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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- POS OA
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Network OA
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Student Resources
- Navigate
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- OA Plus
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Beech Street PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- HighMark
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice POS
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology/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