About me
Caren Palese, MD, is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Palese completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, followed by a three-year Gastroenterology fellowship at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Since 2014, she has been consistently chosen by her peers to be a Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc. She has been awarded the annual distinction of Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. In addition, she has received the Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award. She was selected by the Washington Post Magazine to be a Rising Star in 2013.
Dr. Palese uses progressive techniques to diagnose and treat many esophageal disorders, such as GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. She is an expert in diseases of swallowing.
For the most effective care and optimal outcomes for her patients, Dr. Palese takes a multidisciplinary approach and often works closely with a team of specialists. In addition to her expertise in swallowing disorders, Barrett’s esophagus and gastrointestinal motility disorders, Dr. Palese performs precise screening colonoscopies for detecting colon cancer and flat polyps.
Beyond her passion for her work, Dr. Palese enjoys speaking German, running and skiing.
Clinical areas of focus
- Enteroscopy
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stomach Ulcers
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Distension
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alimentary Tract Foreign Body
- Anal Fissures
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Aphagia
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon, Rectum, Anus And Anal Canal
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Celiac Disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colitis
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Disease
- Colon Polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Digestive System Cancer
- Digestive System Complications
- Digestive System Diseases
- Digestive System Symptoms
- Diseases Of Esophagus
- Diseases Of Stomach And Duodenum
- Diverticular Disease
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophagitis
- Esophagus Diseases
- External Hemorrhoids
- Flatulence
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastric Varices
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) In Children
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatomegaly And Splenomegaly
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) With Infection
- Intestinal Dysmotility
- Intestinal Infections
- Intestinal Stenosis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Liver Encephalopathy
- Liver Fibrosis
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Noninfective Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatic Diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Paralytic Ileus And Intestinal Obstruction
- Perianal Pain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Polycystic Liver Disease
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Regional Enteritis
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Stomach And Duodenum Diseases
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Diseases
- Stomach Ulcers
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Colon Biopsy
- Colonoscopy With Injection
- Diarrhea Treatment
- EGD With Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Enteroscopy
- Enteroscopy With Bleeding Control
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal PH Monitoring
- Flexible Colonoscopy With Biopsy
- Gastric Manometry
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Test
- Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Motility Study
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gastrostomy Tube Replacement
- Hemorrhage Control
- Hydrogen Breath Test
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Lower Gi Endoscopy
- Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
- Stent Placement
- Transrectal Ultrasound
- Upper Gi Endoscopy
- Variceal Band Ligation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
Main Bldg 2nd Fl
Washington, DC, 20007
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-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- OA Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Sentara Health
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Network OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Navigate
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- UHC Passport
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst EPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Medicare FFS
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology/Gastroenterology
Fellowship: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2007)
Residency: Georgetown University Medical Center GME (2003)
Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doc- yearly since 2014 Castle Connolly Top Doctor- yearly since 2016 Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine Award- 2019 to 2021 Washington Post Magazine, Rising Star in 2013