Joseph Leigh Ferguson, MD| Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Spine Surgery | MedStar Health
About me
Joseph L. Ferguson, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Ferguson specializes in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
With advanced expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Ferguson performs a wide range of procedures in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and help patients return to an active lifestyle. His surgical expertise includes transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar fusion (ALIF), extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF), and lumbar fusion techniques tailored to each patient’s unique condition.
He also specializes in surgical disc replacement, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminoplasty, and lumbar laminectomy, offering both traditional and motion-preserving approaches depending on the clinical needs of each case. Dr. Ferguson frequently treats patients with complex degenerative spine disorders and employs innovative strategies to manage spinal instability, deformity, and nerve compression.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ferguson is committed to advancing the field of degenerative spine surgery through research, education, and the integration of the latest technologies. His expertise in thoracic fusion and minimally invasive techniques allows him to achieve optimal outcomes with reduced recovery times and improved patient satisfaction.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Ferguson believes each patient is unique and requires an individualized, focused, and thorough approach to address the diagnosis. He approaches each patient-physician relationship as a partnership, with the best outcomes resulting from a collaborative effort. His goal is to help patients and their families understand their conditions and to educate them on all possible options, in order to restore function and relieve pain for a return to an active lifestyle.
He specializes in:
- Cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower-back) pathologies
- Minimally invasive techniques
- Lumbar stenosis
- Lumbar degenerative spine disorders
- Cervical Stenosis
- Cervical herniated disks
- Neck and/or arm pain or weakness
- Leg pain and weakness
- Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy
- Scoliosis (adult)
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spinal Stenosis
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Disorders In Diseases
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Coccydynia
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Sacral Spine Herniation
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Herniation
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Thumb Synovitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Bulging Disc Treatment
- Cauda Equina Syndrome Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Degenerative Spine Surgery
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Fusion
- Lumbar Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Spinal Deformity Correction With Intraoperative Ct
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Dural Fistula Treatment
- Spinal Facet Joint Pain Treatment
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Hematoma Treatment
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Injury Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Fusion
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
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
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- TRICARE for Life East
- OA Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Administrators
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA Indemnity
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Student Resources
- IH-Open HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice POS II
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Employee Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst EPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Sentara Health
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- HighMark
- CIGNA PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice POS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthpedic Surgery
Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2019)
Fellowship: Atrium Health Union West (2019)
Residency: Medstar Health (2018)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2018)
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College (2013)
Graduate: Drexel University (2007)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Basques, BA, Ferguson JF, Kunze KN, Phillips, FP. Lumbar Spinal Fusion in the Outpatient Setting: An Update on Management, Surgical Approaches and Planning. Journal of Spine Surgery (accepted, pending publication).
- Louie PK, Haws BE, Khan JM, Markowitz J, Movassaghi K, Ferguson J, Lopez GD, An HS, Phillips FM. Comparison of Stand-alone Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion versus Open Laminectomy and Posterolateral Instrumented Fusion in the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease following Previous Lumbar Fusion Surgery. Spine. Aug 12, 2019 (ePub ahead of print).
- Ferguson J, Mariorenzi M, Kalantar SB. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion for a single-level disc herniation. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2014; 26(3): 154-9.
- Ferguson J, Hwang S, Tataryn Z, Samdani A. Neuromonitoring changes in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a single-institution experience. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2014; 13(3): 247-54.
- Radcliff K, Ferguson JL, Reis-Rodrigues LM, Gruskay J, Levine AM, Albert T, Vaccaro AR. Chapter 24: Traumatic Spondylolisthesis of the Axis (Hangman's Fracture) in Spine Trauma, 2nd edition. Eds: Zigler JE, Eismont FJ, Garfin SR, Vaccaro AR, from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011.
- Samdani AF, Cahill PJ, Hwang SW, King J, Edwards A, Fine A, Ferguson J, Betz RR: Larger curve magnitude is associated with markedly increased perioperative complications after scoliosis surgery in patients with spinal cord injury. 18th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (podium), Copenhagen, Denmark, July 13-16, 2011.
- Zlotolow DA, Ferguson JL, Knutsen E, Kozin SH. The Natural History of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. NARAKAS meeting, May 19-22, 2011, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Ferguson JL, Zlotolow DA, Kozin SH. Timing of Recovery of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.
- Poster, AOA Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, March 2nd, 2012
- E-Poster, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, September 6-8, 2012, Chicago, IL.
- Ferguson JL, Hwang SW, Stanton P, Fine A, Samdani AF. Neuromonitoring Changes in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery: Single Institution Experience. New England Neurosurgical Society annual meeting, June 21-23, 2012.