About me
Dr. Mesfin is an experienced fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon. He is also the Vice Chair of Research for the Medstar Orthopaedic Institute in the Washington DC region. He was formerly a Professor of Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of Rochester in New York. He completed his Orthopaedic Residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and his Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgery training at the Washington Univeristy in St. Louis.
He has served in committee and leadership roles in several organizations including: Cervical Spine Research Society, Scoliosis Research Society, Lumbar Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society, American Orthopaedic Association, J Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society.
He is a member of AO Spine Oncology Knowledge Forum and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor medical society.
He has been honored as a recepient of competitive and prestigious awards including he American Orthopaedic Association-American British Canadian Traveling Fellowship, Cervical Spine Research Society Traveling Fellowship and Scoliosis Research Society Traveling Fellowship.
His areas of special interest, expertise, and research include:
- Benign and malignant primary spine tumors and metastatic spine disease
- Adult scoliosis/Kyphosis
- Spinal stenosis/Disc herniations
- Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
- Spine trauma
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Cervical disc replacement and laminoplasty
An active and widely published researcher, he has published more than 200 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Neurosurgery Spine, Spine, and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has also been an invited lecturer in more than 15 countries. He has been awarded grant support for his research focusing on spine surgery outcomes.
The focus of Dr. Mesfin’s approach to caring for patients includes educating patients and their families about their diagnoses and options using the latest research so they can be partners in decisions about their care. Before recommending surgery, he exhausts all other treatment options. Dr. Mesfin is fluent in English, French, and Amharic.
He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps in the U.S. and Afghanistan (as a member of a Forward Surgical Team), reaching the rank of major.
When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, long distance running, and tennis.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Benign Tumor
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Foraminal Stenosis
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Head Injury
- Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Radiculopathy
- Thoracic Spine Instability
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Spine Stabilization
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Spine Stabilization
- Lumbar Traction
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Osteoporosis Prevention Treatment
- Osteotomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Balance Restoration
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fracture Stabilization
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Infection Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Vertebral Body Replacement
- Vertebral Compression Fracture 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
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Network OA
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Navigate
- TRICARE East Prime
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- Choice POS II
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Medicare Direct
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Choice POS
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna HMO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Basic
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- POS OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- HighMark
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-POS
- OA Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Employee Health Plan
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine (2012)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)
Medical School: Drexel University (2006)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025