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