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