About me
A faculty member since 1992, Kevin M. McGrail, MD, FAANS, FACS, has been chair of Neurosurgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University School of Medicine since 2003. He treats both adult and pediatric patients.
Dr. McGrail received his medical degree from Tufts University in 1983, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his general surgery internship at the University of Maryland Hospital, followed by a residency in neurosurgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital. While there, Dr. McGrail was also a research fellow in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. Subsequently, he received advanced specialized training in complex cranial and spinal surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. McGrail is a national leader in neurosurgery and an active researcher and educator. He has published extensively in numerous peer-reviewed journals and text books, and has served as a past chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons membership committee, and a president of the Washington, DC, Academy of Neurosurgery.
For at least 15 years, Dr. McGrail has been recognized by Washingtonian magazine as a "Top Doctor."
Philosophy of Care
My goal is to find the correct diagnosis for all of my patients and then provide the most appropriate, individualized therapy to ensure their continued health and well-being.
Clinical Areas of Focus
- Brain Aneurysms
- Brain Arterial Venous Malformations
- Carotid Artery Disease
- Spinal Disorders
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Microsurgery
- Complex spinal surgery
- Brain tumors
Clinical areas of focus
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebral Internal Carotid Artery Ophthalmic Segment Aneurysm Coiling
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Hydrocephalus
- Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment
- Posterior Fossa Craniotomy
- Respiratory Failure Prevention
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spondylosis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Bursopathy
- Carotid Stenosis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Congenital Hydrocephalus
- Congenital Malformations Of Nervous System
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Epilepsy
- Head Injury
- Hemangioma
- Hydrocephalus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Kyphosis
- Meningioma
- Meningitis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Omphalocele
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Scoliosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spine Tumor
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
Procedures I perform
- Angiogram
- Bifrontal Craniectomy
- Bone Graft
- Brain Tumor Surgery
- Cerebellar Hemorrhage Evacuation
- Cerebral Internal Carotid Artery Ophthalmic Segment Aneurysm Coiling
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Revision
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Nerve Release
- Cervical Spinal Cord Release
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Cervical Vertebral Disc Excision
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Craniectomy For Hematoma Evacuation
- Craniectomy For Meningioma
- Cranioplasty
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Discectomy
- Dura Mater Supplement
- Endoscopic Spinal Procedures
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Enterectomy
- Excision Of Cerebral Ventricle
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Interbody Biomechanical Device Insertion
- Intraoperative Neurophysiology Monitoring
- Kyphoplasty
- Lumboperitoneal Shunt
- Matrixectomy
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Myelography
- Nerve Block
- Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment
- Neuroendovascular Surgery
- Occlusion Intracranial Artery
- Open Brain Release
- Open Cerebellum Release
- Ostectomy
- Osteotomy
- Pain Medication Management
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parotid Biopsy
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Posterior Fossa Craniotomy
- Proton Beam Radiosurgery
- Resection Of Thoracic Vertebral Disc
- Sacral Nerve Release
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy For Brain Tumors
- Stereotactic Spinal Procedure
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Supplement Dura Mater
- Thoracic Aorta To Carotid Artery Bypass With Synthetic Substitute
- Thoracic Laminectomy
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
- Upper Artery Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Vertebral Corpectomy
- Vestibular Nerve Tumor Surgery
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 7th Fl Neurosurgery Washington, DC, 20007
202-877-5026Fax 202-877-5551
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
- CIGNA Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- OA Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Beech Street PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UHC Passport
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Sentara Health
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Network OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Medicare Direct
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Student Resources
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice POS
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Navigate
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- POS OA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (1991)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1990)
Internship: University of Maryland Medical System (1984)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1983)
Medical School: Tufts University (1979)
Awards
- Washingtonian Magazine Top Doctor, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital multiple Caring Star Awards, The Paul A. Warren Award in Genetics, Tufts College, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Original papers:
1. McGrail, K.M., Heros, R.C., Debrun, G., Beyerl, B.D.: Aneurysm of the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery. J. Neurosurg. 1986;65:249-252.
