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
- 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
- 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
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Sentara Health
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- POS OA
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open HMO Option
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice POS II
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-POS
- Network OA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- OA Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- IH-HMO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Navigate
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CIGNA PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Student Resources
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Choice POS
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