Lester Kenneth Bowser, MD| Gastroenterology | MedStar Health
Learn More About Me
Specialties: Gastroenterology
Languages: English, Spanish
About me
Lester K. Bowser, MD, is a gastroenterologist at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He is board-certified in gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and fellowship-trained in gastroenterology.
Dr. Bowser specializes in general gastroenterology, including EGD, which allows diagnosis and treatment of problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract; colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer; capsule endoscopy; biliary tract disorders; inflammatory bowel disease; liver and gallbladder disease; and Hepatitis C.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Bowser served as a Major in the United States Army, providing gastroenterological leadership and care for active duty military and their family members throughout the United States. He is a native Baltimorean and decided to return to the community after completing his military service as a gastroenterologist.
He has a special interest in colon cancer screening.
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Pain
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Constipation
- Dysphagia
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Enteroscopy
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Nausea
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Cramps
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
- Vomiting
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Adhesions
- Abdominal Cramping
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Benign Neoplasm Of Digestive System
- Bile Duct Stones
- Biliary Tract Obstruction
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Obstruction
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyp
- Colon Polyps
- Colon Stricture
- Colonic Obstruction
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Epigastric Pain
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Rectal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemangioma Of Digestive System
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Jaundice
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Failure
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malnutrition
- Melena
- Nausea
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Portal Hypertension
- Postoperative Ileus
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Proctitis
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Ulcers
- Swallowing Disorders
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Viral Hepatitis
- Vomiting
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy Through Stoma
- Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Electrogastrography
- Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation
- Endoscopic Clip Placement
- Endoscopic Laser Therapy
- Endoscopic Lower Esophagus Extraction
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic Stomach Feeding Device Insertion
- Endoscopic Stricture Dilation
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Debridement
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Biopsy
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastric Stenting
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrojejunostomy
- Ileoscopy With Biopsy
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Lower Gi Therapeutic Substance Introduction
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Sclerotherapy For Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Sigmoidoscopy With Biopsy
- Stomach Drainage
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Esophagus Dilation, Endoscopic
- 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
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UHC Passport
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- Navigate
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst EPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Sentara Health
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Optimum Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- OA Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- POS OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- United Student Resources
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Fellowship: San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education-Army (2000)
Residency: Walter Reed National Medical Center (1997)
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (1994)
Awards
- Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Baltimore Magazine, 2013
- Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Baltimore Magazine, 2015 Top Doc (Gastroenterology) - Castle Connolly, 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- "Large Colonic Lipoma With Mucosal Ulceration Mimicking Carcinoma." Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. September 2003, 468-470
- "Viral Hepatitis Serology." The El Paso Physician. December 2000, 18-24.
- "The Role of Surveillance ERCP in Preventing Episodic Cholangitis in Patients with Recurrent Common Bile Duct Stones." Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. February 2000, 247-248.
- "Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to GI Endoscopy: A Survey of ASGE Members." DDW Poster Presentation. May 1999
- “Percutaneous Pseudocyst Drainage”. KENS TV Channel 5 (CBS affiliate) Medical Breakthroughs Segment. March 1999.
- "Environmental Fate and Effects of Chemical Simulants." U.S. Army Technical Report. January 1989