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 University 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
- 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
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Spine Stabilization
- Lumbar Traction
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Osteotomy
- 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 BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice Fund PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Choice POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Open HMO Option
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Navigate
- HealthyBlue PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- OA Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- POS OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- BlueChoice Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Medicare Direct
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UHC Passport
- IH-POS
- United Student Resources
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Indemnity
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Administrators
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HighMark
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine (2012)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)
Medical School: Drexel University (2006)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025