About me
Dr. Ali Rahnama, DPM, is a board certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and is an Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Rahnama sees patients for all conditions of the foot and ankle, with a special focus on reconstructive surgery as well as minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of athletic injuries, which include ligamentous and tendon injuries as well as fractures of the ankle, talus, calcaneus, and Lisfranc joint. Dr. Rahnama also treats and specializes in diabetic Charcot reconstruction of the lower extremity.
Dr. Rahnama is board certified in Foot and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Rahnama’s clinical interests include sports-related injuries, fracture management, Charcot reconstruction, bunion and hammertoe correction, and first metatarsal phalangeal joint arthritis. His research interests include elective surgery in the diabetic population and exploring minimally invasive techniques for hallux valgus (bunion) surgery. He is dedicated to utilizing techniques that allow patients to get back on their feet as soon as possible without compromising care.
Dr. Rahnama completed his medical degree at Temple University in Philadelphia before completing a three-year surgical residency in foot and ankle surgery at the Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He then completed a one-year specialty fellowship in traumatic and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery with The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. in Atlanta, where he performed more than 1,000 surgical procedures.
Dr. Rahnama is the author of several book chapters and peer review research articles and regularly lectures at national conferences in foot and ankle surgery and is committed to research as well as teaching residents, fellows and peers with the goal of advancing the field of foot and ankle surgery.
Dr. Rahnama lives locally with his wife, who is undergoing her medical training in Washington, DC. They enjoy outdoor activities as well as trying new and different foods when they can.
Philosophy of Care
“Individualized treatment plans and patient-focused treatment are what provide the best results for patients, as each case is unique to that person and their body. A patient who is educated on their condition is best prepared to make informed decisions together with their doctor, allowing them to put together a plan of action that’s best suited for them. Despite the comprehensive nature of my surgical training, I’m an advocate for conservative treatment options if and when they’re appropriate. I don’t only operate because I’m a surgeon. I do what’s best for the patient. If something can be managed and treated conservatively without surgery, that’s what I’ll try every single time.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Clubfoot Correction
- Non-Healing Wound Treatment
- Osteomyelitis Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Achilles Tendon Pain
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Ankle Abrasion
- Ankle And Foot Burn
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Ankle And Foot Ganglion Cysts
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Ankle And Foot Ligament Sprain
- Ankle Arthropathy
- Ankle Bursitis
- Ankle Callus
- Ankle Chondromalacia
- Ankle Impingement
- Ankle Instability
- Ankle Joint Dislocation
- Ankle Nerve Damage
- Ankle Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Ankle Osteonecrosis
- Ankle Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Ankle Tendon Rupture
- Ankle Varus Deformity
- Ankle, Foot, And Toe Dislocations
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Spur
- Bone Tumor
- Bunionettes
- Bunions
- Bursopathy
- Calcaneal Spur
- Cartilage Damage In The Ankle
- Cartilage Disorder Of The Ankle
- Clubfoot
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Deformities Of Feet
- Congenital Foot Deformity
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Congenital Vertical Talus
- Diabetic Foot Ulcer
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Drop Foot
- Enthesopathy Of Lower Limb
- Enthesopathy Of The Achilles Tendon
- Enthesopathy Of The Ankle Ligaments
- Flexible Flat Feet
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot And Ankle Birth Defects
- Foot And Ankle Burn Reconstruction
- Foot And Ankle Osteoarthritis
- Foot And Ankle Trauma
- Foot Cyst
- Foot Joint Pain
- Foot Nerve Damage
- Foot Osteoarthritis
- Foot Problems
- Foot Tendonitis
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hammertoes
- Heel Callus Formation
- Heel Fat Pad Atrophy
- Heel Fracture
- High Arches
- Ingrown Toenail
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Jones Fracture
- Kohler Disease
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Morton's Neuroma
- Orthopedic Aftercare
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteochondropathy Of The Ankle
- Osteonecrosis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Sesamoiditis
- Sever's Disease (HEEL PAIN)
- Stress Fracture
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis Of The Foot
- Toe Arthritis
- Toe Cartilage Damage
- Toe Deformity
- Toe Dislocation
- Toe Joint Sprain
- Toe Nerve Damage
- Toe Tenosynovitis
Procedures I perform
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Ankle Replacement
- Ankle Stabilization
- Arthrodesis Of Ankle
- Bone Repair
- Clubfoot Correction
- Diabetes Foot Care
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Foot Sprain Treatment
- Foot Wound Debridement
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Heel Pain Treatment
- Heel Spur Removal
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hindfoot Amputation
- Matrixectomy
- Metatarsalgia Treatment
- Morton's Neuroma Injections
- Muscle Injection
- Neuroma Excision
- Non-Healing Wound Treatment
- Orthopedic Bracing
- Orthotic Device Fitting
- Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment
- Osteomyelitis Treatment
- Plantar Fascia Release
- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
- Prosthetic And Orthotic Devices
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Sports Medicine Of The Foot
- Sprain And Strain Treatment
- Tarsal Tunnel Release
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
- Tendon Transplantation
- Toe Fracture Reduction
- Toe Nail Resection
- Toe Replacement Surgery
- Toe Sprain Treatment
- Venous Ulcer Treatment
- Weil Osteotomy
- Wound Care
- Wound Reconstruction
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
1120 20th St NW
Bldg 1
Washington, DC, 20036
106 Irving St NW
POB 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
106 Irving St NW
POB 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
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
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Administrators
- Employee Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- OA Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice POS II
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Basic
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-POS Plus
- Choice POS
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UHC Passport
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- POS OA
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- HighMark
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Foot and Ankle Surgery
Fellowship: Northside Hospital Atlanta (2018)
Residency: Wayne State University School of Medicine (2017)
Medical School: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (2014)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Alexandra T. Black, Jered M. Stowers, Son Tran, Karla De La Mata, Alain E. Sherman, Ali RahnamaVaghef. Clinical Outcomes for Pilon Variant Posterior Malleolar Fractures: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 61, Issue 6, 2022, Pages 1303-1307, ISSN 1067-2516.
Stowers JM, Black AT, Kavanagh AM, Mata K, Bohm A, Katchis SD, Weiner LS, Spielfogel W, Rahnama A. Predicting Nonunions in Ankle Fractures Using Quantitative Tibial Hounsfield Samples From Preoperative Computed Tomography: A Multicenter Matched Case Control Study. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2022 May-Jun;61(3):562-566. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2021.10.007. Epub 2021 Oct 22. PMID: 34819267.
Black AT, Stowers JM, Tenley J, Hu CY, Eshetu T, Spielfogel WD, Katchis SD, RahnamaVaghef A, Weiner LS. The Association Between Lateral Radiographs and Axial Computed Tomography of Posterior Malleolar Fractures as a Tool for Predicting Medial Malleolar Extension: A Multi-Center Retrospective Analysis. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2021 Mar 10:S1067-2516(21)00080-6. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2021.03.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33785238.
Zeeshan S. Husain, Ali Rahnama-Vaghef; Staged Surgical Management of Open Navicular Fracture Secondary to a Gunshot Injury. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 1 May 2021; 111 (3): Article_21. doi: https://doi.org/10.7547/18-035