About me
James Brennan Spies, MD, is professor and chair in the Department of Radiology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. After attending Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Spies completed a radiology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a fellowship at New York University School of Medicine in vascular and interventional radiology. He also has received a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Spies served four years in the United States Air Force. After military service, he was in private practice for several years before joining the faculty of Georgetown University in 1997. He has served as chair of the Department of Radiology since 2005.
He has an active practice in uterine embolization for fibroids. He also treats women with adenomyosis, post-partum hemorrhage, and pelvic venous disease and also varicocele in men.
He has performed extensive research in uterine embolization and is recognized as an international authority on the procedure. He has more than 160 published scientific studies, given over 400 invited presentations, and has edited a text on uterine embolization. He continues to actively research uterine embolization and the comparative outcomes for fibroid therapies.
Dr. Spies is a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), and the American College of Radiology (ACR) and has also been named a Distinguished Fellow of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and Honorary Fellow of the British Society of Interventional Radiology. He has served on numerous national committees for both SIR and ACR and is past president of the Society of Interventional Radiology, the largest interventional radiology professional organization in the U.S. In 2019 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the SIR, its highest award, recognizing his extensive contributions to the field and for his national leadership in the organization.
My Philosophy of Care
I believe in a collaborative approach to patient care, actively involving the patient and the patient's other physicians. I believe that a well-informed patient is best able to participate in that process. I strive to ensure that patients have all the information they need to choose the medical approach best suited to them and the opportunity to fully discuss their options.
Clinical areas of focus
- Dialysis
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Neobladder Creation
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Stent Placement
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Blood Clots In Legs
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Endoleak
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- Spider Veins
- Testicular Varicocele
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Uterine Fibroids
- Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities
- Vascular Malformation
- Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Venous Insufficiency
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy
- Angiography
- Angioplasty
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Atherectomy
- Bland Embolization
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystometrogram
- Dialysis
- Dialysis Graft Placement
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Endovenous Laser Ablation Of Varicose Veins
- Endovenous Laser Therapy
- Float Therapy
- Fluoroscopy-Guided Biopsy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gonadal Vein Embolization
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kyphoplasty
- Laser-Induced Interstitial Thermotherapy
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Microwave Ablation
- Neobladder Creation
- Nerve Block
- Pec Implants
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Percutaneous Abscess Drainage
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Septostomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Percutaneous Laser Ablation Of Nerves
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Of Varicose Veins
- Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
- Percutaneous Treatment Of Spider Veins
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Portal Vein Embolization
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Prostate Artery Embolization
- Radiation Therapy
- Radioembolization Of Breast Cancer
- Radiofrequency Thermoablation
- Stent Placement
- Stenting Of An Artery
- Sympathectomy
- Thrombolysis
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Transarterial Embolization
- Tunneled Pleural Catheter Placement
- Uterine Artery Embolization
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Varicocele Embolization
- Vascular Stenting
- Vein Sclerotherapy
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
106 Irving St NW MedStar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-9729Fax 301-209-5616
201 E University Pkwy MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore, MD, 21218
410-554-2728Fax 410-554-2584
5601 Loch Raven Blvd MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD, 21239
443-444-2430Fax 443-444-4656
18101 Prince Phillip Dr MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney, MD, 20832
301-774-8650miles away
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest Concentrated Care Center Ground Level Room CG201 Washington, DC, 20007
202-444-5478Fax 877-219-2787
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna HMO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- POS OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- OA Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- HighMark
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Network OA
- UHC Passport
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Student Resources
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-POS
- Navigate
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open HMO
- Sentara Health
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 3500
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Choice POS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
Videos
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine (1985)
Residency: University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine (1984)
Internship: California Pacific Medical Center (1981)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (1980)