Seyed Babak Kalantar, MD| Spine Surgery, Neurosurgery | 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.
Learn about minimally invasive spine surgery.
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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
- Bursopathy
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- 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
- 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
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare FFS
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Optimum Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Navigate
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-HMO
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Medicare Direct
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- POS OA
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- HighMark
- First Health PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-POS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Network OA
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
Videos
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
- Top Doctor 2018-2024 - Excellence in Medicine - Findatopdoc.com
- 2015 - 2025 Top Doctor: Spinal Surgery, Washington, D.C.- Washingtonian Magazine
- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Top Doctor, Spinal Surgery, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine
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