About me
Dr. Ali Rahnama, DPM, is a board certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and is an Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Rahnama sees patients for all conditions of the foot and ankle, with a special focus on reconstructive surgery as well as minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of athletic injuries, which include ligamentous and tendon injuries as well as fractures of the ankle, talus, calcaneus, and Lisfranc joint. Dr. Rahnama also treats and specializes in diabetic Charcot reconstruction of the lower extremity.
Dr. Rahnama is board certified in Foot and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Rahnama’s clinical interests include sports-related injuries, fracture management, Charcot reconstruction, bunion and hammertoe correction, and first metatarsal phalangeal joint arthritis. His research interests include elective surgery in the diabetic population and exploring minimally invasive techniques for hallux valgus (bunion) surgery. He is dedicated to utilizing techniques that allow patients to get back on their feet as soon as possible without compromising care.
Dr. Rahnama completed his medical degree at Temple University in Philadelphia before completing a three-year surgical residency in foot and ankle surgery at the Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He then completed a one-year specialty fellowship in traumatic and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery with The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. in Atlanta, where he performed more than 1,000 surgical procedures.
Dr. Rahnama is the author of several book chapters and peer review research articles and regularly lectures at national conferences in foot and ankle surgery and is committed to research as well as teaching residents, fellows and peers with the goal of advancing the field of foot and ankle surgery.
Dr. Rahnama lives locally with his wife, who is undergoing her medical training in Washington, DC. They enjoy outdoor activities as well as trying new and different foods when they can.
Philosophy of Care
“Individualized treatment plans and patient-focused treatment are what provide the best results for patients, as each case is unique to that person and their body. A patient who is educated on their condition is best prepared to make informed decisions together with their doctor, allowing them to put together a plan of action that’s best suited for them. Despite the comprehensive nature of my surgical training, I’m an advocate for conservative treatment options if and when they’re appropriate. I don’t only operate because I’m a surgeon. I do what’s best for the patient. If something can be managed and treated conservatively without surgery, that’s what I’ll try every single time.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Clubfoot Correction
- Non-Healing Wound Treatment
- Osteomyelitis Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Achilles Tendon Pain
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Ankle Abrasion
- Ankle And Foot Burn
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Ankle And Foot Ganglion Cysts
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Ankle And Foot Ligament Sprain
- Ankle Arthropathy
- Ankle Bursitis
- Ankle Callus
- Ankle Chondromalacia
- Ankle Impingement
- Ankle Instability
- Ankle Joint Dislocation
- Ankle Nerve Damage
- Ankle Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Ankle Osteonecrosis
- Ankle Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Ankle Tendon Rupture
- Ankle Varus Deformity
- Ankle, Foot, And Toe Dislocations
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Spur
- Bone Tumor
- Bunionettes
- Bunions
- Bursopathy
- Calcaneal Spur
- Cartilage Damage In The Ankle
- Cartilage Disorder Of The Ankle
- Clubfoot
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Deformities Of Feet
- Congenital Foot Deformity
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Congenital Vertical Talus
- Diabetic Foot Ulcer
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Drop Foot
- Enthesopathy Of Lower Limb
- Enthesopathy Of The Achilles Tendon
- Enthesopathy Of The Ankle Ligaments
- Flexible Flat Feet
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot And Ankle Birth Defects
- Foot And Ankle Burn Reconstruction
- Foot And Ankle Osteoarthritis
- Foot And Ankle Trauma
- Foot Cyst
- Foot Joint Pain
- Foot Nerve Damage
- Foot Osteoarthritis
- Foot Problems
- Foot Tendonitis
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hammertoes
- Heel Callus Formation
- Heel Fat Pad Atrophy
- Heel Fracture
- High Arches
- Ingrown Toenail
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Jones Fracture
- Kohler Disease
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lisfranc Injury
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Morton's Neuroma
- Orthopedic Aftercare
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteochondropathy Of The Ankle
- Osteonecrosis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Sesamoiditis
- Sever's Disease (HEEL PAIN)
- Stress Fracture
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis Of The Foot
- Toe Arthritis
- Toe Cartilage Damage
- Toe Deformity
- Toe Dislocation
- Toe Joint Sprain
- Toe Nerve Damage
- Toe Tenosynovitis
Procedures I perform
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Ankle Replacement
- Ankle Stabilization
- Arthrodesis Of Ankle
- Bone Repair
- Clubfoot Correction
- Diabetes Foot Care
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Foot Sprain Treatment
- Foot Wound Debridement
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Heel Pain Treatment
- Heel Spur Removal
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hindfoot Amputation
- Matrixectomy
- Metatarsalgia Treatment
- Morton's Neuroma Injections
- Muscle Injection
- Neuroma Excision
- Non-Healing Wound Treatment
- Orthopedic Bracing
- Orthotic Device Fitting
- Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment
- Osteomyelitis Treatment
- Peroneal Tendonitis Treatment
- Plantar Fascia Release
- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
- Prosthetic And Orthotic Devices
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Sports Medicine Of The Foot
- Sprain And Strain Treatment
- Tarsal Tunnel Release
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
- Tendon Transplantation
- Toe Fracture Reduction
- Toe Nail Resection
- Toe Replacement Surgery
- Toe Sprain Treatment
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Wound Care
- Wound Reconstruction
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Blue Choice Advantage
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- United Student Resources
- IH-Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- First Health PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Fund PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- OA Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare FFS
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Navigate
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- POS OA
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Basic
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Network OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Administrators
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HighMark
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Tricare Reserve Select
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Foot and Ankle Surgery
Fellowship: Northside Hospital Atlanta (2018)
Residency: Wayne State University School of Medicine (2017)
Medical School: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (2014)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Alexandra T. Black, Jered M. Stowers, Son Tran, Karla De La Mata, Alain E. Sherman, Ali RahnamaVaghef. Clinical Outcomes for Pilon Variant Posterior Malleolar Fractures: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 61, Issue 6, 2022, Pages 1303-1307, ISSN 1067-2516.
Stowers JM, Black AT, Kavanagh AM, Mata K, Bohm A, Katchis SD, Weiner LS, Spielfogel W, Rahnama A. Predicting Nonunions in Ankle Fractures Using Quantitative Tibial Hounsfield Samples From Preoperative Computed Tomography: A Multicenter Matched Case Control Study. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2022 May-Jun;61(3):562-566. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2021.10.007. Epub 2021 Oct 22. PMID: 34819267.
Black AT, Stowers JM, Tenley J, Hu CY, Eshetu T, Spielfogel WD, Katchis SD, RahnamaVaghef A, Weiner LS. The Association Between Lateral Radiographs and Axial Computed Tomography of Posterior Malleolar Fractures as a Tool for Predicting Medial Malleolar Extension: A Multi-Center Retrospective Analysis. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2021 Mar 10:S1067-2516(21)00080-6. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2021.03.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33785238.
Zeeshan S. Husain, Ali Rahnama-Vaghef; Staged Surgical Management of Open Navicular Fracture Secondary to a Gunshot Injury. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 1 May 2021; 111 (3): Article_21. doi: https://doi.org/10.7547/18-035