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
- Dialysis Access Creation And Maintenance
- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- 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
Procedures I perform
- Artificial Liver Therapy
- Bland Embolization
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Cryoablation Of Liver Tumors
- Cystometrogram
- Dialysis
- Embolization For Bleeding
- Embolization Of Venous Malformations
- Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Float Therapy
- Gastrointestinal Tube Placement
- Gonadal Vein Embolization
- Incision And Removal Of Foreign Body
- Ligament Augmentation
- Liver Tumor Ablation
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Neobladder Creation
- Nerve Block
- Pec Implants
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Percutaneous Cholecystostomy
- Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Septostomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Of Uterine Fibroids
- Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Of Varicose Veins
- Percutaneous Treatment Of Spider Veins
- Percutaneous Tumor Chemoembolization
- Portosystemic Shunt
- 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
- Total Proctocolectomy
- Transarterial Embolization
- Uterine Artery Embolization
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Varicocele Embolization
- Vein Sclerotherapy
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
5601 Loch Raven Blvd
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
Baltimore, MD, 21239
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
CCC Bldg Ground Fl
Washington, DC, 20007
106 Irving St NW
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC, 20010
201 E University Pkwy
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
Baltimore, MD, 21218
18101 Prince Phillip Dr
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Olney, MD, 20832
miles away
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 Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst EPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Medicare FFS
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- TRICARE for Life East
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna HMO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Basic
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- OA Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- HighMark
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Navigate
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst NASCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna VA Exchange
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice PPO
- UHC Passport
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- POS OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-POS Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Radiology, Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology
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)