Seyed Babak Kalantar, MD| Orthopedic Surgery, Spine 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
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Spur
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Kyphosis
- Lordosis
- Lower Back Pain
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Pain
- Neck Sprain
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Pain
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
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
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- 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
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst NASCO
- POS OA
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HighMark
- IH-Open POS II
- OA Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Network OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO
- Choice POS
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-EPO Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Student Resources
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UHC Passport
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
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