Lauren Talley Cooke, PA| Otolaryngology | MedStar Health
About me
Lauren T. Wester, MMS, PA-C is a physician assistant at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Lauren completed her Masters in Medical Science at Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015 and has been working in the Georgetown ENT department ever since. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and The Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (SPAO-HNS).
Lauren sees predominately adult patients with general ENT concerns including sinusitis, ear infection, and throat complaints. She works closely with the department’s fellowship trained head and neck oncology, facial plastics, and rhinology surgeons on a daily basis. In addition to her outpatient clinic responsibilities, Lauren also works part-time in the inpatient setting managing ENT patients and participating in a wide variety of ENT consultations.
A Washington, D.C. area native, Lauren grew up in Northern Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech. After college, Lauren returned home to work as a Research Assistant for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; specifically working on High-Risk Spine protocol within the Neurosurgery Department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Lauren now lives in D.C. and enjoys traveling, Hokie football and exploring the local restaurant scene.
Clinical areas of focus
- Ear Mass
- Head And Neck Cancer Surgery
- Hearing Loss
- Hoarseness
- Nasal Mass
- Nasal Obstruction
- Parathyroidectomy
- Sinusitis
- Thyroid Surgery
- Voice Problems
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Adenoid Hypertrophy
- Adenoiditis
- Alaryngeal Communication
- Allergic Fungal Sinusitis
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergic Rhinosinusitis
- Anterior Nasal Drip
- Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak From Ear
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak From Nose
- Cervical Spine Mass
- Choking Sensation
- Cholesteatoma
- Chronic Rhinosinusitis
- Chronic Sinus Infection
- Chronic Tonsillitis
- Cochlear Nerve Damage
- Crackling Sound In Ears
- Deviated Septum
- Difficulty Speaking
- Disorder Of Balance
- Disorder Of Earlobe
- Dry Mouth
- Dysphagia
- Dysphonia
- Ear Canal Lesions
- Ear Cyst
- Ear Discharge
- Ear Drainage
- Ear Fullness
- Ear Mass
- Ear Pressure
- Earache
- Empty Nose Syndrome
- Epistaxis
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)
- Excessive Drooling
- Excessive Salivation
- Facial Fracture
- Facial Nerve Disease
- Facial Nerve Injury
- Facial Nerve Palsy
- Facial Nerve Schwannoma
- Facial Pain
- Facial Paresis
- Fissured Tongue
- Foreign Body (EAR)
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Goiter
- Hairy Tongue
- Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss (ASYMMETRICAL)
- Hearing Loss (CENTRAL)
- Hearing Loss (CONDUCTIVE)
- Hearing Loss (MIXED)
- Hearing Loss (NEURAL)
- Hoarseness
- Hyperacusis
- Hypoglossal Nerve Disease
- Hypoglossal Nerve Injury
- Inner Ear Trauma
- Inverted Papilloma Of The Sinus
- Itchy Ear
- Jaw Pain
- Labyrinthitis
- Laryngeal Dysphagia
- Laryngeal Dystonia
- Laryngeal Polyps
- Laryngitis
- Lip Droop
- Ludwig Angina
- Lump In Throat
- Mastoiditis
- Meniere's Disease
- Missing Eardrum
- Mouth Abscess
- Mouth Infection
- Mouth Pain
- Muffled Hearing
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasal Crusting
- Nasal Drainage
- Nasal Mass
- Nasal Obstruction
- Nasal Polyps
- Nasal Trauma
- Neck Abscess
- Neoplasm Of Ear
- Neurologic Disorders Of The Larynx
- Nose Fracture
- Odynophagia
- Olfactory Nerve Disease
- Oral Inflammation
- Oral Lesions
- Osteoma
- Otalgia
- Otitis Externa
- Otitis Media
- Otosclerosis
- Ototoxicity
- Perforated Ear Drum
- Perichondritis
- Peritonsillar Abscess
- Polyp Of Cheek
- Positional Vertigo
- Post Nasal Drip
- Problems With Smell And Taste
- Rhinitis
- Rhinorrhea
- Ruptured Eardrum
- Salivary Gland Disorders
- Salivary Gland Swelling
- Septal Perforation
- Sialadenitis
- Sialolithiasis
- Sino Nasal Carcinoma
- Sino Nasal Disorders
- Sinonasal Papilloma
- Sinus Mass
- Sinus Polyp
- Sinusitis
- Sleep-Related Hypoventilation
- Smell Disorders
- Snoring
- Stomatitis
- Stylohyoid Syndrome
- Subglottic Stenosis
- Submandibular Nodule
- Submandibular Swelling
- Sudden Deafness
- Suppurative Tonsillitis
- Swallowing Problem
- Swollen Parotid
- Swollen Throat
- Swooshing Sound In Ears
- Temporal Bone Fracture
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
- Throat Abscess
- Throat Mass
- Thyroglossal Duct Disorders
- Thyroid Nodule
- Tinnitus
- Tongue Mass
- Tongue Pain
- Tongue Swelling
- Tonsillar Abscess
- Tonsillar Hypertrophy
- Tonsillitis
- Tonsilloliths
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation (TMP)
- Velopharyngeal Deficiencies
- Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Vestibular Neuronitis
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction
- Vocal Cord Issues
- Vocal Cord Lesions
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Vocal Cord Strain
- Voice Problems
Procedures I perform
- Adenoidectomy
- Balloon Sinuplasty
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Assessment
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Surgery
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
- Cochlear Implant Hearing Aid Assessment
- Cochlear Implant Hearing Aid Surgery
- Cochlear Implants
- Frenectomy
- Head And Neck Cancer Surgery
- Laryngoscopy
- Middle Ear Exploration
- Myringoplasty
- Myringotomy
- Nasoseptal Reconstruction
- Parathyroidectomy
- Sinus Surgery
- Sleep Endoscopy
- Sphenoidotomy
- Stapedectomy
- Thyroid Surgery
- Tonsillectomy
- Tracheostomy Management
- Tympanometry
- Tympanoplasty/Mastoidectomy
- Uvuloplasty
- Vocal Cord Surgery
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
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Student Resources
- United Select Plus (POS)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- United Golden Rule
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- D-SNP)
- I-SNP
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Choice Plus
- United Choice
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Signature
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Kaiser Select
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Cigna Indemnity
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Cigna EPO
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Anthem Plus BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem (POS & Open Access POS) BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
- Anthem HMO - BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland
- Virginia Premier
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Optimum Choice
- United Navigate
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Tricare for Life East
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Tricare East Select
- Tricare East Prime
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Carefirst EPO
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
Education
Graduate: Lincoln Memorial University (2015)