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 Myelopathy Surgery
- 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
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Mri
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Fracture
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Chest Injury
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Nervous System
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Epidural Hematoma
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Herniated Disc In Neck
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- 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
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Cyst
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
- Thumb Synovitis
- Vertebral Fractures
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spinal Procedures
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Ostectomy
- Osteotomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW Concentrated Care Center 5th Fl Washington, DC, 20007
202-444-7428Fax 202-444-2613
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
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Student Resources
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-POS Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-POS
- HighMark
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- HumanaChoice PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-Open HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare FFS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS
- IH-PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA EPO
- Network OA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE for Life East
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice POS II
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 3500
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (2015)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2010)
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?