Caren S. Palese, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Caren Palese, MD, is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Palese completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, followed by a three-year Gastroenterology fellowship at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Since 2014, she has been consistently chosen by her peers to be a Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc. She has been awarded the annual distinction of Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. In addition, she has received the Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award. She was selected by the Washington Post Magazine to be a Rising Star in 2013.
Dr. Palese uses progressive techniques to diagnose and treat many esophageal disorders, such as GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. She is an expert in diseases of swallowing.
For the most effective care and optimal outcomes for her patients, Dr. Palese takes a multidisciplinary approach and often works closely with a team of specialists. In addition to her expertise in swallowing disorders, Barrett’s esophagus and gastrointestinal motility disorders, Dr. Palese performs precise screening colonoscopies for detecting colon cancer and flat polyps.
Beyond her passion for her work, Dr. Palese enjoys speaking German, running and skiing.
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy
- Enteroscopy
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Cancer
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophagitis
- Esophagus Diseases
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach And Duodenum Diseases
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Stomach Ulcers
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colon Biopsy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Diarrhea Treatment
- EGD With Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Test
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- 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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HighMark
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Network OA
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UHC Passport
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Sentara Health
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Employee Health Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE East Select
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Beech Street PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- TRICARE East Prime
- Police and Fire Clinic
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- HealthyBlue PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2007)
Residency: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2003)
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc- yearly since 2014 Castle Connolly Top Doctor- yearly since 2016 Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award- 2019 to 2021 Washington Post Magazine, Rising Star in 2013