Carrie Oakley Dougherty, MD| Neurology | MedStar Health
Carrie Oakley Dougherty

Carrie Oakley Dougherty, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.8 out of 5 (552 reviews)

Specialties: Neurology

Languages: English

410-354-7942

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

  • Botox For Migraines
  • Cluster Headache
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Nerve Block
  • Tension Headache
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Cluster Headache
  • Headache
  • Menstrual Migraines
  • Migraine
  • Occipital Neuralgia
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania
  • Primary Cough Headache
  • Primary Exercise Headache
  • Primary Stabbing Headache
  • Primary Thunderclap Headache
  • Suna Headache
  • Sunct Headache
  • Tension Headache
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Procedures I perform

  • Botox For Migraines
  • Headache Therapy
  • Nerve Block
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

1420 Beverly Road
Suite 300
McLean, VA, 22101

703-852-8588

Fax 410-354-7942

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 410-354-7942

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.

  • 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
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • First Health PPO
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA

Videos

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology

Other Certification: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, -

Fellowship Program: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2013)

Residency Program: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2012)

Internship Program: Evanston Hospital (2009)

Internship Program: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2009)

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine (2008)

Awards

  • Emerging Leaders Program, American Headache Society

Ratings and reviews

  • Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

    4.8
  • Extent to which the care provider listened to you

    4.8
  • Care provider’s discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.8
  • Care provider’s efforts to include you in decisions about your care

    4.7
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.8
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.8
  • Jul 30, 2024

    Excellent visit. Listen to all concerns, even those that may have been beyond her scope.

  • May 2, 2024

    Dr Dougherty is great. She listens to your concerns and recommends/prescribes treatments that are very effective. Wonderful doctor.

  • Apr 8, 2024

    I have been under the regular care of neurologists and headache specialists for 26 years. I have NEVER had anyone listen to me the way Dr. Dougherty did. She took the most comprehensive history I've ever been part of, asked all the right questions, clearly retained everything, and came up with a treatment plan that gave me hope again. She worked with me for 2 hours. As far as I'm concerned she's the best headache specialist in the country.