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