About me
Rizwan Ahmad Tahir, MD, joins MedStar Health as a neurosurgeon for the department of Neurosurgery. He is a specialist in cerebrovascular disorders and neurosurgery. Dr. Tahir is a compassionate and caring physician who works collaboratively with his patients to achieve the best outcomes.
As the recipient of several academic honors and awards, Dr. Tahir has published 20 peer-reviewed articles. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. His research interest includes cerebral vascular and endovascular neurosurgery–specifically as it pertains to stroke and vascular malformations and aneurysms.
Dr. Tahir earned his medical degree at Wayne State University in Detroit and completed his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He completed his fellowship in Cerebrovascular at the University of Illinois in Chicago and his fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Tahir believes the surgeon and patient relationship should be built on a foundation of trust and transparency to achieve the best outcomes.
“I work closely with my patients and take a very personalized approach. I encourage my patients to ask as many questions as they need to understand their options and make decisions that are right for them—it is critical that they are actively involved in the decision-making process. Together, we collaborate on creating a treatment plan, making sure to incorporate the patient’s wishes and goals.”
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Tahir enjoys spending time with his wife, a headache neurologist at MedStar Health, and their two children. He enjoys playing basketball and football, exercising, good food, and travel. He is also committed to volunteering for global health and disaster relief efforts.
Dr. Tahir sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Clinical areas of focus
- Brain Tumor
- Hydrocephalus
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Brain And Central Nervous System
- Benign Tumor
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Carotid Stenosis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Hydrocephalus
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Epilepsy
- Head Injury
- Hemangioma
- Hydrocephalus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Meninges
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Spinal Cord
- Meningioma
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Omphalocele
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Scoliosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spine Tumor
- Spondylopathies
- Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
Procedures I perform
- Bifrontal Craniectomy
- Cerebellar Hemorrhage Evacuation
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Revision
- Cervical Nerve Release
- Cervical Spinal Cord Release
- Cervical Vertebral Disc Excision
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Cranial Nerve Neurostimulator Electrode Array And Pulse Generator Implantation
- Craniectomy For Hematoma Evacuation
- Cranioplasty
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dura Mater Supplement
- Endovascular Intracranial Prolonged Administration Of Pharmacologic Agent
- Excision Of Cerebral Ventricle
- Lumboperitoneal Shunt
- Lumbosacral Disc Excision
- Occlusion Intracranial Artery
- Open Brain Release
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parotid Biopsy
- Removal Of Bone Flap
- Resection Of Thoracic Vertebral Disc
- Sacral Nerve Release
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy For Brain Tumors
- Stereotactic Spinal Procedure
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aorta To Carotid Artery Bypass With Synthetic Substitute
- Thoracic Laminectomy
- Thoracic Nerve Release
- Upper Artery Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Vestibular Nerve Tumor Surgery
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 Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- OA Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Navigate
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Student Resources
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- POS OA
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Employee Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Choice POS
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- HighMark
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Basic
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Optimum Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UHC Passport
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Administrators
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery
Fellowship: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medical (2022)
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Jefferson Health (2021)
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital (2020)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2013)