About me
"
Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, is the chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and performs surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A highly skilled and double Board Certified (Orthopaedic Surgery & Hand Surgery) hand and upper extremity surgeon, he completed his orthopaedic residency at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, where he was elected academic chief resident and obtained extensive training managing a broad spectrum of orthopaedic cases. He then completed a hand, microvascular, and upper extremity surgery fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he gained specialized training in the surgical and nonsurgical management of various hand and upper extremity conditions.
During his training, Dr. Michael Kessler has cared for a variety of professional sports organizations, including the New Jersey Devils, Association of Tennis Professionals, Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers. Dr. Kessler has been a consulting hand surgeon for the D.C. United, and currently works with the Georgetown University Athletic Department and as a consultant for the Marymount University, Catholic University and Gallaudet University Athletic departments. He also serves as a consultant to the Washington D.C. Police & Fire Clinic. Dr. Kessler has received multiple awards for his clinical and basic science research, including the prestigious Joseph H. Boyes Award from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand in 2009.
Dr. Kessler serves as the Orthopaedic Residency Program Director at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and as Medical Director of the OT/Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) program at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.
With a patient-centered approach to care, Dr. Michael Kessler's areas of expertise include:
- Hand and wrist conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Elbow conditions
- Advanced arthroscopic techniques
- Complex reconstructions
- Tendon and nerve lacerations
- Care of traumatic injuries including fractures and joint dislocations
Dr. Kessler's Philosophy of Care
Not all patients who come to my office require surgery. However, they all require well thought out, respectful, and individualized care. During the course of an office visit, we will come to understand the nature of their problem or injury, its anatomic basis, and its effect on the individual's activities. Nonoperative treatment is often sufficient and is begun at that first office visit. When surgery is indicated, it is tailored to the individual, their underlying diagnosis, and the demands of their daily lives. Maximizing function, minimizing recovery time, and assuring a durable reconstruction remain the goals for all of my patients whether they be avid gardeners, or professional athletes.
Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association
We congratulate fellowship-trained hand surgeon Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, newly inducted as a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association on June 27, 2019.
The American Orthopaedic Association is the oldest and most distin
Clinical areas of focus
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Trigger Finger
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Acquired Wrist Deformity
- Amputation Of Fingers
- Arm Fracture
- Arm Injury
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Boxer's Fracture
- Bursopathy
- Chronic Gout
- Complications Of Reattachment And Amputation
- Congenital Hand Deformities
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Arthritis
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Finger Arthritis
- Finger Infection
- Finger Injury
- Finger Joint Dislocation
- Finger Laceration
- Finger Sprains
- Finger Tendon Rupture
- Finger Tendonitis
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Forearm And Elbow Joint Instability
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Ganglion Cysts
- Gout
- Hand And Wrist Arthritis
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Deformity
- Hand Infection
- Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation
- Hand Joint Pain
- Hand Tendinitis
- Hand Tendon Injury
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Limb Deformity
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Mallet Finger
- Median Nerve Compression
- Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
- Osteoarthritis Of The Finger
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Polyosteoarthritis
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Radial Nerve Injury
- Reduction Defects Of Upper Limb
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis With Rheumatoid Factor
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Amputation
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Superficial Frostbite
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tendinous Disorders
- Tendonitis In Children
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Thumb Arthritis
- Thumb Synovitis
- Trigger Finger
- Trigger Thumb
- Wrist And Hand Amputation
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
- Wrist Blood Vessel Injury
- Wrist Drop
- Wrist Joint Dislocation
- Wrist, Hand, And Finger Crushing Injury
Procedures I perform
- Amputation With Direct Closure
- Arthroscopic Elbow Debridement
- Articular Fracture Treatment
- Bennett Fracture Treatment
- Bone Graft
- Bursa Excision
- Capsulotomy Of Wrist
- Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
- Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
- Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Carpectomy Of All Bones Of Proximal Row
- Carpectomy Of One Bone
- Carpometacarpal Dislocation Treatment
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Detachment At Left Middle Finger
- Digital Neuroplasty
- Digital Ray Amputation
- Distal Phalangeal Fracture Treatment
- Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
- Distal Radius Fracture Treatment
- Dupuytren Contracture Treatment
- Elbow Replacement
- Excision Of Tendon
- Excision Of Tendon Sheath Or Joint Capsule Lesion
- Excision Of Tumor Or Vascular Malformation, Of Hand Or Finger
- Excision, Olecranon Bursa
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
- Fasciectomy Of Palm
- Fasciectomy With Release Of Single Digit
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Finger Joint Replacement
- Finger Nail Repair
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Ganglion Excision
- Hand Skin Excision
- Hand Subcutaneous Tissue And Fascia Drainage
- Hand Tendon Excision
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Intercarpal Arthroplasty
- Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Interphalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation Treatment
- Joint Drainage
- Joint Replacement Of The Hand
- Left Ulnar Artery Repair
- Lesion Excision
- Lunate Dislocation Treatment
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Median Nerve Release
- Metacarpal Fracture Treatment
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Metacarpal Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Metacarpophalangeal Dislocation Treatment
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
- Microsurgery
- Nail Plate Avulsion
- Nerve Graft
- Nerve Grafting
- Neuroma Excision, Digital Nerve
- Neuroplasty
- Open Carpal Tunnel Release
- Open Ulnar Fracture Treatment
- Opponensplasty
- Osteotomy
- Palmar Fasciectomy
- Palmar Fasciotomy
- Phalangeal Shaft Fracture Treatment
- Phalanx Bone Excision
- Radial And Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Radial Head Arthroplasty With Implant
- Radial Head Prosthetic Replacement
- Radial Nerve Release
- Radial Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Radius Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Scaphoid Nonunion Treatment
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Synovectomy Of Tendon Sheath
- Tendinitis Treatment
- Tendon Sheath Drainage
- Tendon Transplantation
- Tenolysis
- Tenotomy
- Trigger Finger Treatment
- Ulna Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Ulnar Nerve Release
- Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Ulnar Shaft Fracture Treatment
- Ulnar Styloid Fracture Treatment
- Wrist Arthrotomy
- Wrist Arthrotomy With Exploration
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability 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
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- POS OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- OA Plus
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- HighMark
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- UHC Passport
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Navigate
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-EPO Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Beech Street PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- First Health PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hand Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2011)
Residency: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell (2010)
Medical School: Albany Medical College (2005)
Awards
- Bethesda Magazine 2023 Top Doctor
- Washingtonian Top Doctor in Hand Surgery, 2015-2023, 2025
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors, 2022-2023
- Marquis Who's Who, 2020
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedist Shuts Down Spasticity
- A Symphony of Success: Lisa Emenheiser’s Story
- Wide Awake Surgery (NBC4) - June 2015
- Doctors Issue Warning After Boy Bitten by Snake (NBC4) - May 2015
- Dr. Kessler was listed as a Washingtonian Top Doctor - 2015-2023
- Dr. Kessler was selected as an Orthopaedic Surgeon to know by Marquis Who's Who in 2020
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24346815
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24113650
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23123150
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21553790
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21050966
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19011557
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19279712
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17314652
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16199935
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614057