Joseph Leigh Ferguson, MD| Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery | MedStar Health
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
- Chest Injury
- Coccydynia
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- 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
- Spondylosis
- 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
- Osteotomy
- 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
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
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- OA Plus
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-EPO Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open HMO
- United Student Resources
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst NASCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- TRICARE East Select
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Employee Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst EPO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Sentara Health
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- HighMark
- CIGNA PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-HMO
- Choice POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Network OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthpedic Surgery
Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2019)
Fellowship: Atrium Health Union West (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.