About me
Dr. Lemma is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in the surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. He sees patients in Bel Air, Rosedale / White Marsh, and in Baltimore at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He currently serves as division chief of spine surgery as well as director of minimally invasive spine surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
Pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery seemed a natural fit to Dr. Lemma's background as a mechanical engineer. After completing his residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, he served as division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, prior to transitioning to MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in 2014.
Dr. Lemma's areas of intellectual interest and clinical expertise center around minimally invasive spine surgery. Using tubular retractors in lieu of traditional open surgery, state-of-the-art technologies, and computer-assisted navigation allows Dr. Lemma to deliver to his patients the best solutions with the least amount of invasion. A large portion of his practice also focuses on spinal problems in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, spinal deformity, and revision spinal surgery.
Dr. Lemma remains active in resident and surgeon education, and was honored to be the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from the Johns Hopkins University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2014. He has also been involved in developing innovative spine surgical techniques and new technologies and relates his experiences to other surgeons, both from the podium as well as in smaller teaching seminars. It has been a privilege for Dr. Lemma to be listed by both U.S. News and World Report's and Castle Connolly in their lists of Top Doctors in the U.S., as well as being named among the Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the U.S. by Becker's Healthcare. He was repeatedly named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine, most recently in 2023.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Fusion Failure
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylosis
Procedures I perform
- Back Pain Treatment
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Spine Stabilization
- Discectomy
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Stabilization
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
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice POS
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- HighMark
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Navigate
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA PPO
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Select
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- OA Plus
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
Videos
Education
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University (2003)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002)
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry (1997)
Awards
- 2015-2021, 2023 Baltimore Magazine Top Doctors
- 2015-2016 Best Doctors in America
- 2014 Teacher of the Year Award, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2014 Becker's Top Spine Surgeons in the US
- 2011 Becker's Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the US