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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
1420 Beverly Rd
Ste 300 3rd Fl
McLean, VA, 22101
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 HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- HighMark
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Navigate
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Sentara Health
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-EPO Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- OA Plus
- IH-POS
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TRICARE for Life East
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
Videos
Education
Board Certification: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, Headache Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, 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