Lauren Talley Cooke, PA| Otolaryngology | MedStar Health
About me
Lauren T. Wester, MMS, PA-C is a physician assistant at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Lauren completed her Masters in Medical Science at Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015 and has been working in the Georgetown ENT department ever since. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and The Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (SPAO-HNS).
Lauren sees predominately adult patients with general ENT concerns including sinusitis, ear infection, and throat complaints. She works closely with the department’s fellowship trained head and neck oncology, facial plastics, and rhinology surgeons on a daily basis. In addition to her outpatient clinic responsibilities, Lauren also works part-time in the inpatient setting managing ENT patients and participating in a wide variety of ENT consultations.
A Washington, D.C. area native, Lauren grew up in Northern Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech. After college, Lauren returned home to work as a Research Assistant for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; specifically working on High-Risk Spine protocol within the Neurosurgery Department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Lauren now lives in D.C. and enjoys traveling, Hokie football and exploring the local restaurant scene.
Clinical areas of focus
- Acute Sinusitis
- Adenoiditis
- Ear Infection
- Enteroscopy
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- Laryngitis
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasal Polyps
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Sinus Infection Treatment
- Sinus Infections
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Turbinate Reduction With Radiofrequency
- Vision Screening
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Laryngitis And Tracheitis
- Acute Sinusitis
- Adenoid Hypertrophy
- Adenoiditis
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Basal Cell Carcinoma Of Skin
- Benign Neoplasm Of Mouth And Pharynx
- Benign Neoplasm Of Respiratory System
- Benign Tumor
- Candidiasis
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Choroidal Nevi
- Chronic Diseases Of Tonsils And Adenoids
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Coughing Up Blood
- Cysts Of Oral Region
- Dentofacial Abnormality
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Lip And Oral Mucosa
- Diseases Of Salivary Glands
- Diseases Of Tongue
- Diseases Of Upper Respiratory Tract
- Diseases Of Vocal Cords
- Disorders Of Nose And Nasal Sinuses
- Disturbances Of Smell And Taste
- Dizziness And Lightheadedness
- Ear Infection
- Earwax Impaction
- Enlarged Adenoids
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Facial Paralysis
- Falls And Gait Disorders
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Fungal Otitis Externa
- Hoarseness
- Inguinal Mass
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Jaw Diseases
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Lacrimal Gland Disorders
- Laryngitis
- Loss Of Smell
- Malignant Neoplasm
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Endocrine Glands
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Nasal Airway Obstruction
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasal Fracture
- Nasal Polyps
- Nasal Septal Deviation
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nervous System Disorders
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Olfactory Disorders
- Omphalocele
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Parotid Gland Disorders
- Postnasal Drip
- Salivary Gland Stones
- Sinus Cysts
- Sinus Infections
- Skin Cancer (BASAL CELL, SQUAMOUS CELL, MELANOMA)
- Skin Swelling And Lumps
- Skull Fractures
- Somatoform Disorder
- Sore Throat
- Speech Disturbances
- Stomatitis And Related Lesions
- Swimmer's Ear
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tinnitus
- Tonsil Stones
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- Vasomotor And Allergic Rhinitis
- Vestibular Disorders
- Zoster
Procedures I perform
- Auditory Implant Candidacy Evaluation
- Bell's Palsy Treatment
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aid
- Botox Injection
- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials
- Cochlear Implant Adjustment
- Control Nasal Hemorrhage Anterior Complex
- Cystitis Treatment
- Diagnostic Laryngoscopy
- Ear Drum Perforation Treatment
- Ear Infection Treatment
- Ear Tube Insertion
- Enteroscopy
- Facial Paralysis Treatment
- Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
- Flash Electroretinography
- Foreign Body Removal From Skin
- Gastrointestinal Therapy
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Hearing Testing
- Hoarseness Treatment
- Hysteroscopic Polyp Resection
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) Therapy
- Loss Of Smell Treatment
- Middle Ear Infection Treatment
- Muscle Injection
- Nasal Endoscopy With Biopsy, Polypectomy, Or Debridement
- Neuromuscular Monitoring
- Oral And Pharyngeal Swallowing Function Evaluation
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Parathyroid Tumor Surgery
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment
- Septorhinoplasty
- Sinus Infection Treatment
- Sinus Ostia Dilation
- Speech Audiometry With Tympanometry
- Ssep (SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS)
- Swallowing Disorder Treatment
- Taste Disorder Treatment
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Turbinate Reduction With Radiofrequency
- Urinary Urgency Treatment
- Vagina Transplant
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Vestibular Testing
- Vestibuloplasty
- Vision Screening
- Vocal Cord Lateralization
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
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Sentara Health
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-POS Plus
- POS OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Choice POS II
- HumanaChoice PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Network OA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA EPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-PPO
- United Student Resources
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Navigate
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UHC Passport
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-POS
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- OA Plus
- First Health PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HighMark
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Choice Fund PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
Education
Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Certification of Physician Assistants
Graduate: Lincoln Memorial University (2015)