About me
Amie Hsia, MD, is a board-certified vascular neurologist and medical director of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Comprehensive Stroke Center, Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, principal investigator of the NIH Stroke Program at MedStar Washington, and co-principal investigator of the NIH-funded StrokeNet regional coordinating center - Stroke Capital Area Network for Research (SCANR).
Dr. Hsia received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Duke University. She completed her neurology residency at Stanford University, where she also served as chief resident. She remained at Stanford for her fellowship training in stroke and neurocritical care.
Born and raised in the D.C. metropolitan area, Dr. Hsia returned to Washington for the opportunity to provide advanced stroke care to area residents. Dr. Hsia serves as an advocate of the Greater Washington Region American Heart and Stroke Association to support governmental policies related to stroke care. She is a founding member and was the first physician chair of the D.C. Stroke Collaborative, working to improve the level of stroke care through collaboration among the D.C. hospitals and EMS. With the NIH Stroke Program, she works on developing and evaluating acute stroke treatments with advanced neuroimaging.
To extend efforts beyond the D.C. boundaries, she spearheaded the development of a stroke telemedicine network, to provide emergency expert stroke consultation for hospitals in the surrounding communities using this technology, and to expand patient access to the opportunity to participate in ongoing clinical trials of acute stroke therapies.
Research:
Area: Acute Stroke – Use of Multimodal MRI
Developing and evaluating the effects of acute stroke treatments using multimodal MRI to optimize patient selection, increase understanding of stroke pathophysiology, and predict and improve outcomes.
Area: Acute Stroke – Systems of Care
Improving stroke systems of care within individual hospitals and across a community/region. Advance science and disseminate knowledge in acute stroke care delivery.
Area: Acute Stroke – Racial Disparities in Stroke Care
Evaluating and reducing the barriers to acute stroke treatment in underserved urban communities.
Clinical areas of focus
- Migraine
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Movements
- Brain Disorders
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Gait And Balance Problems
- General Sensations And Perceptions
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hydrocephalus
- Lack Of Coordination
- Migraine
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Vestibular Disorders
Procedures I perform
- Acute Stroke Care
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Memory Loss Treatment
- Muscle Biopsy
- Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment
- Neuropsychological Testing
- Seizure Treatment
- Stroke Care
- Stroke Management
- Transcranial Doppler
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
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- OA Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Open POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- POS OA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Medicare FFS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst NASCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Administrators
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA EPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Classic 5000
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- United Healthcare Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Open HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Sentara Health
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Navigate
- CIGNA PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-EPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
Videos
Education
Board Certification:
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology
Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine (2004)
Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine (2002)
Internship: California Pacific Medical Center GME (1999)
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine (1998)
Awards
- NIH/NINDS Director’s Group Merit Award 2021: For outstanding collaboration and leadership in efforts to understand the mechanism of edema formation following cerebrovascular injury
- NIH/NINDS Director’s Group Merit Award 2020: For a continued commitment to provide outstanding NIH/NINDS Stroke clinical care despite challenges of COVID-19 pandemic
- Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine: 2017-2025, consecutively
- District of Columbia Hospital Association Commitment to Excellence Award 2016 Presented to the MWHC Comprehensive Stroke Center team for demonstrating commitment to providing leadership and support for patients, staff, and the hospital
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center Board of Directors Program Excellence Award 2015 Presented to the Comprehensive Stroke Center; one of 3 MedStar Washington programs awarded
- American Heart Association/American Stroke Association – Greater Washington Region Advocate of the Year Award 2014, 2015
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors: 2013-2025, consecutively
- District of Columbia Hospital Association Patient Safety Award 2010
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
“Picturing Stroke Recovery” (NIH blog, 2024)
Scientific American (2016): Stroke Study Sparks Call for Revamping Emergency Care Plan
NIH: A SMARTer approach to stroke care
Neurology Journal Podcast: June 16, 2015 issue: SMART Study
MedStar Washington Hospital Center Named Region’s First Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center
WTOP (2012): Stroke: The other cardiovascular disease
Washington Post (2011): Study in D.C. hospitals reveals disparity in stroke treatment for blacks
Complete list of published work in My Bibliography:
Select publications:
- Comparison of Hemorrhage on CT versus MRI After Thrombectomy: The HECATE study[Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology]
- ii. Post-ischemic hyperemia following endovascular therapy for acute stroke is associated with lesion growth[J Cereb Blood Flow Metab]
- Prevalence of Imaging Targets in Patients with Minor Stroke Selected for IV tPA Treatment Using MRI: The Treatment of Minor Stroke with MRI Evaluation Study (TIMES) [Neurology]
- Temporally distinct myeloid cell responses mediate damage and repair after cerebrovascular injury [Nature Neuroscience]
- Rapid ADC evolution after early revascularization: A potential marker of secondary injury? [Stroke]
- Intravenous thrombolysis in unwitnessed stroke onset: MR WITNESS trial results [Annals of Neurology]
- Building Better Systems for Stroke: The Time Is Now [JAMA Neurology]
- Effects of Increasing IV tPA-treated stroke mimic rates at CT-based centers on clinical outcomes [Neurology]
- Screening with MRI for Accurate and Rapid Stroke Treatment: SMART [Neurology]
- Negative Diffusion Weighted Imaging after IV tPA is rare and unlikely to indicate averted infarction [Stroke]
- Racial Disparities in tissue plasminogen activator treatment rate for stroke. A population-based study [Stroke]
- Understanding Reasons for Delay in Seeking Acute Stroke Care in an Underserved Urban Population [Stroke]