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
- Neobladder Creation
- Portosystemic Shunt
- Stent Placement
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Blood Clots In Legs
- Carotid Artery Stenosis
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Dialysis Access Creation And Maintenance
- Endoleak
- Kidney Artery Stenosis
- Liver Cancer Treatment
- Mesenteric Artery Stenosis
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- Spider Veins
- Stroke Prevention
- Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
- Testicular Varicocele
- Testicular Varicocele Embolization
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Uterine Adenomyosis
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Uterine Fibroids
- Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities
- Vascular Malformation
- Vascular Stenosis
- Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Venous Insufficiency
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy
- Angioplasty
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Atherectomy
- Bland Embolization
- Bypass Graft Angioplasty
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Celiac Plexus Block
- Cervical Discography
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystometrogram
- Dialysis
- Dialysis Graft Placement
- Embolization For Bleeding
- Embolization Of Venous Malformations
- Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Endovenous Laser Ablation Of Varicose Veins
- Endovenous Laser Therapy
- Float Therapy
- Fluoroscopy-Guided Biopsy
- Ganglion Impar Block
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gonadal Vein Embolization
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kyphoplasty
- Laser-Induced Interstitial Thermotherapy
- Ligament Augmentation
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Lumbar Discography
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Microwave Ablation
- Neobladder Creation
- Nerve Block
- Pec Implants
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Percutaneous Abscess Drainage
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Discography
- Percutaneous Fasciotomy
- Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Septostomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Percutaneous Laser Ablation Of Nerves
- Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy
- Percutaneous Osteoplasty
- Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Of Uterine Fibroids
- Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Of Varicose Veins
- Percutaneous Tenotomy
- 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
- Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Cystectomy For Bladder Cancer
- Sclerotherapy With Sotradecol
- Stent Placement
- Stenting Of An Artery
- Stereotactic Radiation Therapy For Endocrine Tumors
- Sympathectomy
- Thoracic Discography
- Thrombolysis
- Tibial Stent Placement
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Transarterial Embolization
- Tunneled Pleural Catheter Placement
- Uterine Artery Embolization
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Varicocele Embolization
- Vascular Coil Embolization
- Vascular Plug Embolization
- Vascular Stenting
- Vein Sclerotherapy
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
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
106 Irving St NW MedStar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-9729Fax 301-209-5616
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
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UHC Passport
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-HMO
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- TRICARE for Life East
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst NASCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna HMO
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- OA Plus
- United Student Resources
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-POS
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
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)