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 Compression
- 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
- Osteotomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spine Fracture Stabilization
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Stabilization
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
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Navigate
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- POS OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HighMark
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Network OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA EPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst NASCO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic 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