About me
Tehetena Mulugeta, a dedicated Physician Assistant (PA), provides compassionate and personalized care to gastroenterology (GI) patients at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. She treats patients both in the hospital and at the GI Clinic, ensuring continuity of care across different settings.
Before joining MedStar Southern Maryland, Tehetena worked as a hospital medicine PA at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. However, her passion for gastroenterology was ignited even before pursuing her graduate degree, during her time as a medical assistant and scribe in a GI practice. This early exposure laid the foundation for her deep understanding of digestive health and its far-reaching effects on overall well-being.
Tehetena brings a wealth of experience from internal medicine, which reinforces her holistic approach to GI care. She believes in fostering strong patient partnerships, to ensure they have a voice in their treatment plans. “Educating patients helps demystify the ‘why’ behind our practice of evidence-based medicine, so patient can feel informed and empowered,” she says. This approach not only builds trust but also improves adherence to treatment plans.
Collaboration is another key aspect of Tehetena’s practice. She works closely with her GI colleagues and a team of healthcare providers, particularly when managing patients with coexisting conditions. By leveraging these partnerships, she ensures comprehensive and coordinated care. Her ultimate goal is to help patients not only understand their diagnosis and treatment but also make meaningful lifestyle changes to enhance their quality of life.
Committed to professional excellence, Tehetena is an active member of several leading organizations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the Gastroenterology & Hepatology for Advanced Practice Providers. Through these affiliations, she stays informed on the latest advancements and best practices in her field, continuously refining her expertise to provide the highest standard of care.
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominal Distention
- Abnormal Bowel Movement
- Abnormal Stool
- Anal Fissure
- Bleeding Hemorrhoids
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Rectal Pain
- Stomach Pain
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Bloating
- Abdominal Distention
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Amylase Blood Test
- Abnormal Bowel Movement
- Abnormal Liver Function Blood Test
- Abnormal Stool
- Achalasia
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Alcoholic Liver Disease
- Allergic Esophagitis
- Altered Bowel Habits
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Fistula
- Anal Itching
- Anal Pain
- Anal Spasm
- Anemia
- Annular Pancreas
- Anorexia
- Appendiceal Cancer
- Autoimmune Enteropathy
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon
- Biliary Tract Disease
- Bleeding Hemorrhoids
- Blood In Stool
- Bowel Dysmotility
- Bright Red Blood Per Rectum
- Choking Sensation
- Cholangitis
- Cholecystitis
- Cholelithiasis
- Cholestasis
- Chronic Abdominal Pain
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Chronic Pancreatitis
- Clostridium Difficile
- Colitis
- Collagenous Colitis
- Colonic Inertia
- Colonic Polyps
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
- Diarrhea
- Digestive Disorders
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Drug Induced Liver Injury
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenitis
- Dyspepsia
- Dysphagia
- Early Satiety
- Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase Level
- Elevated Lipase
- Eosinophilic Colitis
- Eosinophilic Enteritis
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic Gastritis
- Epigastric Pain
- Eructation
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Disease
- Esophageal Diverticulum
- Esophageal Mass
- Esophageal Motility Disorders
- Esophageal Spasm
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophageal Thickening
- Esophageal Ulcer
- Esophageal Varices
- Esophagitis
- Family History Of Colon Cancer
- Family History Of Colon Polyps
- Fatty Liver
- Fecal Impaction
- Fecal Incontinence
- Flatulence
- Focal Nodular Hyperplasia
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gallbladder Polyp
- Gastric Ulcer
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Stromal Tumors
- Gastrointestinal Amyloid
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrojejunal Ulcer
- Gastroparesis
- Giardiasis
- Gluten Sensitivity
- Hematemesis
- Hemochromatosis
- Hepatitis
- Hepatomegaly
- Hiatal Hernia
- Ileitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Intractable Vomiting
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Ischemic Bowel
- Ischemic Colitis
- Jaundice
- Lactose Intolerance
- Left Upper Quadrant Pain
- Liver Disease
- Liver Mass
- Lymphocytic Colitis
- Lynch Syndrome
- Malabsorption
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Stomach
- Melena
- Microscopic Colitis
- Nausea
- Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Obstipation
- Obstructive Jaundice
- Odynophagia
- Ogilvie Syndrome
- Pancreas Divisum
- Pancreatic Cyst
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Pancreatic Pseudocyst
- Pancreaticobiliary Disease
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic Ulcer
- Peritonitis
- Pernicious Anemia
- Personal History Of Colonic Polyps
- Peutz Jeghers Syndrome
- Polyposis Syndrome
- Portal Hypertension
- Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy
- Positive Hemoccult Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Postprandial Diarrhea
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
- Proctitis
- Rectal Bleeding
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Pain
- Right Lower Quadrant Pain
- Right Upper Quadrant Pain
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Steatorrhea
- Stomach Cramps
- Stomach Disorders
- Stomach Pain
- Swallowing Problem
- Toxic Liver Injury
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative Proctitis
- Vomiting
- Whipple's Disease
- Wilson's Disease
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
- United Navigate
- 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
- HumanaChoice PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- 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
- Beech Street PPO
- 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
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland
- Virginia Premier
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Innovation Health: POS
- United Optimum Choice
- 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)
- Employee Health Plan (EHP)
- 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
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- 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
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- 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
Education
Graduate: Shenandoah University (2022)