About me
Jessica Ailani, MD, is board certified in neurology, with added certification in headache. She sees patients at the McLean, Virginia, clinic.
Dr. Ailani is a clinical professor of neurology at MedStar's Georgetown University Hospital and director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center. Dr. Ailani treats a variety of headache disorders, most commonly migraine, cluster headache, and occipital neuralgia. She uses a wide variety of treatment options in headache management including neuromodulation, pharmacotherapy, infusion treatment for status migraine, and Botox for chronic migraine.
Dr. Ailani is involved in numerous clinical trials focused on new treatments in the migraine space..
She is dedicated to educating the field on headache disorders. She is a national and international speaker, invited to discuss migraine at headache and primary care meetings. She has spoken at the American Headache Society, Diamond Headache meeting, International Headache Society, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, and has presented abstracts at both national and internation meetings.
Because people don't always want to take medications, Dr. Ailani is very willing to work with patients in finding lifestyle solutions. If patients want medications, she is willing to treat the headache aggressively. Dr. Ailani uses an integrative approach, with care designed around what the patient wants, encompassing all possibilities.
Dr. Ailani and her husband are from New York, and enjoy the warmer weather in the D.C. area. While others might not think of Washington as "the south," it certainly is for these former Long Islanders. They appreciate the museums as well as the cultural mix of people and restaurants in the Washington metro area. Dr. Ailani also enjoys the diversity of patients she sees daily, coming from rural areas, the city, as well as internationally.
Read details about Dr. Ailani's background and accomplishments.
Clinical areas of focus
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Facial Pain
- Headache
- Muscle Injection
- Neck Pain
- Neck Pain Treatment
- Pain Medication Management
- Tension Headache Treatment
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Movements
- Abnormal Mri
- Acute Disseminated Demyelination
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Anxiety
- Aphagia And Dysphagia
- Artery Disorders Of The Brain
- Benign Essential Tremor
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bipolar Disorder
- Blepharospasm
- Blindness
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
- Cognitive Function Disorders
- Convulsions
- Degenerative Diseases Of Basal Ganglia
- Degenerative Diseases Of Nervous System
- Dementia
- Demyelinating Diseases Of Central Nervous System
- Dentofacial Abnormality
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Cranial Nerves
- Disorders Of Trigeminal Nerve
- Disturbances Of Skin Sensation
- Dizziness And Lightheadedness
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Dystonia
- Effects Of Air Pressure And Water Pressure
- Effects Of External Causes
- Encephalitis
- Encephalitis, Myelitis And Encephalomyelitis
- Epilepsy And Seizures
- Extrapyramidal And Movement Disorders
- Eye And Adnexa Disorders
- Eyelid Disorders
- Facial Nerve Disorder
- Facial Pain
- Falls And Gait Disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Gait And Balance Problems
- Head Injury
- Headache
- Hemifacial Spasm
- Huntington's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypokinetic Movement Disorders
- Idiopathic Neuropathy
- Inflammatory Polyneuropathy
- Insomnia
- Intracranial Hypertension
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphedema
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Endocrine Glands
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Meninges
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Spinal Cord
- Meningitis
- Middle Ear Disorders
- Migraine
- Migraine With Aura
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle Disorders
- Myelitis
- Myoneural Disorders
- Myopathies
- Narcolepsy
- Neck Pain
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neuralgia
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neurogenetic Disorders
- Neuropathic Pain
- Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
- Optic Nerve Disorders
- Otalgia And Ear Effusion
- Paraplegia And Quadriplegia
- Parkinson's Disease
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Poisoning
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Pulmonary Vasculitis
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Sarcoidosis
- Sciatica
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Seizure Disorders
- Sensory Neuropathy
- Skull Base Tumor
- Sleep Disorders
- Somnolence, Stupor And Coma
- Speech Disturbances
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy And Related Syndromes
- Sports Concussion
- Subcortical Infarction
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Vascular Dementia
- Vertigo
- Vestibular Disorders
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Vision Disturbances
- Vitamin Deficiency
- Zoster
Procedures I perform
- Angiogram
- Balance And Coordination Training
- Botox Injection For Migraines
- Brain Wave Testing
- Chemodenervation Of Muscle
- Chronic Headache Treatment
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Cranial Ultrasonography
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Demyelinating Optic Neuropathy Treatment
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Electroencephalogram Setup And Takedown
- Electromyography
- Epidural Blood Patch For Csf Leak
- Fine Motor Skills Evaluation
- Gait And Balance Evaluation
- Lumbar Puncture
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Median Nerve Conduction Studies
- Mep (MOTOR EVOKED POTENTIALS)
- Muscle Biopsy
- Muscle Injection
- Neck Pain Treatment
- Neuromuscular Reeducation For Muscle Control
- Neuromuscular Testing
- Neurostimulation
- Oral And Pharyngeal Swallowing Function Evaluation
- Pain Medication Management
- Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation
- Polysomnography
- Sleep Study
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
- Subarachnoid Block
- Surface Emg
- Tension Headache Treatment
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- Vestibular Testing
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 POS II
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Medicare Direct
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- OA Plus
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- First Health PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Beech Street PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA EPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- IH-POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Student Resources
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Network OA
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
Videos
Education
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Headache Fellowship (2009)
Residency: New York University Langone Medical Center-GME (2008)
Internship: Winthrop-University Hospital (2005)
Graduate: SUNY Stony Brook University (2004)
Awards
- American Headache Society Above and Beyond Award 2021
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
https://www.glamour.com/story/after-40-years-of-hell-heaven-is-migraine-relief
https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-elevator-pitch
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-hangover-facts
https://www.self.com/story/migraine-stigma
https://www.self.com/story/cluster-headaches-facts
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a24892333/migraine-symptoms/
https://www.prevention.com/health/a22865459/alcohol-facts-myths/
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/the-truth-about-aspirin/351661504
https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/new-era-migraine-relief
https://www.phillyvoice.com/migraines-treatment-cgrp-inhibitors-effective-headache-survey/
https://www.ajmc.com/view/contemporary-management-of-migraine-an-interview-with-jessica-ailani-md
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-it-works-injectable-treatments-for-migraine
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/so-much-more-headache/202105/migraine-sufferers-appreciate-support-more-advice
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2020/10080/so_many_migraine_therapies,_so_many_decisions_.2.aspx
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/947086
https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/blog/neurologytodayconferencereportersaanannualmeeting/pages/post.aspx?PostID=125
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20191211/dhe-reemerges-as-magic-migraine-treatment
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emgality-demonstrates-reduction-in-frequency-duration-and-pain-severity-in-patients-with-episodic-and-chronic-migraine-301078159.html
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20200224/fda-approves-vyepti-first-iv-preventive-treatment-for-migraine