About me
Jessica Ailani, MD, is board certified in neurology, with added certification in headache. She sees patients at the McLean, Virginia, clinic.
Dr. Ailani is a clinical professor of neurology at MedStar's Georgetown University Hospital and director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center. Dr. Ailani treats a variety of headache disorders, most commonly migraine, cluster headache, and occipital neuralgia. She uses a wide variety of treatment options in headache management including neuromodulation, pharmacotherapy, infusion treatment for status migraine, and Botox for chronic migraine.
Dr. Ailani is involved in numerous clinical trials focused on new treatments in the migraine space..
She is dedicated to educating the field on headache disorders. She is a national and international speaker, invited to discuss migraine at headache and primary care meetings. She has spoken at the American Headache Society, Diamond Headache meeting, International Headache Society, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, and has presented abstracts at both national and internation meetings.
Because people don't always want to take medications, Dr. Ailani is very willing to work with patients in finding lifestyle solutions. If patients want medications, she is willing to treat the headache aggressively. Dr. Ailani uses an integrative approach, with care designed around what the patient wants, encompassing all possibilities.
Dr. Ailani and her husband are from New York, and enjoy the warmer weather in the D.C. area. While others might not think of Washington as "the south," it certainly is for these former Long Islanders. They appreciate the museums as well as the cultural mix of people and restaurants in the Washington metro area. Dr. Ailani also enjoys the diversity of patients she sees daily, coming from rural areas, the city, as well as internationally.
Read details about Dr. Ailani's background and accomplishments.
Clinical areas of focus
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myelitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Movements
- Acute Disseminated Demyelination
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Benign Essential Tremor
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Degenerative Diseases Of Basal Ganglia
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Dementia
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Falls And Gait Disorders
- Gait And Balance Problems
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hemifacial Spasm
- Huntington's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypokinetic Movement Disorders
- Idiopathic Neuropathy
- Intracranial Hypertension
- Migraine
- Migraine With Aura
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myelitis
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Narcolepsy
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuropathic Pain
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Occipital Neuralgia
- Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Seizure Disorders
- Sensory Neuropathy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Sports Concussion
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
Procedures I perform
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electroencephalogram Setup And Takedown
- Electromyography
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Muscle Biopsy
- Neuromuscular Testing
- Surface Emg
- Tension Headache Treatment
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
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Network OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-EPO Plus
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- TRICARE East Select
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- HighMark
- TRICARE for Life East
- Employee Health Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open HMO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Navigate
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Choice POS II
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- OA Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst NASCO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- TRICARE East Prime
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
Videos
Education
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Headache Fellowship (2009)
Residency: New York University Langone Medical Center-GME (2008)
Internship: Winthrop-University Hospital (2005)
Graduate: SUNY Stony Brook University (2004)
Awards
- American Headache Society Above and Beyond Award 2021
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
https://www.glamour.com/story/after-40-years-of-hell-heaven-is-migraine-relief
https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-elevator-pitch
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-hangover-facts
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-stigma
https://www.self.com/story/cluster-headaches-facts
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a24892333/migraine-symptoms/
https://www.prevention.com/health/a22865459/alcohol-facts-myths/
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/the-truth-about-aspirin/351661504
https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/new-era-migraine-relief
https://www.phillyvoice.com/migraines-treatment-cgrp-inhibitors-effective-headache-survey/
https://www.ajmc.com/view/contemporary-management-of-migraine-an-interview-with-jessica-ailani-md
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-it-works-injectable-treatments-for-migraine
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/so-much-more-headache/202105/migraine-sufferers-appreciate-support-more-advice
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2020/10080/so_many_migraine_therapies,_so_many_decisions_.2.aspx
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/947086
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/blog/neurologytodayconferencereportersaanannualmeeting/pages/post.aspx?PostID=125
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20191211/dhe-reemerges-as-magic-migraine-treatment
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emgality-demonstrates-reduction-in-frequency-duration-and-pain-severity-in-patients-with-episodic-and-chronic-migraine-301078159.html
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20200224/fda-approves-vyepti-first-iv-preventive-treatment-for-migraine