About me
Carrie Dougherty, MD, is an associate professor of Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the program director for MedStar Georgetown's Headache Medicine Fellowship Program. She is board certified in neurology and headache medicine and is a fellow of the American Headache Society.
At the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center, Dr. Dougherty uses a multi-disciplinary approaches to treat headache and related pain conditions including migraine, occipital neuralgia, post-traumatic headache, cluster headache and tension headache. Dr. Dougherty and her colleagues at the Headache Center collaborate with MedStar Georgetown's physical therapists, interventional pain management specialists, pain psychologists, and with other departments focused on evaluating and treating pain symptoms.
One important focus for the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center is that Dr. Dougherty actively supports is educating patients their families that migraine is not "just a bad headache." It is a neurologic disease.
Dr. Dougherty's Philosophy of Care
Migraine myths and stigmas are added burdens for people who suffer from migraines. For example, people with migraines may be perceived as making excuses for not working or for missing activities, or as lazy. Many people don't understand that migraine symptoms can be unrelenting and severely disabling.
At the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Headache Center I work hard with my colleagues to try and raise awareness about migraine as an inherited neurologic disease. I want my patients to feel empowered and learning about their condition helps them feel more in control. I educate them about migraine, treatment options and lifestyle factors that may contribute to migraines. I also help my patients understand that treatments aren't always limited to medication. We work as a team to explore all our options for migraine management. I am very open to my patients' interests and suggestions for managing migraine symptoms.
Dr. Dougherty's Publications/Presentations
- Neck Tongue Syndrome. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2016.
- Emergency and inpatient treatment of migraine: An American Headache Society Survey. British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 2014.
- Occipital neuralgia. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2014.
- Providing care for patients with chronic migraine: Diagnosis, treatment and management. Pain Practice, 2014.
- OnabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of migraine headache. Techniques in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management, 2012.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Headache Prevention
- Migraine
- Migraine Prevention
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nerve Block
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Cranial Nerve Injury
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Dementia
- Demyelinating Disease
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Falls And Gait Disorders
- Gait And Balance Problems
- General Sensations And Perceptions
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- Lack Of Coordination
- Migraine
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Narcolepsy
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuropathic Pain
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Sensory Neuropathy
- Spasticity
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Sports Concussion
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Care
- Anesthetic Injection For Trigeminal Nerve
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Botox Injection For Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis
- Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electroencephalogram Setup And Takedown
- Electromyography
- Headache Prevention
- Huntington's Disease Management
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Migraine Prevention
- Nerve Block
- Numbness Or Tingling Treatment
- Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
- Seizure Diagnosis
- Seizure Treatment
- Stroke Care
- Tension Headache Prevention
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
- Network OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare Direct
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TRICARE East Select
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA EPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Navigate
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Choice Fund PPO
- POS OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-Open HMO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- TRICARE for Life East
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-POS
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Basic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst NASCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- First Health PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS
- Optimum Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurology
Board Certification: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, Neurology
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (2013)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2012)
Internship: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2009)
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine-Indianapolis (2008)
Awards
- Emerging Leaders Program, American Headache Society
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Dr. Dougherty's Publications/Presentations
- Primary Headache Disorders. Neurology for the Non-Neurologist 17th Edition. Lewis SL. Berkowitz AL. Wolters Kluwer, 2025
- More than a Headache: Addressing Migraine in Women’s Lives; Inaugural Women’s Health Summit, Washington DC, May 2025
- Perimenstrual Migraine, Scottsdale Headache Symposium, Scottsdale, AZ, November 2024
- Managing Migraine in Pregnancy, AHS Scottsdale Headache Symposium, Scottsdale, AZ, November 2023
- Headaches Not to Miss Regardless of the Patient Population: Thunderclap Headache in the Emergency Department. Practical Neurology, 2023