Carrie Oakley Dougherty, MD| Neurology | MedStar Health

Carrie Oakley Dougherty, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.7 out of 5 (475 reviews)

Specialties: Neurology

Languages: English

877-245-1499

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

  • Botox For Migraines
  • Cluster Headache
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Nerve Block
  • Tension Headache
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Cluster Headache
  • Headache
  • Menstrual Migraines
  • Migraine
  • Occipital Neuralgia
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania
  • Primary Cough Headache
  • Primary Exercise Headache
  • Primary Stabbing Headache
  • Primary Thunderclap Headache
  • Suna Headache
  • Sunct Headache
  • Tension Headache
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Procedures I perform

  • Botox For Migraines
  • Headache Therapy
  • Nerve Block
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

1420 Beverly Road
Suite 300
McLean, VA, 22101

703-852-8588

Fax 877-245-1499

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 877-245-1499

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 7th Fl Dept Neurology
Washington, DC, 20007

202-444-8525

Fax 877-245-1499

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 877-245-1499

Insurance

MedStar Medical Group accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Medical Group, please call your insurance company.

  • List of insurance plans we accept
    • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)"
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Kaiser Virginia Premier
    • Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
    • UHC Community Plan of MD
    • CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO"
    • Medicare Fee for Service
    • Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)"
    • United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)"
    • Kaiser Permanente Select
    • Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
    • CFBCBS EPO
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature
    • Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna HMO
    • Open POS II
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Open EPO Plus
    • Opoen HMO Option
    • Open HMO
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • BlueChoice Open Access
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
    • Choice Fund PPO
    • PPO and PPO Plus
    • CIGNA EPO
    • POS OA & OA Plus
    • Network OA
    • CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
    • United Healthcare Choice
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
    • Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
    • Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
    • M.D. IPA (HMO)
    • United Student Resources
    • United Healthcare Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
    • United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • Tricare Prime
    • FIRST HEALTH
    • First Health PPO
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • CIGNA Indemnity
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
    • CIGNA POS/Network POS
    • CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
    • CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
    • CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus

Videos

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology

Other Certification: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, -

Fellowship Program: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2013)

Residency Program: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2012)

Internship Program: Evanston Hospital (2009)

Internship Program: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2009)

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine (2008)

Awards

  • Emerging Leaders Program, American Headache Society

Ratings and reviews

  • Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

    4.7
  • Extent to which the care provider listened to you

    4.8
  • Care provider's discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.7
  • Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care

    4.8
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.7
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.7
  • Mar 21, 2023

    Dr Dougherty is superb. I've referred many people to her.

  • Feb 15, 2023

    Absolutely incredible doctor. Truly amazing.

  • Feb 7, 2023

    Best neurologist ever!