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
- Heel 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
- Acantholytic Disorders
- 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
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
- Mallet Finger
- Median Nerve Compression
- Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- 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
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Superficial Frostbite
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- 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
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- 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
- Femoral Nerve Reposition
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Finger Joint Replacement
- Finger Nail Repair
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Foot Subcutaneous Tissue Diagnostic Drainage
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Ganglion Excision
- Hand Skin Excision
- Hand Subcutaneous Tissue And Fascia Drainage
- Hand Tendon Excision
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Heel 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
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- 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
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Network OA
- HighMark
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice Fund PPO
- Sentara Health
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Police and Fire Clinic
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-POS
- POS OA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst NASCO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE for Life East
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Choice POS
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Navigate
- OA Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hand 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