About me
Jessica Ailani, MD, is board certified in neurology, with added certification in headache. She sees patients at the McLean, Virginia, clinic.
Dr. Ailani is a clinical professor of neurology at MedStar's Georgetown University Hospital and director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center. Dr. Ailani treats a variety of headache disorders, most commonly migraine, cluster headache, and occipital neuralgia. She uses a wide variety of treatment options in headache management including neuromodulation, pharmacotherapy, infusion treatment for status migraine, and Botox for chronic migraine.
Dr. Ailani is involved in numerous clinical trials focused on new treatments in the migraine space..
She is dedicated to educating the field on headache disorders. She is a national and international speaker, invited to discuss migraine at headache and primary care meetings. She has spoken at the American Headache Society, Diamond Headache meeting, International Headache Society, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, and has presented abstracts at both national and internation meetings.
Because people don't always want to take medications, Dr. Ailani is very willing to work with patients in finding lifestyle solutions. If patients want medications, she is willing to treat the headache aggressively. Dr. Ailani uses an integrative approach, with care designed around what the patient wants, encompassing all possibilities.
Dr. Ailani and her husband are from New York, and enjoy the warmer weather in the D.C. area. While others might not think of Washington as "the south," it certainly is for these former Long Islanders. They appreciate the museums as well as the cultural mix of people and restaurants in the Washington metro area. Dr. Ailani also enjoys the diversity of patients she sees daily, coming from rural areas, the city, as well as internationally.
Read details about Dr. Ailani's background and accomplishments.
Clinical areas of focus
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Migraine
Conditions and procedures
Procedures I perform
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Tension Headache 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
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- TRICARE for Life East
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice POS II
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Navigate
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Optimum Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice POS
- CareFirst NASCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open POS II
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- POS OA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- OA Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- MultiPlan, Inc
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurology
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Headache Fellowship (2009)
Residency: New York University Langone Medical Center-GME (2008)
Internship: Winthrop-University Hospital (2005)
Graduate: SUNY Stony Brook University (2004)
Awards
- American Headache Society Above and Beyond Award 2021
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
https://www.glamour.com/story/after-40-years-of-hell-heaven-is-migraine-relief
https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-elevator-pitch
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-hangover-facts
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-stigma
https://www.self.com/story/cluster-headaches-facts
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a24892333/migraine-symptoms/
https://www.prevention.com/health/a22865459/alcohol-facts-myths/
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/the-truth-about-aspirin/351661504
https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/new-era-migraine-relief
https://www.phillyvoice.com/migraines-treatment-cgrp-inhibitors-effective-headache-survey/
https://www.ajmc.com/view/contemporary-management-of-migraine-an-interview-with-jessica-ailani-md
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-it-works-injectable-treatments-for-migraine
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/so-much-more-headache/202105/migraine-sufferers-appreciate-support-more-advice
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2020/10080/so_many_migraine_therapies,_so_many_decisions_.2.aspx
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/947086
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/blog/neurologytodayconferencereportersaanannualmeeting/pages/post.aspx?PostID=125
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20191211/dhe-reemerges-as-magic-migraine-treatment
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emgality-demonstrates-reduction-in-frequency-duration-and-pain-severity-in-patients-with-episodic-and-chronic-migraine-301078159.html
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20200224/fda-approves-vyepti-first-iv-preventive-treatment-for-migraine