About
Dr. Onala Telford is a quadruple board-certified endocrinologist based in Crofton, MD. She holds board certifications in Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. In 2024, she earned certification as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Her nearly two decades in medicine span training and practice across four states.
Dr. Telford earned her medical degree from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, WV, where she served as President of the American Medical Women's Association chapter. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center, then worked as a hospitalist at Kaiser Permanente's Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in Northern Virginia. She pursued her Endocrinology fellowship at Duke University Health System and the Durham VA. After fellowship, she practiced as an endocrinologist at Tufts Medical Center Community Care in Melrose, MA, serving the greater Boston area, while also working at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. She was born in Kazakhstan and immigrated to the United States after finishing high school. Dr. Telford is passionate about women's health, thyroid disease, bone health, and diabetes management. She treats each patient relationship as a partnership built on open communication and genuine dialogue.
Education & Training
Medical School
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Residency
Internal Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Fellowship
Endocrinology, Duke University School of Medicine
Additional Training
Obesity Medicine certification 2020; Lifestyle Medicine certification 2020; Menopause Society Certified Practitioner 2024
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Telford right for?
Dr. Telford is a strong fit for adults managing complex endocrine conditions such as Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders, or pituitary tumors. Women navigating perimenopause, menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, or hormone disorders benefit from her focused expertise in women's health. Patients dealing with obesity or pre-diabetes find her dual board certifications in Obesity Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine particularly relevant. She also serves patients who want a physician who takes time to answer questions and treats the visit as a conversation.
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Internal MedicineFrequently Asked Questions
Dr. Telford treats a broad range of endocrine conditions. These include Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, thyroid disease, thyroid cancer, adrenal disorders, pituitary tumors, osteoporosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, menopause, perimenopause, and other hormone disorders.
Yes. Dr. Telford holds board certifications in Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. She also earned the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential in 2024. The practice refers to her as quadruple board certified.
Dr. Telford earned her MD from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center and her Endocrinology fellowship at Duke University Health System and the Durham VA.
Yes. Women's health is one of Dr. Telford's primary clinical interests. She holds the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential and treats patients for perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and polycystic ovary syndrome. She sees women's health as an underserved area that deserves dedicated attention.
Dr. Telford approaches diabetes as a combination of lifestyle, medication, and technology. She works alongside certified diabetes educators and registered dietitian-nutritionists to build individualized management plans. She also provides CGM and insulin pump training, downloads, and interpretations directly in the practice.
Dr. Telford has practiced medicine for close to twenty years. Her career has spanned hospitalist work, general endocrinology, and specialty-focused practice in multiple states before she opened Chesapeake Endocrinology in Crofton, MD in late 2022.
Dr. Telford views communication as the foundation of good patient care. She welcomes patient questions and treats every visit as a dialogue. Her practice model gives her time to listen during appointments, with new patient visits running up to sixty minutes.
Yes, under the Comprehensive Care membership tier. Dr. Telford serves as both the primary care physician and endocrinologist for those patients. This tier includes ten visits per year and covers basic in-office lab reviews and tests alongside full endocrine care.
Doctor profile last updated August 17, 2026