Joseph Watson, MD| Neurosurgery | MedStar Health

Joseph Watson, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.9 out of 5 (390 reviews)

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Languages: English

703-748-1010

About me

A senior neurosurgeon and professor of Neurosurgery at Georgetown University, Dr. Watson leads the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Watson earned his Bachelor of Science at Stanford University and his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. He completed his neurosurgical residency at the Medical College of Virginia (now V.C.U.) in Richmond. Dr. Watson was fellowship trained at the National Institutes of Health in pituitary surgery and cerebrovascular research/surgery. He brings the wisdom of “those pioneers in neurosurgery from both coasts who instructed me” to bear on his patients here at MGUH.

Clinical areas of focus

  • Aneurysm
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Herniated Disc
  • Parkinson's Disease (PD)
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Tumor
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Acromegaly
  • Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma
  • Aneurysm
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arterial Malformation Brain
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma Tumors
  • Benign Neoplasm Of Brain
  • Berry Aneurysm
  • Brachial Nerve Tumors
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Cavernous Hemangioma
  • Central Nervous System Tumors
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Clivus Chondroma
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Dural Arteriovenous Fistula
  • Elevated Growth Hormone
  • Ependymoma
  • Glioblastoma Multiforme
  • Glioma
  • Gliosarcoma
  • Hemangioblastoma
  • Herniated Disc
  • Intracranial Mass
  • Intraventricular Tumor
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Mass
  • Lumbar Spine Tumor
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of Cerebellum
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of Frontal Lobe
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of The Spinal Cord
  • Meningioma
  • Meningioma Of The Spine
  • Metastatic Brain Cancer
  • Moyamoya
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 1
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2
  • Neurogenic Claudication
  • Non Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Olfactory Neuroblastoma
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma
  • Parkinson's Disease (PD)
  • Peripheral Nerve Tumors
  • Peripheral Schwannoma
  • Pituitary Adenoma
  • Pituitary Cancer
  • Primary Brain Tumor
  • Rathke Cleft Cysts
  • Ruptured Brain Aneurysm
  • Scoliosis
  • Skull Base Tumor
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Mass
  • Spine Tumor
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Thoracic Spine Mass
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Tuberous Sclerosis
  • Vascular Brain Tumors
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Spine
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Procedures I perform

  • Acoustic Neuroma Removal
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Awake Craniotomy
  • Biopsy Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Skull
  • Brain Surgery
  • Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Cerebrovascular Bypass Surgery
  • Cervical Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Cervical Laminotomy
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Clipping Of Brain Aneurysm
  • Craniotomy
  • Decompression Median Nerve At Elbow
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Endoscopic Endonasal Approach
  • Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
  • Intracranial Arterial Bypass
  • Laminectomy
  • Microsurgery
  • Microvascular Decompression
  • Microvascular Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Open Biopsy Of Brain
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Resection Of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Robotic Assisted Neurosurgery
  • Spinal Schwannoma Surgery
  • Spinal Stenosis Surgery
  • Spine Microsurgery
  • Standard Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Stereotactic Brain Biopsy
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Transnasal Repair Csf Leak
  • Ulnar Nerve Decompression
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 6th Fl
Washington, DC, 20007

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

1850 Town Center Parkway
Reston Hospital Center
Reston, VA, 20190

703-689-9000

Fax 703-689-9174

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-689-9174

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
1 Lombardi
Washington, DC, 20007

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

3300 Gallows Road
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church, VA, 22042

855-694-6682

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

2300 Opitz Boulevard
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
Woodbridge, VA, 22191

703-523-1000

Fax 571-542-9992

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 571-542-9992

8230 Boone Boulevard
Suite 360
Vienna, VA, 22182

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

Insurance

MedStar Medical Group accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Medical Group, please call your insurance company.

  • List of insurance plans we accept
    • UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
    • UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO"
    • United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)"
    • UHC Community Plan of MD
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Medicare Fee for Service
    • Kaiser Virginia Premier
    • Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature
    • Kaiser Permanente Select
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)"
    • Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
    • Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
    • CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • CFBCBS EPO
    • Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)"
    • Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna HMO
    • Open POS II
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Open EPO Plus
    • Opoen HMO Option
    • Open HMO
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • BlueChoice Open Access
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
    • Choice Fund PPO
    • PPO and PPO Plus
    • CIGNA EPO
    • POS OA & OA Plus
    • Network OA
    • CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
    • United Healthcare Choice
    • Tricare Prime
    • United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • M.D. IPA (HMO)
    • First Health PPO
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
    • M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
    • Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
    • United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
    • United Healthcare Choice Plus
    • CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • United Student Resources
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
    • CIGNA POS/Network POS
    • MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
    • Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CIGNA Indemnity
    • FIRST HEALTH
    • CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery

Fellowship Program: National Institute of Health (1999)

Residency Program: Medical College of Virginia (1997)

Internship Program: Medical College of Virginia (1992)

Medical School: University of California at San Diego (1991)

Ratings and reviews

  • Provider explained things understandably

    4.9
  • Provider listened carefully

    4.9
  • Provider knew medical history

    4.9
  • Provider showed respect

    4.9
  • Provider spent enough time with patient

    4.9
  • Mar 27, 2023

    Already have recommended Dr Watson to others!

  • Mar 27, 2023

    Dr Watson listens and explained in detail. Really appreciate his suggestions and explanations.

  • Mar 13, 2023

    Dr. Watson is an excellent doctor with great results.