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
- Canalicular Laceration Repair
- Cochlear Implantation
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Flash Electroretinography
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Laser Prostate Surgery
- Lateral Skull Base Surgery
- Mastoidectomy
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Tympanoplasty Without Mastoidectomy With Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Benign Neoplasm Of Middle Ear
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear
- Congenital Malformations Of Ear Causing Hearing Impairment
- Dentofacial Abnormality
- Eustachian Tube Disorders
- Fungal Otitis Externa
- Inner Ear Diseases
- Mastoiditis
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Nonsuppurative Otitis Media
- Omphalocele
- Otosclerosis
- Throat Infection (TONSILLITIS)
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation
- 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
- Electroacoustic Evaluation
- Endoscopic Inspection Of Tracheobronchial Tree
- Enteroscopy
- Eustachian Tube Dilation
- Excision Of External Ear
- Flash Electroretinography
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Hearing Aid Fitting
- Hearing Restoration Surgery
- Hearing Testing
- Impacted Earwax Removal
- Internal Radiation Therapy
- Labyrinthectomy
- Laryngeal Function Study
- Laryngeal Stroboscopy
- Laser Prostate Surgery
- Lateral Skull Base Surgery
- Mastoidectomy
- Mastoidectomy Complete
- Mastoidectomy Modified Radical
- Meniere's Disease Treatment
- Middle Ear Surgery
- Muscle Injection
- 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
- Thread Vein Removal
- 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
- Ultrasound-Guided Cyst Aspiration
- Unlisted Larynx Procedure
- 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
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Choice POS II
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open POS II
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HighMark
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UHC Passport
- Network OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- HealthyBlue PPO
- POS OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- First Health PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- OA Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Navigate
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
Education
Board Certification: ,
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>