About me
Joseph L. Ferguson, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Ferguson specializes in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
With advanced expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Ferguson performs a wide range of procedures in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and help patients return to an active lifestyle. His surgical expertise includes transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar fusion (ALIF), extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF), and lumbar fusion techniques tailored to each patient’s unique condition.
He also specializes in surgical disc replacement, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminoplasty, and lumbar laminectomy, offering both traditional and motion-preserving approaches depending on the clinical needs of each case. Dr. Ferguson frequently treats patients with complex degenerative spine disorders and employs innovative strategies to manage spinal instability, deformity, and nerve compression.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ferguson is committed to advancing the field of degenerative spine surgery through research, education, and the integration of the latest technologies. His expertise in thoracic fusion and minimally invasive techniques allows him to achieve optimal outcomes with reduced recovery times and improved patient satisfaction.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Ferguson believes each patient is unique and requires an individualized, focused, and thorough approach to address the diagnosis. He approaches each patient-physician relationship as a partnership, with the best outcomes resulting from a collaborative effort. His goal is to help patients and their families understand their conditions and to educate them on all possible options, in order to restore function and relieve pain for a return to an active lifestyle.
He specializes in
- Cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower-back) pathologies
- Minimally invasive techniques
- Lumbar stenosis
- Lumbar degenerative spine disorders
- Cervical Stenosis
- Cervical herniated disks
- Neck and/or arm pain or weakness
- Leg pain and weakness
- Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy
- Scoliosis (adult)
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spinal Stenosis
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Disorders In Diseases
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Coccydynia
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Sacral Spine Herniation
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Herniation
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Thumb Synovitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Bulging Disc Treatment
- Cauda Equina Syndrome Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Degenerative Spine Surgery
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Fusion
- Lumbar Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Spinal Deformity Correction In Adolescents
- Spinal Deformity Correction With Intraoperative Ct
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Dural Fistula Treatment
- Spinal Facet Joint Pain Treatment
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Hematoma Treatment
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Injury Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Fusion
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
1 Gorman
Washington, DC, 20007
5454 Wisconsin Ave
Ste 1100
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
1120 20th St NW
Bldg 1 S A Level
Washington, DC, 20036
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
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- OA Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- UHC Passport
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS II
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- POS OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Basic
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Navigate
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Network OA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthpedic Surgery
Fellowship: Atrium Health Union West (2019)
Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2019)
Residency: Medstar Health (2018)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2018)
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College (2013)
Graduate: Drexel University (2007)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Basques, BA, Ferguson JF, Kunze KN, Phillips, FP. Lumbar Spinal Fusion in the Outpatient Setting: An Update on Management, Surgical Approaches and Planning. Journal of Spine Surgery (accepted, pending publication).
- Louie PK, Haws BE, Khan JM, Markowitz J, Movassaghi K, Ferguson J, Lopez GD, An HS, Phillips FM. Comparison of Stand-alone Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion versus Open Laminectomy and Posterolateral Instrumented Fusion in the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease following Previous Lumbar Fusion Surgery. Spine. Aug 12, 2019 (ePub ahead of print).
- Ferguson J, Mariorenzi M, Kalantar SB. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion for a single-level disc herniation. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2014; 26(3): 154-9.
- Ferguson J, Hwang S, Tataryn Z, Samdani A. Neuromonitoring changes in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a single-institution experience. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2014; 13(3): 247-54.
- Radcliff K, Ferguson JL, Reis-Rodrigues LM, Gruskay J, Levine AM, Albert T, Vaccaro AR. Chapter 24: Traumatic Spondylolisthesis of the Axis (Hangman's Fracture) in Spine Trauma, 2nd edition. Eds: Zigler JE, Eismont FJ, Garfin SR, Vaccaro AR, from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011.
- Samdani AF, Cahill PJ, Hwang SW, King J, Edwards A, Fine A, Ferguson J, Betz RR: Larger curve magnitude is associated with markedly increased perioperative complications after scoliosis surgery in patients with spinal cord injury. 18th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (podium), Copenhagen, Denmark, July 13-16, 2011.
- Zlotolow DA, Ferguson JL, Knutsen E, Kozin SH. The Natural History of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. NARAKAS meeting, May 19-22, 2011, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Ferguson JL, Zlotolow DA, Kozin SH. Timing of Recovery of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.
- Poster, AOA Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, March 2nd, 2012
- E-Poster, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, September 6-8, 2012, Chicago, IL.
- Ferguson JL, Hwang SW, Stanton P, Fine A, Samdani AF. Neuromonitoring Changes in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery: Single Institution Experience. New England Neurosurgical Society annual meeting, June 21-23, 2012.