About me
Dr. Lemma is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in the surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. He sees patients in Bel Air, Rosedale / White Marsh, and in Baltimore at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He currently serves as division chief of spine surgery as well as director of minimally invasive spine surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
Pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery seemed a natural fit to Dr. Lemma's background as a mechanical engineer. After completing his residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, he served as division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, prior to transitioning to MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in 2014.
Dr. Lemma's areas of intellectual interest and clinical expertise center around minimally invasive spine surgery. Using tubular retractors in lieu of traditional open surgery, state-of-the-art technologies, and computer-assisted navigation allows Dr. Lemma to deliver to his patients the best solutions with the least amount of invasion. A large portion of his practice also focuses on spinal problems in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, spinal deformity, and revision spinal surgery.
Dr. Lemma remains active in resident and surgeon education, and was honored to be the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from the Johns Hopkins University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2014. He has also been involved in developing innovative spine surgical techniques and new technologies and relates his experiences to other surgeons, both from the podium as well as in smaller teaching seminars. It has been a privilege for Dr. Lemma to be listed by both U.S. News and World Report's and Castle Connolly in their lists of Top Doctors in the U.S., as well as being named among the Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the U.S. by Becker's Healthcare. He was repeatedly named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine, most recently in 2023.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Brain Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Osteoarthritis
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities Of Head, Face, Spine And Chest
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Spinal Cord
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Fusion Failure
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Instability
Procedures I perform
- Back Pain Treatment
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Spine Stabilization
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Spine Stabilization
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Ostectomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Stabilization
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
9101 Franklin Square Dr
Ste 200
Baltimore, MD, 21237
2118 Greenspring Dr
Ste 110
Timonium, MD, 21093
2118 Greenpspring Dr
Ste 210
Timonium, MD, 21093
12 MedStar Blvd
Ste 300
Bel Air, MD, 21015
3333 N Calvert St
Ste 655
Baltimore, MD, 21218
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
- IH-PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UHC Passport
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- OA Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Beech Street PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CIGNA PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- POS OA
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Network OA
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Optimum Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Medicare FFS
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University (2003)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002)
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry (1997)
Awards
- 2015-2021, 2023 Baltimore Magazine Top Doctors
- 2015-2016 Best Doctors in America
- 2014 Teacher of the Year Award, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2014 Becker's Top Spine Surgeons in the US
- 2011 Becker's Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the US