Syed Mohammed Karim, MD

Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

S. Mohammed Karim, MD is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is dual fellowship trained in spine surgery and orthopaedic oncology—one of only a handful of surgeons nationwide with such training and experience. At MedStar Health, he specializes in the surgical treatment of patients with bone and soft tissue tumors / cancers. He sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

As a comprehensive musculoskeletal and spinal oncology surgeon, Dr. Karim enjoys helping those with both primary tumors (such as sarcomas) and metastatic tumors throughout the entire body including the spine, sacrum, pelvis, and extremities. He performs surgery for tumors causing spinal cord compression; spinal fractures/instability from tumors; pathologic or impending fractures in the arms, legs, and pelvis; and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors in all parts of the body. Dr. Karim believes firmly that cancer care is a “team sport” and works closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, plastic surgeons, and other surgical subspecialists of MedStar Health to provide the best treatment possible to each patient. In addition to cancer patients, he surgically treats those with degenerative spine conditions (such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, cervical myelopathy, and bulging discs), spinal trauma, spinal cord injuries, and spinal infections.

In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Karim conducts clinical research to improve the outcomes of patients with musculoskeletal and spinal tumors. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Dr. Karim is a member of the AOSpine Knowledge Forum Tumor – an international group of surgeons and other cancer specialists who perform research to improve the care of patients with spinal tumors. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the North American Spine Society, for which he holds Committee Appointments in Spine Oncology, Robotics and Enabling Technology, and Resident and Fellow Education. He has a keen interest in education and enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows both in and out of the operating room. Beyond his medical career, Dr. Karim is a proud member of the Civil Air Patrol.