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