About me
Dr. Ding is double board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Pain Medicine, having done a fellowship in interventional pain management.
Dr. Ding treats pain conditions resulting from the back, neck, peripheral joints (e.g., hips, shoulders, knees), muscles and peripheral nerves.
His practice involves a multidisciplinary approach for the management of various chronic pain conditions and restoration of function. His approach to treatment involves the utilization of structured and targeted physical therapy, modalities, and evidence-based pharmacological therapies. When indicated, he also incorporates advanced image-guided procedures which utilize ultrasound and/or X-rays.
Dr. Ding received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his residency in PM&R at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, where he served as chief resident. He also completed his fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, where he served as chief fellow. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals.
An avid tennis and squash player, Dr. Ding spends his spare time on various courts as well as running on local trails. He also loves to travel, explore the greater DC area, and spend time with family and friends.
Dr. Ding practices in Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
Clinical areas of focus
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Back Pain Treatment
- Chronic Neck Pain
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Neck Pain
- Neuropathic Pain
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Spinal Stenosis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Arthritis
- Arthritis Pain
- Arthropathy
- Back Pain
- Bone Pain
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Chronic Neck Pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Crps (COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME)
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Elbow Pain
- Facet Joint Pain
- Facet Joint Syndrome
- Finger Pain
- Herniated Disc Pain
- Hip Pain
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Knee Injury Pain
- Knee Pain
- Leg Pain
- Lordosis Pain
- Lower Back Pain
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Injury
- Lumbar Strain
- Mononeuropathies
- Muscle Strain
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Pain
- Neck Strain
- Neuropathic Pain
- Occipital Neuralgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Pain
- Phantom Limb Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Postherpetic Neuralgia
- Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Soft Tissue Pain
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Upper Back Pain
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
Procedures I perform
- Back Pain Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Injection
- Coccydynia Treatment
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treatment
- Discography
- Elbow Joint Injection
- Electromyography
- Epidural Lysis Of Adhesions
- Ganglion Impar Block
- Genicular Nerve Branch Destruction
- Guided Imagery
- Hip Joint Injection
- Joint Pain Treatment
- Kyphoplasty
- Myofascial Release
- Neck Pain Treatment
- Neuromodulation
- Neuropathic Pain Treatment
- Occipital Nerve Stimulation
- Pain Rehabilitation
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
- Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Sciatica Treatment
- Shoulder Joint Injection
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Spondylosis Treatment
- Tension Headache 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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- OA Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HighMark
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- First Health PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Optimum Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-POS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- First Health PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UHC Passport
- IH-Indemnity
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Sentara Health
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Employee Health Plan
- Choice POS II
- Network OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center (2025)
Residency: Burke Rehabilitation Hospital/Weill Medical Colleg (2024)
Internship: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell (2021)
Medical School: Yeshiva University Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2020)
News and publications
Ding ME, Mbekeani JN, Ahmed Y, Conigliaro R, Delphin E, Durstenfeld A, Jagannath A, Masters-Israilov A, Milstein M, Rabin M, Ramachandran S, Vlismas P, Yang D, Heo M, Rosenberg JB. Measurement of resident fatigue using rapid number naming. J Neurol Sci. 2019 Feb 15;397:117-122. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.12.034. Epub 2018 Dec 28. PMID: 30612084.
Sim GY, Caparó M, Varrassi G, Lu CR, Ding ME, Singh R, Slinchenkova K, Shaparin N, Koushik SS, Viswanath O, Gitkind AI. Comparing the Effectiveness of Hands-on vs. Observational Training of Residents in Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections (ILESI) Using a High-Fidelity Spine Simulator. Cureus. 2023 Dec 2;15(12):e49829. doi: 10.7759/cureus.49829. PMID: 38164314; PMCID: PMC10758203.
Ding ME, Traiba H, Perez HR. Virtual Reality Interventions and Chronic Pain: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Feb 18;27:e59922. doi: 10.2196/59922. PMID: 39965778; PMCID: PMC11888090.