Joseph James Jennings, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
About me
Dr. Joseph J. Jennings is a board-certified gastroenterologist with a focus on bleeding within the GI tract. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2012 and completed his Internal Medicine training at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in 2015. He served as the Chief Medical Resident for MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and served as an attending physician in Internal Medicine at the Washington DC VA Medical Center and Virginia Hospital Center as well. He completed his three year fellowship in Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and served as Chief Fellow in 2018-2019.
Dr. Jennings strives to create a relationship with his patients that promotes joint decision making and patient empowerment. He also has a strong interest in medical education and training. He currently serves as the associate director for the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital's gastroenterology fellowship program.
Dr. Jennings is board certfied in Internal Medicine since 2015 and Gastroenterology/Hepatology since 2019 (Dr. Jennings Board Certifications). He has been recognized by multiple organizations as a "Top Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist" both for the DC region as well as on the national level.
Dr. Jennings sees patients at three locations currently:
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for in person or virtual clinic visits as well as endoscopic procedures (Monday, Tuesday, Wedenesday mornings, and Friday afternoons)
MedStar Lafayette Centre for clinic visits as well as endoscopic procedures (Thursday, and Friday mornings)
MedStar McLean for in person clinic visits (First Wednesdays of each month)
Clinical areas of focus
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Bowel Obstruction
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Endometriosis
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Rectal Pain Treatment
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Pain Treatment
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Stool
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Anus Pain
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Ascites
- Bacterial Agents
- Benign Neoplasm Of Anus
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Benign Tumor
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Bowel Obstruction
- Cancer Of The Appendix
- Candidiasis
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Malformations Of Esophagus
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Upper Alimentary Tract
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Disorders Of Mineral Metabolism
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Endometriosis
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophagitis
- External Hemorrhoids
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Family History Of Specific Disorders
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- General Symptoms
- Genetic Susceptibility To Disease
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Perforation
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Fibrosis
- Liver Transplantation
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Myocarditis
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Phakomatoses
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Spinal Stenosis
- Stomach Cancer
- Superficial Abdomen Injury
- Throat Pain
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vascular Disorders Of Intestine
- Viral Hepatitis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Ascending Colectomy
- Barium Enema
- Bladder Inspection
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Cecum Excision
- Cecum Transplant
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy Through Stoma
- Colonoscopy Through Stoma With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Descending Colectomy
- Duodenum Excision
- EGD With Biopsy
- EGD With Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Evaluation Of Intestinal Pouch
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopy
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Biopsy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Tumor Ablation
- Esophagus Excision
- Excision Of Cecum
- Excision Of Duodenum
- Excision Of Esophagus
- Excision Of Ileum
- Excision Of Jejunum
- Excision Of Large Intestine
- Excision Of Small Intestine
- Excision Of Stomach
- Excision Of Stomach Pylorus
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Test
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Ileoscopy With Biopsy
- Ileum Excision
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Jejunum Excision
- Liver Imaging
- Lower Esophagus Excision
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Rectal Excision
- Rectal Pain Treatment
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Small Intestine Repair
- Stomach Pain Treatment
- Transverse Colectomy
- Unlisted Small Intestine Procedure
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Upper Gi Series
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Urologic Imaging
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
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Choice POS
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- HighMark
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst EPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- POS OA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Navigate
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-HMO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Beech Street PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Administrators
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- United Student Resources
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Medstar-Georgetown University Medical Center (2019)
Residency: Georgetown University Hospital (2016)
Medical School: Georgetown University (2012)
Awards
- 2023 and 2024 Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Gastroenterology
- 2023 and 2024 Washingtonian Top Doctor in Gastroenterology
- Thomas Taylor Award for Excellence in Teaching and Patient Care (2019)
- 2019 American College of Gastroenterology Young Physician Leadership Scholar
- 2018 American College of Gastroenterology GI Jeopardy Winner
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Dr. Jennings talking with Men's Health on acid reflux, swallowing, and coughs
- Facebook Live: Colon Cancer Prevention
- National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2023: Screening, risks and more
- Study: Colon cancer cases increase among younger adults
- Washington ABC7 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness 2023
- Health Watch: Avoiding holiday heartburn with Dr. Joseph Jennings
- Wondering Why Your Stomach Hurts After You Eat? Here Are 9 Possible Reasons
- Dr. Jennings promoting Colon Cancer Awareness Month
- 12 Days of Wellness - Dr. Jennings talks about celiac disease and holiday meals
- Dr. Jennings talks about COVID-19 and the GI Tract on NBC Washington
- Dr. Jennings recognized by the American College of Gastroenterology
Selected/Recent Publications
- Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Gastrointestinal Tract With Unusual Endoscopic and Histologic Presentations. Kimchy, Alexandra & Umoren, Mfoniso & Rosenberg, Jessica & Ilagan, Charmaine & Nithagon, Pichayut & Shafa, Shervin & Jennings, Joseph. (2022). ACG case reports journal. 9. e00938. 10.14309/crj.0000000000000938.
- Hepatotoxicty of Agents Used in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a 2020 Update. Barnhill MS, Steinberg JM, Jennings JJ, Lewis JH.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2020 Jul 15;22(9):47. doi: 10.1007/s11894-020-00781-3.PMID: 32671616 Review.
- Hepatotoxicity induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a comprehensive review including current and alternative management strategies. Jennings JJ, Mandaliya R, Nakshabandi A, Lewis JH.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2019 Mar;15(3):231-244. doi: 10.1080/17425255.2019.1574744. Epub 2019 Feb 5.PMID: 30677306 Review.
- NAFLD-NASH: An Under-Recognized Epidemic.Jennings J, Faselis C, Yao MD.Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2018;16(3):209-213. doi: 10.2174/1570161115666170622074007.PMID: 28676024 Review.
- Novel Use for Maloney Dilators in the Management of Gastrostomy Stenosis Jennings JJ, Batisda-Coelho R, Lipman TO.ACG Case Rep J. 2019 Apr 5;6(4):e00054. doi: 10.14309/crj.0000000000000054. eCollection 2019 Apr.PMID: 31616736 Free PMC article.
- Outcomes of vedolizumab therapy in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis: a multi-center study. Abu-Sbeih H, Ali FS, Alsaadi D, Jennings JJ, Luo W, Gong Z, Richards DM, Charabaty A, Wang Y.J Immunother Cancer. 2018 Dec 5;6(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s40425-018-0461-4.PMID: 30518410 Free PMC article.
- Vedolizumab-Induced Remission in 3 Patients With Refractory Microscopic Colitis: A Tertiary Care Center Case Series. Jennings JJ, Charabaty A.Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2019 Jul 17;25(8):e97. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izz042.PMID: 30889247 No abstract available.
- H pylori treatment reduced risk for gastric cancer in patients with a family history of gastric cancer. Jennings JJ.Ann Intern Med. 2020 Jun 16;172(12):JC66. doi: 10.7326/ACPJ202006160-066.PMID: 32539507
- Understanding patient preference for physician attire: a cross-sectional observational study of 10 academic medical centres in the USA. Petrilli CM, Saint S, Jennings JJ, Caruso A, Kuhn L, Snyder A, Chopra V.BMJ Open. 2018 May 29;8(5):e021239. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021239.PMID: 29844101 Free PMC article.