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates in Annapolis, Md., since 2007. He is on staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center and John Hopkins Medicine at Howard County General Hospital.  Dr. Bhandari completed his Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center with bone marrow transplant rotation at National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md. He served as a chief fellow in hematology and oncology from 2004 to 2005. He was a fellow in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn., a National Comprehensive Cancer Network Member institution. He earned his medical degree from Punjabi University and Government Medical College in Punjab, India. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York.  Dr. Bhandari was an attending physician at Allegheny General Hospital at West Penn Allegheny Oncology Network, a part of West Penn Allegheny Health Care System, now Allegheny Heath Network, where he was actively involved in teaching fellows and residents from 2005 to 2007.  In March 2020, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan  appointed Dr. Bhandari as commissioner on the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC). The MHCC is an independent regulatory agency whose mission is to plan for health system needs, promote informed decision-making, increased accountability and improve access in a rapidly changing health care environment in Maryland.  In 2018, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed Dr. Bhandari as a Council on the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control. Here, he educates and advises government officials, public and private organizations, and general public on comprehensive state policies and programs necessary to reduce and control cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity among Marylanders.  In 2016, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed Dr. Bhandari on The Maryland Board of Physicians. He served as a chairman of Panel A of Board of Physicians from 2016 to 2020, where he was responsible for assuring quality health care in Maryland and enforcing the Maryland Medical Practice Act.  Dr. Bhandari serves as executive board member of The Maryland and District of Columbia Society Of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (MDCSCO), which plays a significant role to improve the quality and delivery of cancer care in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Dr. Bhandari is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. He is board certified in medical oncology and hematology. He has expertise in treating various types of cancers, including: head and neck cancer; brain cancer; breast cancer; lung cancer; gastrointestinal cancer (colon, pancreas, liver, gastric, esophageal etc.); genitourinary cancers (bladder, kidney, prostate, testicular etc.); gynecological cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal etc.); skin cancer (melanoma, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia); and various other blood disorders.  Dr. Bhandari currently provides care to patients at AAMC’s Annapolis and Kent Island offices. His goal is to provide high quality, empathetic and personalized care to the community. His dedication to navigating cancer care and the ability to simplify even the most complex information for patients is his greatest asset. Dr. Bhandari enjoys building relationships with his patients and their families. His patients know him best for his compassion, humor and commitment to their needs. His mission statement is “CARE IT”: Compassion/Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence/ Experience, Integrity, Teamwork.  Dr. Bhandari is a native of Maryland and grew up in Silver Spring. He speaks English, Hindi and Punjabi. He is very much involved in various community and charitable activities.