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