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 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 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
- 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 Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Infection Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Vertebral Body Replacement
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
106 Irving St NW
POB Ste 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
G-PHC
Washington, DC, 20007
11915 Georgia Ave
Wheaton, MD, 20902
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
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- First Health PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-EPO Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Network OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice POS
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HighMark
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- OA Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Indemnity
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- POS OA
- United Student Resources
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice POS II
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Network Only Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (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