About me
Ghassan Alzayer, MD, is an attending gastroenterologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Alzayer sees patients for all conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and has a special interest in esophageal diseases/disorders, including GERD (acid reflux), Barrett’s esophagus, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal strictures (narrowing), and motility disorders.
He employs a variety of diagnostic and treatment procedures including endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic dilation, PEG tube (feeding tube) placement, capsule endoscopy, esophageal PH testing, and high-resolution manometry.
Dr. Alzayer works with each patient to understand the root cause of their symptoms and to make an accurate diagnosis. When appropriate, he employs conservative treatment options, like lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatments, to help improve symptoms, before recommending more invasive treatment options. Dr. Alzayer is highly experienced in the use of colonoscopy for the removal of polyps, including advanced polyps.
Dr. Alzayer received his medical degree from University of Dammam College of Medicine in Saudi Arabia, where he served as a resident, teaching assistant, and clinical instructor in their Department of Internal Medicine. He then completed his residency training in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center/University of Massachusetts, where he served as Chief Resident and had various clinical, leadership, and teaching roles for training residents, and worked along the faculty in internal medicine residency program improvement. Finally, he completed a gastroenterology fellowship at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Gastrointestinal Association, and the American College of Gastroenterology.
Philosophy of Care
“My approach to treatment can be described as ‘whole patient care.’ The care I provide is patient-focused and relies on the time I take to listen to my patients in order to understand the root cause of their symptoms. By listening to the concerns of my patients, I can provide a treatment plan that is tailored to their specific needs and that also aligns with their treatment goals.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Endometriosis
- Endoscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Ascites
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bladder Incontinence
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Candidiasis
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Upper Alimentary Tract
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Depression
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Endometriosis
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Hernia
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- General Symptoms
- Genetic Susceptibility To Disease
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Myocarditis
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Phakomatoses
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Portal Hypertension
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Spinal Stenosis
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting And Nausea
Procedures I perform
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Barium Enema
- Bladder Inspection
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Colostomy
- Descending Colectomy
- Destruction Of Stomach
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopy
- Enterectomy
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Excision Of Cecum
- Excision Of Duodenum
- Excision Of Ileum
- Excision Of Small Intestine
- Excision Of Stomach
- Excision Of Stomach Pylorus
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Ileostomy
- Jejunostomy
- Lower Esophagus Excision
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Rectal Excision
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Small Intestine Cancer Surgery
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Transverse Colectomy
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Urologic Imaging
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
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
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE East Prime
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Medicare Direct
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- POS OA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- OA Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Network OA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Administrators
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Choice POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Navigate
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Medicare FFS
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Student Resources
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- TRICARE East Select
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2021)
Residency: Baystate Medical Center (2018)
Medical School: King Faisal University (2010)