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 Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- OA Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA EPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- POS OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Choice POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Optimum Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Sentara Health
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Indemnity
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Network OA
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Choice POS II
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Student Resources
- Aetna HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Beech Street PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic 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