2. McGrail, K.M., Sweadner, K.J.: Immunofluorescent localization of two different Na, K-ATPases in the rat retina and in identified dissociated retinal cells. J. Neurosci. 1986;6:1272-1283.
3. McGrail, K.M., Beyerl, B.D., Black, P.M., Klibanski, A., Zervas, N.T.: Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis of pregnancy with complete recovery. Neurosurgery. 1987;20:791-793.
4. McGrail, K.M., Sweadner, K.J.: Complex expression patterns for Na, K-ATPase isoforms in retina and optic nerve. Eur. J. Neurosci. 1989;2:170-176.
5. McGrail, K.M., Phillips, J.M., Sweadner, K.J.: Immunofluorescent localization of three Na, K-ATPase isozymes in the rat central nervous system: Both neurons and glia can express more than one Na, K-ATPase. J. Neurosci. 1991;11:381-391.
6. Sweadner, K.J., McGrail, K.M., Khan, B.A.: Discoordinate regulation of isoforms of the Na. K-ATPase and myosin heavy chain in the hypothroid postnatal rat heart and skeletal muscle. J. Biol. Chem. 1992; 267:769-773. *
7. McGrail, K.M., Muzzi, D.A., Losasso, T.J., Meyer, F.B.: Ventriculoatrial shunt distal catheter placement using transesophageal echocardiography. Neurosurgery. 1992;30:747-9.
8. Ogilvy, C.S., McGrail, K.M., Chapman, P.H.: Subdural empyema complicating bacterial meningitis in a child: Enhancement of membrane using gadolinium on MRI in patients without enhancement on computerized tomography. Surg. Neurol. 1992;37:138-141
9. McGrail, K.M., Ojemann, R.G.: The surgical management of benign Intracranial meningiomas and acoustic neuromas in patients 70 years of age and older. Surg. Neurol.. 1994;42:2-7.
10. Piepgras, D.G., McGrail, K.M., Tazelaar, H.D.: Intracranial dissection of the distal middle cerebral artery as an uncommon cause of distal cerebral artery aneurysm. J. Neurosurg. 1994; 80:909-13.
11. Winston, K.R., Ogilvy, C.S., McGrail, K.M.: Reduction Cranioplasty. Pediatr. Neurosurg.1995;22:228-234.
12. McGrail, K.M., Piepgras, D.G.: The management of giant vertebral artery aneurysms. J. Neurovasc. Dis 1996;1:21-26.
13. McGrail, K.M.: The intraoperative use of electroencephalography as an assessment of cerebral blood flow. Neurosurg. Clin. of North America. 1996;7:685-692.
14. Hunter, W.D., McGrail, K.M.: Staged resection of a large cavernous angioma in a 10 year old child. J. Neurovasc. Dis. 1997;2:92-96. **
15. Mashour, G.A.,. McGrail, K.M.: Nitic Oxide and the Pathogenesis of Cerebral Vasospasm. J. Neurovasc. Dis. 1997;2:202-205. **
16. Watson, V., Coumans, J., McGrail, K., Guglielmi, G: Rupture of cerebral anuerysms during endovascular treatment with electrolytically detachable coils: Incidence, management, and outcome. J. Neurovasc. Dis.1998;3:269-275**
17. Bhargava, P, McGrail, K.M., Manz, H.J., Baidas, S: Lung carcinoma metastatic to intracranial meningioma. Case report and review of literature. Am. J. of Clin. Oncology 1999,22:199-202. **
18. Coumans, J.V, Watson, V., Picken, C., McGrail, K.M.: Saphenous vein Interposition graft for recurrent carotid stenosis following prior endarterectomy and stent placement. J. Neurosurg. 1999,90:567-570**
19. Coumans, J.V., McGrail, K.M.: Aneurysms: To coil or clip? Perspectives in Neurological Surgery. 1999;10:125-145. **
20. Sandhu, F., McGrail, K.M.: The evaluation and management of acute low back pain. Emerg. Med. 1999;31:20-46.**
21. Coumans, J.V., McGrail, K.M: Psychiatric presentation of carotid stenosis. Surgery. 2000;127:713-715. **
