About me
Dr. Pothast is a native of Ohio and earned his undergraduate degree in exercise biology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2008. Afterwards, Dr. Pothast went on to finish a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 2012, where he served as chief resident. He then completed his Sports Medicine Fellowship in 2014 from the University of Florida, where he worked extensively with athletes of all ages from youth leagues to the NCAA Division 1 level. Dr. Pothast is double board certified in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He has a special interest in working with runners, from the recreational to the elite. Dr. Pothast also enjoys providing sideline coverage at local sporting events. In his spare time, Dr. Pothast remains active by running road races with his wife, as well as playing chase with his golden retriever. His slower-paced interests include cooking for his family and watching college basketball.
Philosophy of care
No matter your sport or your activity, I strive to get you back to your love of life, whether that is running, swimming, biking, playing basketball, or gardening. I work alongside a variety of physical, occupational, and speech therapists to appropriately diagnose your problem, to get to the root of it, and to prevent it from coming back. I perform musculoskeletal ultrasound guided injections right in the office, as well as use that same ultrasound technology to analyze muscles, tendons, and nerves. In addition, I manage your diagnosis closely with therapists to correct biomechanical deficiencies with your running, swimming, and working technique. We want to add quality of life to you, not for the next few weeks, but for the next few years.
Clinical areas of focus
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Back Pain Treatment
- Bone Repair
- Cartilage Injury
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Fatigue Management
- Foot Joint Pain
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hip Labral Tear
- Knee Replacement Rehabilitation
- Muscle Injection
- Sciatica Treatment
- Shoulder Instability Treatment
- Sports Injury
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Trigger Point Injection
- Ultrasound-Guided Cyst Aspiration
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Ankle And Foot Ligament Sprain
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Bone Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cartilage Disorder
- Cartilage Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enthesopathies
- Foot Joint Pain
- Forearm Fracture
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Gait And Balance Problems
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Head Injury
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hip Labral Tear
- Hip Pain
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Derangement Of Knee
- Joint Disorder
- Knee Fracture
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Pain
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Lymphatic Vessel Disorders
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Musculoskeletal System Deformities
- Myopathies
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Orthopedic Rehabilitation
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Patella Tracking Disorder
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder Burns
- Shoulder Fracture
- Shoulder Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Sports Injury
- Subcortical Infarction
- Superficial Knee Injury
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tendinous Disorders
- Thumb Synovitis
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Procedures I perform
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Back Pain Treatment
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Bone Repair
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Concussion Rehabilitation
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Pain Treatment
- Fatigue Management
- Hair Cell Regeneration Therapy
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hip Arthritis Treatment
- Hip Arthroscopy With Meniscus Repair
- Joint Arthroscopy
- Knee Arthroscopy With Meniscectomy
- Knee Pain Management
- Knee Replacement Rehabilitation
- Mechanical Traction
- Meniscus Injury Treatment
- Muscle Injection
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
- Neuromuscular Reeducation For Muscle Control
- Orthopedic Rehabilitation
- Pain Medication Management
- Physical Performance Test
- Physical Therapy Modalities
- Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
- Sciatica Treatment
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Dislocation Treatment
- Shoulder Instability Treatment
- Shoulder Pain Management
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Sports Performance Enhancement
- Therapeutic Exercises
- Trigger Point Injection
- Ultrasonic Guidance
- Ultrasound-Guided Cyst Aspiration
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
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-POS
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Sentara Health
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- POS OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Choice
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna VA Exchange
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Open POS Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- UHC Passport
- Choice POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- First Health PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-HMO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Network OA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Fellowship: University of Florida (2014)
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (2012)
Internship: St. Vincent Hospital/Worchester Medical Center (2009)
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine (2008)