Ottaviano Yvonne, MD in Baltimore: A Solo Medical Oncologist Practice

Dr. Yvonne Ottaviano is a board-certified medical oncologist who operates an independent practice focused on adult solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. She works outside the major hospital systems in Baltimore, meaning patients navigate her office separate from Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland oncology departments. Her practice occupies a single location and handles consultations, treatment planning, and infusion services without the institutional infrastructure of larger cancer centers. This structure creates both practical differences in how care gets coordinated and distinct economics for patients relative to system-affiliated oncologists.

What Dr. Ottaviano's Practice Actually Is

Ottaviano is a solo practitioner, not part of a health system's oncology group. She carries medical licenses in Maryland and maintains active board certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine in medical oncology. Her practice operates on a direct-care model, meaning she manages patient relationships without intermediary case managers or protocol-driven referral pathways typical of large departments. Patients come directly to her or through referrals from primary care physicians. She does not operate her own infusion center on-site; patients receive chemotherapy at contracted facilities, which means appointment scheduling involves coordination across two locations rather than one unified system.

Services and Pricing

Dr. Ottaviano offers oncology consultations, treatment planning for chemotherapy and targeted therapies, and ongoing management for cancer survivors. Initial consultations run 60 to 90 minutes and include review of pathology, imaging, and prior treatment records. Follow-up visits are typically 20 to 30 minutes unless disease progression or side effects require longer assessment.

Pricing follows private-pay or insurance billing. Uninsured patients should expect consultation fees in the $300 to $600 range, depending on complexity and record review required. Insurance-covered patients pay copays or deductibles according to their plans; her office accepts Medicare, most major commercial insurers, and Maryland Medicaid. Infusion costs are billed separately through the infusion facility and represent the bulk of out-of-pocket exposure for chemotherapy patients. Verify current rates with her office, as fees shift annually.

How Dr. Ottaviano Compares to Other Baltimore Oncologists

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center dominate oncology referrals in Baltimore. Both operate multi-specialty departments with immediate access to surgical oncology, radiation therapy, pathology, and supportive care on campus. Appointment wait times for new patients at these centers range from two to eight weeks depending on urgency and specialty. Both have dedicated infusion units; both use standardized treatment protocols and tumor boards.

A solo practice like Dr. Ottaviano's offers faster first-appointment scheduling (often one to three weeks) and one-on-one physician relationships with minimal institutional delay. Trade-offs include limited same-day access to subspecialists, no in-house infusion center, and coordination burdens when interdisciplinary care is needed. Patients requiring complex multimodality treatment or clinical trial enrollment may benefit more from system-affiliated oncology groups; patients seeking continuity with one physician and flexibility in treatment timing may prefer independent practice.

Who This Practice Suits and Does Not Suit

Dr. Ottaviano's model works well for patients with solid tumors or hematologic cancers already diagnosed and staged, who have been referred by a primary care or specialty physician, and who prefer continuity with one oncologist over large-team care. It also suits patients with stable disease during or after initial treatment, including surveillance and symptom management.

The practice does not replace system oncology departments for newly diagnosed patients requiring rapid staging or initial biopsy, patients needing immediate radiation or surgical oncology consultation, or those seeking enrollment in clinical trials run by major cancer centers. Patients with complex comorbidities or those without established referral sources will likely do better calling Hopkins or UMD directly.

What the First Visit Involves

Patients bring all prior imaging, pathology reports, and treatment summaries. Dr. Ottaviano reviews records before the visit and uses the appointment to discuss diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. She may recommend chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, or observation depending on cancer stage and patient factors. If she recommends infusion-based treatment, she coordinates with a local infusion center to schedule the first dose and provides protocols directly to the facility's nursing staff. No infusion occurs on the first visit; that appointment is diagnostic and planning focused.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Verify office hours directly with her practice, as solo practitioners' schedules change seasonally and in response to infusion-center availability. Baltimore parking near private medical practices is typically paid street or private lot; confirm parking details when scheduling. Infusion appointments occur at a separate facility; patients must plan transportation for chemotherapy sessions, which range from two to six hours depending on the regimen.

Dr. Ottaviano's independent practice fills a specific role in Baltimore oncology for patients who prioritize physician continuity and shorter consultation wait times over system-level integration.