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
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Neobladder Creation
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Stent Placement
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Dialysis Access Creation And Maintenance
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- 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
Procedures I perform
- Angiography
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Bland Embolization
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystometrogram
- Dialysis
- Embolization For Bleeding
- Embolization Of Venous Malformations
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Float Therapy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gonadal Vein Embolization
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Ligament Augmentation
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Neobladder Creation
- Nerve Block
- Pec Implants
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Septostomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Of Uterine Fibroids
- Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Of Varicose Veins
- Percutaneous Treatment Of Spider Veins
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Portosystemic Shunt
- 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
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Transarterial Embolization
- Uterine Artery Embolization
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Varicocele Embolization
- 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
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
201 E University Pkwy MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore, MD, 21218
410-554-2728Fax 410-554-2584
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
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Passport
- IH-POS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Employee Health Plan
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Navigate
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Medicare FFS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Network OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- OA Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst NASCO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open HMO Option
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HighMark
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)