About me
Oliver Tannous, MD, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a spine specialist, he utilizes state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
His clinical focus includes disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, ranging from isolated disc herniation to complex deformities and failed surgeries. His research interests include optimizing patient outcomes after surgery and improving techniques for eliminating postoperative spinal infections.
Dr. Tannous completed his undergraduate studies in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. He then received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. Prior to joining MedStar Health, he completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California San Diego, a leading center for minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. His early interests in mechanics and how things are built, coupled with a degree in neuroscience, fueled his decision to become an orthopaedic spine specialist.
Dr. Tannous takes a conservative approach to spine care. He emphasizes the use of non-operative treatments before considering surgery. When surgery becomes necessary, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques in order to reduce the impact of surgery. He has extensive experience in revision spine procedures as well as correcting previously failed spine surgeries.
Philosophy of Care
"Becoming involved in the care of someone's health is a privilege. I treat all of my patients in the same way that I would treat my family members - with compassion and respect. When nonoperative methods fail and surgery becomes necessary, I spend a lot of time with my patients, ensuring that they fully understand the surgical process. I follow them very closely while they are in the hospital, and guide them throughout the recovery process so they can get back to a healthier life as soon as possible. I feel proud when my patients tell me that they would recommend me to their family members for care."
Patient Story:
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Herniated Disc In Lower Back
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Artificial Disc Replacement
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Fracture
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervicothoracic Junction Disorders
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Herniated Disc In Lower Back
- Herniated Disc In Neck
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Curvature
- Spinal Cyst
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
- Vertebral Fractures
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spinal Procedures
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- 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
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
- Vertebral Compression Fracture 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
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- OA Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Sentara Health
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Basic
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Direct
- HighMark
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Medicare FFS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Choice POS
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Choice POS II
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- First Health PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- TRICARE East Prime
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Navigate
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Network OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- POS OA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: University of California San Diego (2016)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2015)
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (2015)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Cervical Disc Replacement: A Life Changer for Detective
- Neck Surgery Patient Praises New Procedure
- Podcast - Neck and Back Pain Basics: What You Need to Know
- Case Study - Alternative to Cervical Fusion: 2-Level Cervical Disc Replacement for Cervical Radiculopathy
- Blog - Keep moving to avoid and relieve back pain
- Blog - Neck surgery with shorter recovery, better range of motion
- Blog - Why does back pain persist after surgery?