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
- Ear Mass
- Head And Neck Cancer Surgery
- Hearing Loss
- Hoarseness
- Nasal Mass
- Nasal Obstruction
- Parathyroidectomy
- Sinusitis
- Thyroid Surgery
- Voice Problems
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Adenoid Hypertrophy
- Adenoiditis
- Alaryngeal Communication
- Allergic Fungal Sinusitis
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergic Rhinosinusitis
- Anterior Nasal Drip
- Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak From Ear
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak From Nose
- Cervical Spine Mass
- Choking Sensation
- Cholesteatoma
- Chronic Rhinosinusitis
- Chronic Sinus Infection
- Chronic Tonsillitis
- Cochlear Nerve Damage
- Crackling Sound In Ears
- Deviated Septum
- Difficulty Speaking
- Disorder Of Balance
- Disorder Of Earlobe
- Dry Mouth
- Dysphagia
- Dysphonia
- Ear Canal Lesions
- Ear Cyst
- Ear Discharge
- Ear Drainage
- Ear Fullness
- Ear Mass
- Ear Pressure
- Earache
- Empty Nose Syndrome
- Epistaxis
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)
- Excessive Drooling
- Excessive Salivation
- Facial Fracture
- Facial Nerve Disease
- Facial Nerve Injury
- Facial Nerve Palsy
- Facial Nerve Schwannoma
- Facial Pain
- Facial Paresis
- Fissured Tongue
- Foreign Body (EAR)
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Goiter
- Hairy Tongue
- Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss (ASYMMETRICAL)
- Hearing Loss (CENTRAL)
- Hearing Loss (CONDUCTIVE)
- Hearing Loss (MIXED)
- Hearing Loss (NEURAL)
- Hoarseness
- Hyperacusis
- Hypoglossal Nerve Disease
- Hypoglossal Nerve Injury
- Inner Ear Trauma
- Inverted Papilloma Of The Sinus
- Itchy Ear
- Jaw Pain
- Labyrinthitis
- Laryngeal Dysphagia
- Laryngeal Dystonia
- Laryngeal Polyps
- Laryngitis
- Lip Droop
- Ludwig Angina
- Lump In Throat
- Mastoiditis
- Meniere's Disease
- Missing Eardrum
- Mouth Abscess
- Mouth Infection
- Mouth Pain
- Muffled Hearing
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasal Crusting
- Nasal Drainage
- Nasal Mass
- Nasal Obstruction
- Nasal Polyps
- Nasal Trauma
- Neck Abscess
- Neoplasm Of Ear
- Neurologic Disorders Of The Larynx
- Nose Fracture
- Odynophagia
- Olfactory Nerve Disease
- Oral Inflammation
- Oral Lesions
- Osteoma
- Otalgia
- Otitis Externa
- Otitis Media
- Otosclerosis
- Ototoxicity
- Perforated Ear Drum
- Perichondritis
- Peritonsillar Abscess
- Polyp Of Cheek
- Positional Vertigo
- Post Nasal Drip
- Problems With Smell And Taste
- Rhinitis
- Rhinorrhea
- Ruptured Eardrum
- Salivary Gland Disorders
- Salivary Gland Swelling
- Septal Perforation
- Sialadenitis
- Sialolithiasis
- Sino Nasal Carcinoma
- Sino Nasal Disorders
- Sinonasal Papilloma
- Sinus Mass
- Sinus Polyp
- Sinusitis
- Sleep-Related Hypoventilation
- Smell Disorders
- Snoring
- Stomatitis
- Stylohyoid Syndrome
- Subglottic Stenosis
- Submandibular Nodule
- Submandibular Swelling
- Sudden Deafness
- Suppurative Tonsillitis
- Swallowing Problem
- Swollen Parotid
- Swollen Throat
- Swooshing Sound In Ears
- Temporal Bone Fracture
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
- Throat Abscess
- Throat Mass
- Thyroglossal Duct Disorders
- Thyroid Nodule
- Tinnitus
- Tongue Mass
- Tongue Pain
- Tongue Swelling
- Tonsillar Abscess
- Tonsillar Hypertrophy
- Tonsillitis
- Tonsilloliths
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation (TMP)
- Velopharyngeal Deficiencies
- Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Vestibular Neuronitis
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction
- Vocal Cord Issues
- Vocal Cord Lesions
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Vocal Cord Strain
- Voice Problems
Procedures I perform
- Adenoidectomy
- Balloon Sinuplasty
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Assessment
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Surgery
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
- Cochlear Implant Hearing Aid Assessment
- Cochlear Implant Hearing Aid Surgery
- Cochlear Implants
- Frenectomy
- Head And Neck Cancer Surgery
- Laryngoscopy
- Middle Ear Exploration
- Myringoplasty
- Myringotomy
- Nasoseptal Reconstruction
- Parathyroidectomy
- Sinus Surgery
- Sleep Endoscopy
- Sphenoidotomy
- Stapedectomy
- Thyroid Surgery
- Tonsillectomy
- Tracheostomy Management
- Tympanometry
- Tympanoplasty/Mastoidectomy
- Uvuloplasty
- Vocal Cord Surgery
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
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- CIGNA EPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Open POS II
- Open HMO
- Open EPO Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Opoen HMO Option
- Network OA
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Innovation Health: POS
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Tricare Prime
- FIRST HEALTH
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
Education
Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant
Allied Health Education: Lincoln University (2015)