Heather Tennyson, FNP| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Heather Tennyson is a certified nurse practitioner specializing in gastroenterology at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, where she first started working as a nursing technician while attending college. She earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from the College of Southern Maryland and became a registered nurse supporting the MedStar St. Mary’s Telemetry and Emergency Departments for seven years, followed by 10 years at a local surgery center. While working and raising her children, Heather received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from University of Maryland Global Campus and Purdue Global University, respectively.
In addition to a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, Heather has extensive interest in treating acute and chronic diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Heather, a native of St. Mary’s County, lives in Tall Timbers, Maryland, with her partner, three children, and Shih Tzu. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and putting together jigsaw puzzles.
"Every patient and their family are different, with their own unique needs. My goal is to design an individual treatment plan to help every one of my patients achieve the best possible outcome."
Clinical areas of focus
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Pancreatitis
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Bowel Obstruction
- Choledocholithiasis
- Colitis
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- 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
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Infections
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Bleeding Ulcer Treatment
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Ercp With Stone Extraction
- Esophageal Dilation
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Fructose Malabsorption Testing
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Infection Diagnosis
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Care
- Gastrointestinal Complications Of Diabetes Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Consultation
- Gastrointestinal Disease Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Disease Screening
- Gastrointestinal Evaluation
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Health Maintenance
- Gastrointestinal Infection Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Intervention
- Gastrointestinal Management
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Therapy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Wellness
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lactose Intolerance Testing
- Liver Biopsy
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Pancreatitis Treatment
- PH Monitoring
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Testing
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Endoscopy
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
- Sentara Health
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UHC Passport
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HealthyBlue PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- POS OA
- IH-POS Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna HMO
- HighMark
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Navigate
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Network OA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Medicare Direct
- OA Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Graduate: Purdue University Global (2021)