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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- OA Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open POS II
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-POS
- Aetna HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Sentara Health
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Optimum Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE for Life East
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst EPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- POS OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Navigate
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- UHC Passport
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
Videos
Education
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