About me
Sana Somani, MD, is a board-certified neurologist joining as a vascular neurologist affiliated with the Comprehensive Stroke Centers at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is also an attending telestroke physician for all MedStar Health hospitals and is Assistant Professor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where she educates neurology residents and NIH stroke fellows.
Dr. Somani received her medical degree from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. She then completed a four-year neurology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she served as Chief Resident. Finally, she completed a specialty fellowship in vascular neurology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, before joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
As a vascular neurologist at MedStar Washington, one of the few MRI-based stroke programs in the country and also the largest NIH-funded stroke center, she sees patients for ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, hemorrhagic stroke, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. She has a special interest in treating stroke in the young population (patients between the ages of 30 and 50) including those with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.
Dr. Somani provides acute stroke treatment and secondary stroke prevention. Acute stroke treatment aims to reduce the size of the stroke and reverse damage to the brain through clot-busting medications and clot retrieving procedures. Stroke prevention treatment aims to understand why the stroke occurred and implement a treatment plan that aims to prevent a stroke from happening in the future. Dr. Somani coordinates with physicians in different specialties, including neurosurgery, cardiology, vascular surgery, and rheumatology, to help create a tailored treatment plan for her patients.
Her research interests were sparked during her residency and fellowship training, where she witnessed first-hand the ethnic, racial, and gender disparities that exist within the healthcare system. She was interviewed by Neurology Today for her work regarding health disparities in stroke rehabilitation.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care rests on a central pillar: Treat the patient, not the disease. When treating patients who suffer from strokes, we have to make quick decisions in the moment that will impact their entire life. I always ask myself, ‘What can we do for the patient, not to the patient?’”
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology
- Cerebral Internal Carotid Artery Ophthalmic Segment Aneurysm Coiling
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) Treatment
- Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Treatment
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Mri
- Anxiety
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Disorders
- Carotid Artery Occlusion
- Carotid Stenosis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Congenital Corneal Disorders
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Dentofacial Abnormality
- Dural Arteriovenous Fistula
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Gait And Balance Problems
- Head Injury
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Meninges
- Myopathies
- Nystagmus
- Optic Nerve Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Paraplegia And Quadriplegia
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Poisoning
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Retinal Disease
- Speech Disturbances
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage In Newborn
- Subcortical Infarction
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vision Disturbances
Procedures I perform
- Angiogram
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Arterial Thrombolysis
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Balance And Gait Disorders Treatment
- Botulinum Toxin Injections For Migraines
- Brain Angioplasty
- Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology
- Cerebral Atherosclerosis Treatment
- Cerebral Internal Carotid Artery Ophthalmic Segment Aneurysm Coiling
- Cerebral Vasospasm Stenting
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) Treatment
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Confusion Treatment
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cranial Ultrasonography
- Developmental Delay Evaluation And Treatment
- Difficulty Speaking Treatment
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Lumbar Puncture
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Maintenance Of Wakefulness Test
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Medication Administration And Management
- MRA With Contrast
- Nerve Block
- Neuromuscular Monitoring
- Neuromuscular Reeducation For Muscle Control
- Neuromuscular Rehabilitation
- Numbness Evaluation And Treatment
- Oral And Pharyngeal Swallowing Function Evaluation
- Polysomnography
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
- Speech Sound Production Evaluation
- Speech Therapy
- Stenting Of Arterial Stenosis
- Stroke Care
- Subarachnoid Block
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Treatment
- Swallowing Disorder Treatment
- Thrombolysis
- Transcranial Doppler
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Treatment
- Vertebral Artery Stenting
- Vestibular Testing
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm Treatment
- Visian Icl
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
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Navigate
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Network OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HighMark
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Employee Health Plan
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Sentara Health
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS II
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- TRICARE East Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- First Health PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurology
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown GME (2021)
Residency: University of Alabama Medical Center-Birmingham (2020)
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical School (2015)