Heather Tennyson, FNP| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Heather Tennyson is a certified nurse practitioner specializing in gastroenterology at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, where she first started working as a nursing technician while attending college. She earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from the College of Southern Maryland and became a registered nurse supporting the MedStar St. Mary’s Telemetry and Emergency Departments for seven years, followed by 10 years at a local surgery center. While working and raising her children, Heather received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from University of Maryland Global Campus and Purdue Global University, respectively.
In addition to a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, Heather has extensive interest in treating acute and chronic diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Heather, a native of St. Mary’s County, lives in Tall Timbers, Maryland, with her partner, three children, and Shih Tzu. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and putting together jigsaw puzzles.
"Every patient and their family are different, with their own unique needs. My goal is to design an individual treatment plan to help every one of my patients achieve the best possible outcome."
Clinical areas of focus
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Pancreatitis
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Bowel Obstruction
- Choledocholithiasis
- Colitis
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Flatulence
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- H. Pylori Infection
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Infections
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Bleeding Ulcer Treatment
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Ercp With Stone Extraction
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Infection Diagnosis
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Care
- Gastrointestinal Complications Of Diabetes Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Consultation
- Gastrointestinal Disease Prevention
- Gastrointestinal Disease Screening
- Gastrointestinal Evaluation
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Gastrointestinal Functional Disorder Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Health Maintenance
- Gastrointestinal Infection Treatment
- Gastrointestinal Intervention
- Gastrointestinal Management
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Therapy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrointestinal Wellness
- Helicobacter Pylori Stool Test
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Liver Disease Consultation
- Pancreatitis Treatment
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Testing
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
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
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- First Health PPO
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- HighMark
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Navigate
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Network OA
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- OA Plus
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst EPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Beech Street PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Association of Nurse Practitioners,
Graduate: Purdue University Global (2021)