About me
Selena Heman-Ackah Briggs, MD, MBA, PhD, FACS, is the Vice Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Briggs is a neurotologist-skull base surgeon. She completed her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, followed by a surgical internship and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at the University of Minnesota, and a fellowship in neurotology at New York University. Dr. Briggs earned an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. She also earned a doctorate in otolaryngology from the University of Minnesota for her research on prevention and management of age-related hearing loss. She previously served as the director of Otology, Neurotology and Audiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and as an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Briggs is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University and a Wellness Champion.
Dr. Briggs treats patients with a wide variety of ear and skull base-related concerns. She has a clinical interest in cochlear implantation and hearing loss (congenital and acquired), treatment of chronic ear disease and cholesteatoma, management of ear canal atresia or stenosis, repair of encephalocele and meningocele of the middle ear and mastoid, management of temporal bone fractures, care of vestibular and balance disorders, and treatment of tumors of the skull base (e.g. schwannomas, meningiomas, chordoma, etc.). In caring for patients with these concerns, she strives to provide each patient with the individualized, personalized and caring treatment that they deserve. Dr. Briggs maintains that it is critical to listen, to understand and to take the time to provide holistic care that prioritizes the patient's individual goals for their own best exceptional outcome, optimized care and quality of life.
Clinical areas of focus
- Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
- Acute Sinusitis
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Neoplasm Of Middle Ear
- Canalicular Laceration Repair
- Cochlear Implantation
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Endolymphatic Sac Surgery
- Eustachian Tube Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Flash Electroretinography
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Migraine
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- Tympanoplasty Without Mastoidectomy With Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
- Vasomotor And Allergic Rhinitis
- Vestibular Disorders
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Sinusitis
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Neoplasm Of Middle Ear
- Candidiasis
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear Causing Hearing Impairment
- Eustachian Tube Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Fungal Otitis Externa
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Mastoiditis
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Migraine
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Otosclerosis
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- Vasomotor And Allergic Rhinitis
- Vestibular Disorders
Procedures I perform
- Acoustic Neuroma Removal
- Acoustic Neuroma Surgery
- Acoustic Neuroma Treatment
- Asymmetrical Hearing Loss Treatment
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Treatment
- Branchial Cleft Cyst Excision
- Canalicular Laceration Repair
- Change Trachea Tracheostomy Device
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Cochlear Implant Adjustment
- Cochlear Implantation
- Debridement Of Mastoidectomy Cavity
- Diagnostic Laryngoscopy
- Drainage Of External Auditory Canal
- Ear Cartilage Graft
- Ear Surgery
- Ear Tube Insertion
- Endolymphatic Sac Surgery
- Endoscopic Inspection Of Tracheobronchial Tree
- Eustachian Tube Dilation
- Excision Of External Ear
- Flash Electroretinography
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Hearing Aid Fitting
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Hearing Testing
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- Labyrinthectomy
- Laryngeal Function Study
- Laryngeal Stroboscopy
- Lateral Skull Base Surgery
- Mastoidectomy
- Mastoidectomy Complete
- Mastoidectomy Modified Radical
- Meniere's Disease Treatment
- Middle Ear Surgery
- Myringotomy
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Packing Of Nasal Region
- Pulsatile Tinnitus Treatment
- Revision Mastoidectomy
- Revision Mastoidectomy Complete
- Revision Mastoidectomy Radical
- Speech Audiometry With Tympanometry
- Speech Sound Production Evaluation
- Speech Therapy
- Stapedectomy
- Stapedotomy
- Swallowing Disorder Treatment
- Thromboendarterectomy With Patch Graft
- Translabyrinthine Surgery
- Tympanic Membrane Repair
- Tympanometry And Reflex Threshold
- Tympanoplasty Without Mastoidectomy With Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
- Tympanostomy
- Tympanostomy With Ventilating Tube
- Vestibular Testing
- Vestibuloplasty
- Voice Prosthetic Device Evaluation
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
- IH-HMO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- POS OA
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Navigate
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open POS II
- TRICARE East Prime
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA EPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Sentara Health
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UHC Passport
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice Fund PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Neurotology
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology
Fellowship: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (2012)
Residency: University of Minnesota (2010)
Internship: University of Minnesota (2006)
Medical School: University of Cincinnati (2005)
Medical School: University of Cincinnati (2004)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2000)
Hospital affiliations
Podcasts
<ul> <li><p><a href="http://www.medstarwashington.org/podcastlibrary/#q={}#q={}">Cochlear Implantation for Hearing Loss</a></p></li></ul>