Joseph Leigh Ferguson, MD| Orthopedic Spine Surgery, Spine 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 Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Disorders In Diseases
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Sacral Spine Herniation
- Scoliosis
- 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
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
- 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
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BlueChoice Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-POS
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- HighMark
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice POS
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Network OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Student Resources
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Choice POS II
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Sentara Health
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
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 Georgetown University Hospital (2018)
Residency: Medstar Health (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.