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