About me
Oliver Tannous, MD, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a spine specialist, he utilizes state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
His clinical focus includes disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, ranging from isolated disc herniation to complex deformities and failed surgeries. His research interests include optimizing patient outcomes after surgery and improving techniques for eliminating postoperative spinal infections.
Dr. Tannous completed his undergraduate studies in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. He then received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. Prior to joining MedStar Health, he completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California San Diego, a leading center for minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. His early interests in mechanics and how things are built, coupled with a degree in neuroscience, fueled his decision to become an orthopaedic spine specialist.
Dr. Tannous takes a conservative approach to spine care. He emphasizes the use of non-operative treatments before considering surgery. When surgery becomes necessary, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques in order to reduce the impact of surgery. He has extensive experience in revision spine procedures as well as correcting previously failed spine surgeries.
Philosophy of Care
"Becoming involved in the care of someone's health is a privilege. I treat all of my patients in the same way that I would treat my family members - with compassion and respect. When nonoperative methods fail and surgery becomes necessary, I spend a lot of time with my patients, ensuring that they fully understand the surgical process. I follow them very closely while they are in the hospital, and guide them throughout the recovery process so they can get back to a healthier life as soon as possible. I feel proud when my patients tell me that they would recommend me to their family members for care."
Patient Story:
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Herniated Disc In Lower Back
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Artificial Disc Replacement
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Fracture
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervicothoracic Junction Disorders
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Herniated Disc In Lower Back
- Herniated Disc In Neck
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Curvature
- Spinal Cyst
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
- Vertebral Fractures
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spinal Procedures
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Osteotomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
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 Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Sentara Health
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- First Health PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Network OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice Fund PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Core Essential (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-EPO Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- HighMark
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Student Resources
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Open HMO Option
- First Health PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2015)
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (2015)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Cervical Disc Replacement: A Life Changer for Detective
- Neck Surgery Patient Praises New Procedure
- Podcast - Neck and Back Pain Basics: What You Need to Know
- Case Study - Alternative to Cervical Fusion: 2-Level Cervical Disc Replacement for Cervical Radiculopathy
- Blog - Keep moving to avoid and relieve back pain
- Blog - Neck surgery with shorter recovery, better range of motion
- Blog - Why does back pain persist after surgery?