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