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