About me
Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, is the chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and performs surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A highly skilled and double Board Certified (Orthopaedic Surgery & Hand Surgery) hand and upper extremity surgeon, he completed his orthopaedic residency at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, where he was elected academic chief resident and obtained extensive training managing a broad spectrum of orthopaedic cases. He then completed a hand, microvascular, and upper extremity surgery fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he gained specialized training in the surgical and nonsurgical management of various hand and upper extremity conditions.
During his training, Dr. Michael Kessler has cared for a variety of professional sports organizations, including the New Jersey Devils, Association of Tennis Professionals, Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers. Dr. Kessler has been a consulting hand surgeon for the D.C. United, and currently works with the Georgetown University Athletic Department and as a consultant for the Marymount University, Catholic University and Gallaudet University Athletic departments. He also serves as a consultant to the Washington D.C. Police & Fire Clinic. Dr. Kessler has received multiple awards for his clinical and basic science research, including the prestigious Joseph H. Boyes Award from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand in 2009.
Dr. Kessler serves as the Orthopaedic Residency Program Director at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and as Medical Director of the OT/Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) program at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.
With a patient-centered approach to care, Dr. Michael Kessler's areas of expertise include:
- Hand and wrist conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Elbow conditions
- Advanced arthroscopic techniques
- Complex reconstructions
- Tendon and nerve lacerations
- Care of traumatic injuries including fractures and joint dislocations
Dr. Kessler's Philosophy of Care
Not all patients who come to my office require surgery. However, they all require well thought out, respectful, and individualized care. During the course of an office visit, we will come to understand the nature of their problem or injury, its anatomic basis, and its effect on the individual's activities. Nonoperative treatment is often sufficient and is begun at that first office visit. When surgery is indicated, it is tailored to the individual, their underlying diagnosis, and the demands of their daily lives. Maximizing function, minimizing recovery time, and assuring a durable reconstruction remain the goals for all of my patients whether they be avid gardeners, or professional athletes.
Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association
We congratulate fellowship-trained hand surgeon Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, newly inducted as a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association on June 27, 2019.
The American Orthopaedic Association is the oldest and most distinguished orthopedic association in the world. The FAOA designation after a surgeon’s name means the surgeon has achieved recognition for exceptional accomplishments and leadership within their orthopedic specialty. Membership is earned, and comes at the end of a stringent peer-reviewed process. Fewer than 10% of practicing orthopedic surgeons have achieved AOA membership.
Clinical areas of focus
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
- Trigger Finger
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acantholytic Disorders
- Acquired Absence Of Limb
- Acquired Finger Deformity
- Acquired Wrist Deformity
- Arm Fracture
- Arm Injury
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Bursopathy
- Chronic Gout
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle And Carbuncle
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enteropathic Arthropathies
- Femur Shaft Fracture
- Finger Joint Dislocation
- Finger Sprains
- Finger, Hand, And Wrist Open Wound
- Flexor Tendon Rupture
- Forearm And Elbow Joint Instability
- Forearm Blood Vessel Injury
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Gout
- Hand And Wrist Arthritis
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hand Deformity
- Hand Tendon Injury
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Disorder
- Knee And Leg Open Wound
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
- Osteoarthritis Of The Finger
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Polyosteoarthritis
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Radial Nerve Entrapment
- Reduction Defects Of Upper Limb
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis With Rheumatoid Factor
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder Fracture
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Syndactyly
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinous Disorders
- Tendonitis Of The Hand
- Thumb Synovitis
- Wrist And Hand Amputation
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist Blood Vessel Injury
- Wrist Joint Dislocation
- Wrist, Hand, And Finger Crushing Injury
Procedures I perform
- Amputation With Direct Closure
- Arthroscopic Elbow Debridement
- Capsulotomy Of Wrist
- Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
- Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Dupuytren Contracture Treatment
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Replacement
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
- Fasciectomy With Release Of Single Digit
- Femoral Nerve Reposition
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Finger Arthroscopy
- Finger Contracture Release
- Foot Subcutaneous Tissue Diagnostic Drainage
- Ganglion Excision
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Intercarpal Arthroplasty
- Joint Drainage
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Metacarpal Fracture Treatment
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
- Nail Plate Avulsion
- Phalangeal Shaft Fracture Treatment
- Phalanx Bone Excision
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Radius Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Synovectomy Of Tendon Sheath
- Tendon Transplantation
- Tenolysis
- Ulna Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Wrist Instability Reconstruction
- Wrist Instability 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 Administrators
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- POS OA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- First Health PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice POS
- IH-Open POS II
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Employee Health Plan
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- First Health PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Student Resources
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-EPO Plus
- Navigate
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Network OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-POS
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- HighMark
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst EPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UHC Passport
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Core Essential (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS II
- TRICARE for Life East
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hand Surgery
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2011)
Residency: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell (2010)
Medical School: Albany Medical College (2005)
Awards
- Bethesda Magazine 2023 Top Doctor
- Washingtonian Top Doctor in Hand Surgery, 2015-2023
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors, 2022-2023
- Marquis Who's Who, 2020
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedist Shuts Down Spasticity
- A Symphony of Success: Lisa Emenheiser’s Story
- Wide Awake Surgery (NBC4) - June 2015
- Doctors Issue Warning After Boy Bitten by Snake (NBC4) - May 2015
- Dr. Kessler was listed as a Washingtonian Top Doctor - 2015-2023
- Dr. Kessler was selected as an Orthopaedic Surgeon to know by Marquis Who's Who in 2020
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24346815
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24113650
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23123150
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21553790
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21050966
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19011557
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19279712
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17314652
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16199935
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614057