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
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myelitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Movements
- Acute Disseminated Demyelination
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Essential Tremor
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Degenerative Diseases Of Basal Ganglia
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Dementia
- 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
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hemifacial Spasm
- Huntington's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypokinetic Movement Disorders
- Idiopathic Neuropathy
- Intracranial Hypertension
- Migraine
- Migraine With Aura
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myelitis
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Narcolepsy
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuropathic Pain
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Occipital Neuralgia
- Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Seizure Disorders
- Sensory Neuropathy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Sports Concussion
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electroencephalogram Setup And Takedown
- Electromyography
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Muscle Biopsy
- Neuromuscular Testing
- Surface Emg
- Tension Headache Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
1420 Beverly Rd
Ste 300 3rd Fl
McLean, VA, 22101
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
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Navigate
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Medicare Direct
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst EPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- HighMark
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Basic
- TRICARE East Select
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- First Health PPO
- United Student Resources
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- POS OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Choice POS II
- IH-HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-POS
- Network OA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA EPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- UHC Passport
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Sentara Health
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