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
- 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
- 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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
201 E University Pkwy
33rd St Bldg Ste 233
Baltimore, MD, 21218
1300 Bellona Ave
Ste A
Lutherville, MD, 21093
5601 Loch Raven Blvd
Russell Morgan Bldg 3rd Fl
Baltimore, MD, 21239
9512 Harford Rd
Ste 201
Baltimore, MD, 21234
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
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-POS Plus
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HighMark
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- OA Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- TRICARE East Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Network OA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Choice POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Navigate
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Choice POS II
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
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