Seyed Babak Kalantar, MD| Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
S. Babak Kalantar, MD, is a member of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and performs surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Kalantar is a professor and chief of the Division of Spine Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedics at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute. He is also the Co-Director of MedStar Spine Center.
Dr. Kalantar became a spine surgeon to help patients with debilitating pain or lack of function return to the highest quality of living possible. In addition to performing surgery, Dr. Kalantar guides patients before surgery, offering as much time and information as patients need to make decisions about the best treatment. He also guides patients after surgery to help them recover to their full potential.
In addition to English, Dr. Kalantar also speaks Spanish and Farsi.
For a decade, Dr. Kalantar has been recognized as a Washingtonian magazine Top Doc for Spinal Surgery: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. He is also a 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor for Spinal Surgery, and a Findatopdoc.com Top Doctor 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
He is Co-Editor in Chief of Seminars in Spine Surgery, an international spine journal.
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Professional Society Memberships
- Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- North American Spine Society
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Spur
- Brain Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities Of Head, Face, Spine And Chest
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Back Pain
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Pain
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Scoliosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Shoulder Burns
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Pain
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Ostectomy
- Osteotomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Balance Restoration
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Fracture Reduction
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
- Choice POS
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Beech Street PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Network OA
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- OA Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Basic
- IH-PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Navigate
- HighMark
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- TRICARE East Prime
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Choice POS II
- Employee Health Plan
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna VA Exchange
- TRICARE East Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Emory University Hospital-GME (2010)
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine (2009)
Internship: Baylor College of Medicine (2005)
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School (2004)
Medical School: University of Virginia (2000)
Awards
- Washingtonian magazine Top Doctor in spine surgery annually selected 2015 through 2026
- Washingtonian magazine Top Doctors Hall of Fame honoree 2026
- Featured on the cover of Washingtonian magazine 2025 Top Doctors issue
- Northern Virginia magazine Top Doctor in spine surgery selected 2017 through 2025
- FindATopDoc Top Doctor 2018-2025
- Castle Connolly Top doctor
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Books
- Editor. The Resident’s Guide to Spine Surgery. Springer. 2019
- Complications of Occipital Instrumentation. Spinal Instrumentation. 2nd Ed. Kim, Vaccaro, Fessler, Radcliff. 2017
- Occipitocervical and C1-C2 Fusion with Instrumentation. Operative Techniques in Spine Surgery. Ed. Rhee, Boden, Flynn, Wiesel. 2013
- Adult Scoliosis: Etiology and Management. Orthopaedic Knowledge Online. February 2012.
- Injury Scene Assessment, Extrication, and Transport. Spine Trauma 2. 2nd Ed. Zigler, Eismont, Garfin, Vaccaro. 2011
- Pathophysiology of Cervical Myelopathy. Orthopedic Knowledge Update: Spine 4. Editor Raj D. Rao, MD. Sep 2011.
- Stephen D Lockey 1 , Seyed Babak Kalantar 1 , John G Heller 2 Historical Perspective: Thomas E. Whitesides, Jr. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2020 Nov 1;45(21):1537-1539. PMID: 32796466. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003609.
- Radcliff K, Smith H, Kalantar B, Isaacs R, Woods B, Vaccaro A, Brannon J. Feasibility of Endoscopic Inspection of Pedicle Wall Integrity in a Live Surgery Model. Int J Spine Surg. 2018 Apr 12 (2), 241-249. PMID: 30276081 PMCID: PMC6159636 DOI: 10.14444/5030
- Stewart JJ, Fayed I, Henault S, Kalantar B, Voyadzis JM. Use of a Smartphone Application for Spine Surgery Improves Patient Adherence With Preoperative Instructions and Decreases Last-minute Surgery Cancellations. Cureus. 2019 Mar. 11 (3), e4192. PMID: 31106092 PMCID: PMC6504025 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.4192
- Paulus MC, Kalantar SB, Radcliff K. Cost and Value of Spinal Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Mar. 39 (5), 388-93. PMID: 24573071 DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000150.
- Triantafillou KM, Lauerman W, Kalantar SB. Degenerative Disease of the Cervical Spine and Its Relationship to Athletes. Clin Sports Med. 2012 Jul. , 31 (3), 509-20. PMID: 22657999 DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2012.03.009.
- Kalantar SB, Hipp JA, Reitman CA, Dreiangel N, Ben-Galim P. Diagnosis of Unstable Cervical Spine Injuries: Laboratory Support for the Use of Axial Traction to Diagnose Cervical Spine Instability. J Trauma. 2010 Oct. 69 (4), 889-95. PMID: 20130489 DOI: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181bbd660.
- Ben-Galim P, Dreiangel N, Mattox K, Reitman CA, Kalantar SB, Hipp JA. Extrication Collars Can Result in Abnormal Separation Between Vertebrae in the Presence of a Dissociative Injury. J Trauma. 2010 Aug. 69 (2), 447-50. PMID: 20093981 DOI: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181be785a.
- Radcliff K, Kalantar SB, Reitman CA. Surgical Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis in Athletes: Indications and Return to Play. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2009 Jan-Feb. 8 (1), 35-40. PMID: 19142078 DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e318194f89e