Alan Chen, BS MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Alan Chen, MD is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is skilled in evaluating and managing all general GI disorders, including but not limited to acid reflux (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including diarrhea and constipation, peptic ulcer disease, GI bleeding, and colon cancer screening. He has a particular interest in COVID-19 and its effects on the GI tract.
Dr. Chen grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and went on to earn his undergraduate and medical degree from Duke University. He did his internal medicine residency at The Ohio State University and completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Chen also trained at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center.
Dr. Chen is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and traveling. Dr. Chen is fluent in both English and Chinese
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Pain
- Colonoscopy
- Constipation
- Dysphagia
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemorrhoids
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Variceal Band Ligation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Bacterial Food Poisoning
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Bile Duct Stones
- Bile Reflux
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Chronic Nausea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Epigastric Pain
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Hernia
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- H. Pylori Infection
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Melena
- Nausea
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Bowel Crohn's Disease
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting
- Zollinger
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Laser Therapy
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Photodynamic Therapy
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Mucosal Ablation
- Irrigation Of Lower Gi
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-EPO Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- HighMark
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Network OA
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Choice POS II
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Sentara Health
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- POS OA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- First Health PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-POS
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical Center (2020)
Residency: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (2017)
Graduate: Duke University (2014)
Graduate: Duke University (2010)