About me
Dr. Mesfin is an experienced fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon. He is also the Vice Chair of Research for the Medstar Orthopaedic Institute in the Washington DC region. He was formerly a Professor of Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of Rochester in New York. He completed his Orthopaedic Residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and his Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgery training at the Washington Univeristy in St. Louis.
He has served in committee and leadership roles in several organizations including: Cervical Spine Research Society, Scoliosis Research Society, Lumbar Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society, American Orthopaedic Association, J Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society.
He is a member of AO Spine Oncology Knowledge Forum and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor medical society.
He has been honored as a recepient of competitive and prestigious awards including he American Orthopaedic Association-American British Canadian Traveling Fellowship, Cervical Spine Research Society Traveling Fellowship and Scoliosis Research Society Traveling Fellowship.
His areas of special interest, expertise, and research include:
- Benign and malignant primary spine tumors and metastatic spine disease
- Adult scoliosis/Kyphosis
- Spinal stenosis/Disc herniations
- Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
- Spine trauma
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Cervical disc replacement and laminoplasty
An active and widely published researcher, he has published more than 200 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Neurosurgery Spine, Spine, and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has also been an invited lecturer in more than 15 countries. He has been awarded grant support for his research focusing on spine surgery outcomes.
The focus of Dr. Mesfin’s approach to caring for patients includes educating patients and their families about their diagnoses and options using the latest research so they can be partners in decisions about their care. Before recommending surgery, he exhausts all other treatment options. Dr. Mesfin is fluent in English, French, and Amharic.
He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps in the U.S. and Afghanistan (as a member of a Forward Surgical Team), reaching the rank of major.
When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, long distance running, and tennis.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Foraminal Stenosis
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Head Injury
- Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Radiculopathy
- Thoracic Spine Instability
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Spine Stabilization
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Spine Stabilization
- Lumbar Traction
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Osteotomy
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Balance Restoration
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fracture Stabilization
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Infection Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Vertebral Body Replacement
- Vertebral Compression Fracture 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
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Sentara Health
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- UHC Passport
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice POS
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Employee Health Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-POS Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Student Resources
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open HMO
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- OA Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Navigate
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst EPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- IH-Indemnity
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Medicare Direct
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open POS II
- HighMark
- CareFirst NASCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine (2012)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)
Medical School: Drexel University (2006)