About me
Carrie Dougherty, MD, is an associate professor of Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the program director for MedStar Georgetown's Headache Medicine Fellowship Program. She is board certified in neurology and headache medicine and is a fellow of the American Headache Society.
At the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center, Dr. Dougherty uses a multi-disciplinary approaches to treat headache and related pain conditions including migraine, occipital neuralgia, post-traumatic headache, cluster headache and tension headache. Dr. Dougherty and her colleagues at the Headache Center collaborate with MedStar Georgetown's physical therapists, interventional pain management specialists, pain psychologists, and with other departments focused on evaluating and treating pain symptoms.
One important focus for the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center is that Dr. Dougherty actively supports is educating patients their families that migraine is not "just a bad headache." It is a neurologic disease.
Dr. Dougherty's Philosophy of Care
Migraine myths and stigmas are added burdens for people who suffer from migraines. For example, people with migraines may be perceived as making excuses for not working or for missing activities, or as lazy. Many people don't understand that migraine symptoms can be unrelenting and severely disabling.
At the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center I work hard with my colleagues to try and raise awareness about migraine as an inherited neurologic disease. I want my patients to feel empowered and learning about their condition helps them feel more in control. I educate them about migraine, treatment options and lifestyle factors that may contribute to migraines. I also help my patients understand that treatments aren't always limited to medication. We work as a team to explore all our options for migraine management. I am very open to my patients' interests and suggestions for managing migraine symptoms.
Dr. Dougherty's Publications/Presentations
- Neck Tongue Syndrome. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2016.
- Emergency and inpatient treatment of migraine: An American Headache Society Survey. British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 2014.
- Occipital neuralgia. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2014.
- Providing care for patients with chronic migraine: Diagnosis, treatment and management. Pain Practice, 2014.
- OnabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of migraine headache. Techniques in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management, 2012.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Headache Prevention
- Migraine
- Migraine Prevention
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nerve Block
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Cranial Nerve Injury
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Dementia
- Demyelinating Disease
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Falls And Gait Disorders
- Gait And Balance Problems
- General Sensations And Perceptions
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- Lack Of Coordination
- Migraine
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Narcolepsy
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuropathic Pain
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Sensory Neuropathy
- Spasticity
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Sports Concussion
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Care
- Anesthetic Injection For Trigeminal Nerve
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Botox Injection For Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis
- Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electroencephalogram Setup And Takedown
- Electromyography
- Headache Prevention
- Huntington's Disease Management
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Migraine Prevention
- Nerve Block
- Numbness Or Tingling Treatment
- Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
- Seizure Diagnosis
- Seizure Treatment
- Stroke Care
- Tension Headache Prevention
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
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Optimum Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-PPO
- Network OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- POS OA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-EPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Sentara Health
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- TRICARE for Life East
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice POS II
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HighMark
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- First Health PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UHC Passport
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Navigate
- Aetna Basic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, Headache Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Neurology
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (2013)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2012)
Internship: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2009)
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine-Indianapolis (2008)
Awards
- Emerging Leaders Program, American Headache Society
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Dr. Dougherty's Publications/Presentations
- Primary Headache Disorders. Neurology for the Non-Neurologist 17th Edition. Lewis SL. Berkowitz AL. Wolters Kluwer, 2025
- More than a Headache: Addressing Migraine in Women’s Lives; Inaugural Women’s Health Summit, Washington DC, May 2025
- Perimenstrual Migraine, Scottsdale Headache Symposium, Scottsdale, AZ, November 2024
- Managing Migraine in Pregnancy, AHS Scottsdale Headache Symposium, Scottsdale, AZ, November 2023
- Headaches Not to Miss Regardless of the Patient Population: Thunderclap Headache in the Emergency Department. Practical Neurology, 2023