Alan Chen, BS MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Alan Chen, MD is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is skilled in evaluating and managing all general GI disorders, including but not limited to acid reflux (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including diarrhea and constipation, peptic ulcer disease, GI bleeding, and colon cancer screening. He has a particular interest in COVID-19 and its effects on the GI tract.
Dr. Chen grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and went on to earn his undergraduate and medical degree from Duke University. He did his internal medicine residency at The Ohio State University and completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Chen also trained at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center.
Dr. Chen is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and traveling. Dr. Chen is fluent in both English and Chinese
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Pain
- Colonoscopy
- Constipation
- Dysphagia
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemorrhoids
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Variceal Band Ligation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Bacterial Food Poisoning
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Bile Duct Stones
- Bile Reflux
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Chronic Nausea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Epigastric Pain
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Hernia
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- 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
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Melena
- Nausea
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Bowel Crohn's Disease
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting
- Zollinger
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Laser Therapy
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Photodynamic Therapy
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Mucosal Ablation
- Irrigation Of Lower Gi
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- 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
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA EPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Medicare FFS
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Beech Street PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- TRICARE for Life East
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HighMark
- Network OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Select
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Sentara Health
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- POS OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Choice Fund PPO
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS
- IH-Open HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical Center (2020)
Residency: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (2017)
Graduate: Duke University (2014)
Graduate: Duke University (2010)