About me
James Brennan Spies, MD, is professor and chair in the Department of Radiology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. After attending Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Spies completed a radiology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a fellowship at New York University School of Medicine in vascular and interventional radiology. He also has received a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Spies served four years in the United States Air Force. After military service, he was in private practice for several years before joining the faculty of Georgetown University in 1997. He has served as chair of the Department of Radiology since 2005.
He has an active practice in uterine embolization for fibroids. He also treats women with adenomyosis, post-partum hemorrhage, and pelvic venous disease and also varicocele in men.
He has performed extensive research in uterine embolization and is recognized as an international authority on the procedure. He has more than 160 published scientific studies, given over 400 invited presentations, and has edited a text on uterine embolization. He continues to actively research uterine embolization and the comparative outcomes for fibroid therapies.
Dr. Spies is a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), and the American College of Radiology (ACR) and has also been named a Distinguished Fellow of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and Honorary Fellow of the British Society of Interventional Radiology. He has served on numerous national committees for both SIR and ACR and is past president of the Society of Interventional Radiology, the largest interventional radiology professional organization in the U.S. In 2019 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the SIR, its highest award, recognizing his extensive contributions to the field and for his national leadership in the organization.
My Philosophy of Care
I believe in a collaborative approach to patient care, actively involving the patient and the patient's other physicians. I believe that a well-informed patient is best able to participate in that process. I strive to ensure that patients have all the information they need to choose the medical approach best suited to them and the opportunity to fully discuss their options.
Clinical areas of focus
- Dialysis
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Neobladder Creation
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Stent Placement
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Blood Clots In Legs
- Carotid Artery Stenosis
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Dialysis Access Creation And Maintenance
- Endoleak
- Kidney Artery Stenosis
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Mesenteric Artery Stenosis
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- Spider Veins
- Stroke Prevention
- Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
- Testicular Varicocele
- Testicular Varicocele Embolization
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Uterine Adenomyosis
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Uterine Fibroids
- Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities
- Vascular Malformation
- Vascular Stenosis
- Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Venous Insufficiency
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy
- Angioplasty
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Atherectomy
- Bland Embolization
- Bypass Graft Angioplasty
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Cervical Discography
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystometrogram
- Dialysis
- Dialysis Graft Placement
- Embolization For Bleeding
- Embolization Of Venous Malformations
- Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Endovenous Laser Ablation Of Varicose Veins
- Endovenous Laser Therapy
- Float Therapy
- Fluoroscopy-Guided Biopsy
- Ganglion Impar Block
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gonadal Vein Embolization
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kyphoplasty
- Laser-Induced Interstitial Thermotherapy
- Ligament Augmentation
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Lumbar Discography
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Microwave Ablation
- Neobladder Creation
- Nerve Block
- Pec Implants
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Percutaneous Abscess Drainage
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Discography
- Percutaneous Fasciotomy
- Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Septostomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Percutaneous Laser Ablation Of Nerves
- Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Of Uterine Fibroids
- Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Of Varicose Veins
- Percutaneous Tenotomy
- Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
- Percutaneous Treatment Of Spider Veins
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Portal Vein Embolization
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Prostate Artery Embolization
- Radiation Therapy
- Radioembolization Of Breast Cancer
- Radiofrequency Thermoablation
- Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Cystectomy For Bladder Cancer
- Sclerotherapy With Sotradecol
- Stent Placement
- Stenting Of An Artery
- Stereotactic Radiation Therapy For Endocrine Tumors
- Sympathectomy
- Thoracic Discography
- Thrombolysis
- Tibial Stent Placement
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Transarterial Embolization
- Tunneled Pleural Catheter Placement
- Uterine Artery Embolization
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Varicocele Embolization
- Vascular Coil Embolization
- Vascular Plug Embolization
- Vascular Stenting
- Vein Sclerotherapy
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
5601 Loch Raven Blvd MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD, 21239
443-444-2430Fax 443-444-4656
201 E University Pkwy MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore, MD, 21218
410-554-2728Fax 410-554-2584
18101 Prince Phillip Dr MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney, MD, 20832
301-774-8650miles away
106 Irving St NW MedStar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-9729Fax 301-209-5616
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-HMO
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Medicare FFS
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- OA Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Student Resources
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Network OA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- IH-Open POS II
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- HighMark
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Tricare Reserve Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice Fund PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
Videos
Education
Board Certification:
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (1985)
Residency: University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine (1984)
Internship: California Pacific Medical Center (1981)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (1980)