Caren S. Palese, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Caren Palese, MD, is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Palese completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, followed by a three-year Gastroenterology fellowship at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Since 2014, she has been consistently chosen by her peers to be a Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc. She has been awarded the annual distinction of Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. In addition, she has received the Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award. She was selected by the Washington Post Magazine to be a Rising Star in 2013.
Dr. Palese uses progressive techniques to diagnose and treat many esophageal disorders, such as GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. She is an expert in diseases of swallowing.
For the most effective care and optimal outcomes for her patients, Dr. Palese takes a multidisciplinary approach and often works closely with a team of specialists. In addition to her expertise in swallowing disorders, Barrett’s esophagus and gastrointestinal motility disorders, Dr. Palese performs precise screening colonoscopies for detecting colon cancer and flat polyps.
Beyond her passion for her work, Dr. Palese enjoys speaking German, running and skiing.
Clinical areas of focus
- Colonoscopy
- Enteroscopy
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Cancer
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophagitis
- Esophagus Diseases
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach And Duodenum Diseases
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Stomach Ulcers
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colon Biopsy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Diarrhea Treatment
- EGD With Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Test
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- 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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- HighMark
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Network OA
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Student Resources
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UHC Passport
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Sentara Health
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- First Health PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Beech Street PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TRICARE East Prime
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2007)
Residency: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2003)
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc- yearly since 2014 Castle Connolly Top Doctor- yearly since 2016 Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award- 2019 to 2021 Washington Post Magazine, Rising Star in 2013