Lester Kenneth Bowser, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Lester K. Bowser, MD, is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He is board-certified in gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and fellowship-trained in gastroenterology.
Dr. Bowser specializes in general gastroenterology, including EGD, which allows diagnosis and treatment of problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract; colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer; capsule endoscopy; biliary tract disorders; inflammatory bowel disease; liver and gallbladder disease; and Hepatitis C.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Bowser served as a Major in the United States Army, providing gastroenterological leadership and care for active duty military and their family members throughout the United States. He is a native Baltimorean and decided to return to the community after completing his military service as a gastroenterologist.
He has a special interest in colon cancer screening.
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Pain
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Constipation
- Dysphagia
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Nausea
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Cramps
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Vomiting
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Adhesions
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal Wall Abscess
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Ascites
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Bacterial Agents
- Benign Neoplasm Of Anus
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Benign Tumor
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Bladder Incontinence
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Candidiasis
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colon Stricture
- Colonic Obstruction
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Congenital Malformations Of Esophagus
- Congenital Malformations Of Gallbladder, Bile Ducts And Liver
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Depression
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Endometriosis
- Epigastric Pain
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- General Symptoms
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemangioma Of Digestive System
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Perforation
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malnutrition
- Melena
- Nausea
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Portal Hypertension
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Spinal Stenosis
- Splenectomy
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting
Procedures I perform
- Anal Canal Reconstruction
- Ascending Colectomy
- Barium Enema
- Bladder Inspection
- Bowel Resection
- Capillary Malformation Reconstruction
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Cecostomy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy Through Stoma
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Colostomy
- Descending Colectomy
- Destruction Of Stomach
- Duodenum Destruction
- Duodenum Excision
- Electrogastrography
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Laser Therapy
- Endoscopic Lower Esophagus Extraction
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Debridement
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Esophagus Excision
- Excision Of Cecum
- Excision Of Duodenum
- Excision Of Esophagus
- Excision Of Jejunum
- Excision Of Large Intestine
- Excision Of Stomach
- Excision Of Stomach Pylorus
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastric Plication
- Gastric Stenting
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrojejunostomy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Ileoscopy With Biopsy
- Inferior Mesenteric Artery Angioplasty
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Jejunostomy
- Laparoscopic Splenectomy
- Lower Esophagus Excision
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Mesenteric Artery Angioplasty
- Neonatal Abdominal Paracentesis
- Omentum Release
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Liver Biopsy
- Rectal Excision
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Robotic Hiatal Hernia Repair
- Sclerotherapy For Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Small Bowel Resection
- Stomach Drainage
- Superior Mesenteric Artery Angioplasty
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Transverse Colectomy
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Upper Gi Series
- Urologic Imaging
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Vein Sclerotherapy
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
- Choice POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- TRICARE East Prime
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- HighMark
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- First Health PPO
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Administrators
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA EPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Medicare Direct
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open POS Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- UHC Passport
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Navigate
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-HMO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- OA Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Network OA
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education-Army (2000)
Residency: Walter Reed National Medical Center (1997)
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (1994)
Awards
- Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Baltimore Magazine, 2013
- Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Baltimore Magazine, 2015 Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Castle Connolly, 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- "Large Colonic Lipoma With Mucosal Ulceration Mimicking Carcinoma." Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. September 2003, 468-470
- "Viral Hepatitis Serology." The El Paso Physician. December 2000, 18-24.
- "The Role of Surveillance ERCP in Preventing Episodic Cholangitis in Patients with Recurrent Common Bile Duct Stones." Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. February 2000, 247-248.
- "Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to GI Endoscopy: A Survey of ASGE Members." DDW Poster Presentation. May 1999
- “Percutaneous Pseudocyst Drainage”. KENS TV Channel 5 (CBS affiliate) Medical Breakthroughs Segment. March 1999.
- "Environmental Fate and Effects of Chemical Simulants." U.S. Army Technical Report. January 1989