About me
Dr. Lemma is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in the surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. He sees patients in Bel Air, Rosedale / White Marsh, and in Baltimore at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He currently serves as division chief of spine surgery as well as director of minimally invasive spine surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
Pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery seemed a natural fit to Dr. Lemma's background as a mechanical engineer. After completing his residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, he served as division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, prior to transitioning to MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in 2014.
Dr. Lemma's areas of intellectual interest and clinical expertise center around minimally invasive spine surgery. Using tubular retractors in lieu of traditional open surgery, state-of-the-art technologies, and computer-assisted navigation allows Dr. Lemma to deliver to his patients the best solutions with the least amount of invasion. A large portion of his practice also focuses on spinal problems in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, spinal deformity, and revision spinal surgery.
Dr. Lemma remains active in resident and surgeon education, and was honored to be the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from the Johns Hopkins University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2014. He has also been involved in developing innovative spine surgical techniques and new technologies and relates his experiences to other surgeons, both from the podium as well as in smaller teaching seminars. It has been a privilege for Dr. Lemma to be listed by both U.S. News and World Report's and Castle Connolly in their lists of Top Doctors in the U.S., as well as being named among the Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the U.S. by Becker's Healthcare. He was repeatedly named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine, most recently in 2023.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Fusion Failure
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylosis
Procedures I perform
- Back Pain Treatment
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Spine Stabilization
- Discectomy
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Stabilization
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
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Core Essential (HMO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- POS OA
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Basic
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- HighMark
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Navigate
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna HMO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Direct
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- OA Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Prime
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Network OA
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University (2003)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002)
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry (1997)
Awards
- 2015-2021, 2023 Baltimore Magazine Top Doctors
- 2015-2016 Best Doctors in America
- 2014 Teacher of the Year Award, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2014 Becker's Top Spine Surgeons in the US
- 2011 Becker's Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the US