About me
Selena Heman-Ackah Briggs, MD, MBA, PhD, FACS, is the Vice Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Briggs is a neurotologist-skull base surgeon. She completed her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, followed by a surgical internship and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at the University of Minnesota, and a fellowship in neurotology at New York University. Dr. Briggs earned an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. She also earned a doctorate in otolaryngology from the University of Minnesota for her research on prevention and management of age-related hearing loss. She previously served as the director of Otology, Neurotology and Audiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and as an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Briggs is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University and a Wellness Champion.
Dr. Briggs treats patients with a wide variety of ear and skull base-related concerns. She has a clinical interest in cochlear implantation and hearing loss (congenital and acquired), treatment of chronic ear disease and cholesteatoma, management of ear canal atresia or stenosis, repair of encephalocele and meningocele of the middle ear and mastoid, management of temporal bone fractures, care of vestibular and balance disorders, and treatment of tumors of the skull base (e.g. schwannomas, meningiomas, chordoma, etc.). In caring for patients with these concerns, she strives to provide each patient with the individualized, personalized and caring treatment that they deserve. Dr. Briggs maintains that it is critical to listen, to understand and to take the time to provide holistic care that prioritizes the patient's individual goals for their own best exceptional outcome, optimized care and quality of life.
Clinical areas of focus
- Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
- Acute Sinusitis
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Neoplasm Of Middle Ear
- Canalicular Laceration Repair
- Cochlear Implantation
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Endolymphatic Sac Surgery
- Eustachian Tube Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Flash Electroretinography
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Migraine
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- Tympanoplasty Without Mastoidectomy With Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
- Vasomotor And Allergic Rhinitis
- Vestibular Disorders
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Sinusitis
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Neoplasm Of Middle Ear
- Candidiasis
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear Causing Hearing Impairment
- Eustachian Tube Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Fungal Otitis Externa
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Mastoiditis
- Migraine
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Otosclerosis
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- Vasomotor And Allergic Rhinitis
- Vestibular Disorders
Procedures I perform
- Acoustic Neuroma Removal
- Acoustic Neuroma Surgery
- Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
- Asymmetrical Hearing Loss Treatment
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Treatment
- Branchial Cleft Cyst Excision
- Canalicular Laceration Repair
- Change Trachea Tracheostomy Device
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Cochlear Implant Adjustment
- Cochlear Implantation
- Debridement Of Mastoidectomy Cavity
- Diagnostic Laryngoscopy
- Drainage Of External Auditory Canal
- Ear Cartilage Graft
- Ear Surgery
- Ear Tube Insertion
- Endolymphatic Sac Surgery
- Endoscopic Inspection Of Tracheobronchial Tree
- Eustachian Tube Dilation
- Excision Of External Ear
- Flash Electroretinography
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Hearing Aid Fitting
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Hearing Testing
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- Labyrinthectomy
- Laryngeal Function Study
- Laryngeal Stroboscopy
- Lateral Skull Base Surgery
- Mastoidectomy
- Mastoidectomy Complete
- Mastoidectomy Modified Radical
- Meniere's Disease Treatment
- Middle Ear Surgery
- Myringotomy
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Packing Of Nasal Region
- Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment
- Revision Mastoidectomy
- Revision Mastoidectomy Complete
- Revision Mastoidectomy Radical
- Speech Audiometry With Tympanometry
- Speech Sound Production Evaluation
- Speech Therapy
- Stapedectomy
- Stapedotomy
- Swallowing Disorder Treatment
- Thromboendarterectomy With Patch Graft
- Translabyrinthine Surgery
- Tympanic Membrane Repair
- Tympanometry And Reflex Threshold
- Tympanoplasty Without Mastoidectomy With Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
- Tympanostomy
- Vestibular Testing
- Vestibuloplasty
- Voice Prosthetic Device Evaluation
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
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Basic
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Choice POS
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- HighMark
- OA Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open POS II
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice Fund PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- TRICARE East Prime
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-POS Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Network OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst NASCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Navigate
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Neurotology
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology
Fellowship: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (2012)
Residency: University of Minnesota (2010)
Internship: University of Minnesota (2006)
Medical School: University of Cincinnati (2005)
Medical School: University of Cincinnati (2004)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2000)
Hospital affiliations
Podcasts
<ul> <li><p><a href="http://www.medstarwashington.org/podcastlibrary/#q={}#q={}">Cochlear Implantation for Hearing Loss</a></p></li></ul>