22. Coppa, N.D, Kim, H. J., McGrail, K.M.: Spontaneous resolution of Syringomyelia and Chiari malformation Type I in a patient with cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Case report. J. Neurosurg. 2006, 105; 769-761. **
23. Huang, M.C., McGrail, K.M. Inceidental durotomy in cervical spinal surgery. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2006, 18, 230-234. **
24. Voyadzis, J.M., Panicker H, McGrail, K.M.: Kernohan’s phenomena resulting from a traumatic left acute subdural hematoma. Applied Radiology. 2007, 36. **
25. Makuria, A.T., Rushing, E.J., McGrail, K.M., Hartmann, D.P., Azumi, N., Ozdemirli, M.: Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) in Adults: review of four cases. J. Neurooncol. 2008, 88, 321-330. **
26. Thomas, J.A., Watson, V, McGrail, K.M.: Surgical Management of a Paraclinoid Aneurysm Containing a Misplaced Neuroform Microstent. Neurosurgery. 2008, 63, 817-818. **
27. Eric Oermann, Brian T Collins, Kelly T Erickson, Xia Yu,1 Sue Lei, Simeng Suy, Heather N Hanscom, Joy Kim, Hyeon U Park, Andrew Eldabh, Christopher Kalhorn, Kevin McGrail, Deepa Subramaniam, Walter C Jean, and Sean P Collins: CyberKnife enhanced conventionally fractionated chemoradiation for high grade glioma in close proximity to critical structures. J Hematol Oncol. 2010; 3: 22 10.1186/1756-8722-3-22 **
28. Lee, D.L., Binning, M.J., Shanmugam, V.K., Schmidt, R.H., Couldwell, W.T., Meyer, M., Cupps, T., Douglas, A, McGrail, K.M.: MUSLIN-INDUCED INTRACRANIAL VASCULOPATHIC STENOSIS: A REPORT OF TWO CASES. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. 2012, 114, 63-67. **
29. Eric Karl Oermann, Rahul Bhandari, Viola J. Chen, Gabriel Lebec,2 Marie Gurka,2 Siyuan Lei,2 Leonard Chen,1 Simeng Suy,2 Norio Azumi,3 Frank Berkowitz,4 Christopher Kalhorn,1 Kevin McGrail,1 Brian Timothy Collins,2 Walter C. Jean,1 and Sean P. Collins2, Five Fraction Image-Guided Radiosurgery for Primary and Recurrent Meningiomas:* Front Oncol. 2013; 3: 213.
30. Anaizi, A.N., Sayah, A., Berkowitz, F., McGrail, K.M.: Bowhunter's syndrome: the use of dynamic magnetic resonance angiography and intraoperative fluorescent angiography. J. Neourosurg: Spine: 2014, 20, 71-74. **
31. Oermann EK, Murthy N, Chen V, Baimeedi A, Sasaki-Adams D, McGrail K, Collins SP, Ewend MG, Collins BT.: A Multicenter Retrospective Study of Frameless Robotic Radiosurgery for Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformation Front Oncol. 2014; 4: 298.
32. Felbaum D1, Zhao DY1, Nayar VV1, Kalhorn CG1, McGrail KM1, Mandir AS2, Minahan RE2.Real-Time Evaluation of Anterior Choroidal Artery Patency During Aneurysm Clipping. Cureus. 2016 Feb 14;8(2):e495.
33. Siu, A, Neal, CJ, Syed, H.R., Felbaum, DR, Nair, MN, McGrail, KM, Caputy, CJ, Shields, DC: Creating a Culture of Collaboration: A Brief History of Academic Neurosurgery in Washington, DC: Neurosurgery. 2017, 81:1029–1039
34. Celano, EC, Anousheh, S, McGrail, KM: Cervical intradural disc herniation, case report and reflection on preoperative imaging. Radiol Case Rep. 2019, 14(9) 1076-1078
35. Wang, JS, Ter Louw, RP, DeFazio, MV, McGrail, KM, Evans, KK: Subtotal calvarial vault reconstruction utilizing a customized polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant with chimeric microvascular soft tissue coverage in a patient with syndrome of the trephined: A case report. Arch Plast Surg. 2019 Jul 46(4) 365-370