Rizwan Ahmad Tahir, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology, Spine Surgery
Languages: Urdu, English
About me
Rizwan Ahmad Tahir, MD, joins MedStar Health as a neurosurgeon for the department of Neurosurgery. He is a specialist in cerebrovascular disorders and neurosurgery. Dr. Tahir is a compassionate and caring physician who works collaboratively with his patients to achieve the best outcomes.
As the recipient of several academic honors and awards, Dr. Tahir has published 20 peer-reviewed articles. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. His research interest includes cerebral vascular and endovascular neurosurgery–specifically as it pertains to stroke and vascular malformations and aneurysms.
Dr. Tahir earned his medical degree at Wayne State University in Detroit and completed his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He completed his fellowship in Cerebrovascular at the University of Illinois in Chicago and his fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Tahir believes the surgeon and patient relationship should be built on a foundation of trust and transparency to achieve the best outcomes.
“I work closely with my patients and take a very personalized approach. I encourage my patients to ask as many questions as they need to understand their options and make decisions that are right for them—it is critical that they are actively involved in the decision-making process. Together, we collaborate on creating a treatment plan, making sure to incorporate the patient’s wishes and goals.”
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Tahir enjoys spending time with his wife, a headache neurologist at MedStar Health, and their two children. He enjoys playing basketball and football, exercising, good food, and travel. He is also committed to volunteering for global health and disaster relief efforts.
Dr. Tahir sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Clinical areas of focus
- Brain Tumor
- Hydrocephalus
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Brain And Central Nervous System
- Benign Tumor
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Carotid Stenosis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Hydrocephalus
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Epilepsy
- Head Injury
- Hemangioma
- Hydrocephalus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Meninges
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Spinal Cord
- Meningioma
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Omphalocele
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Scoliosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spine Tumor
- Spondylopathies
- Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
Procedures I perform
- Bifrontal Craniectomy
- Cerebellar Hemorrhage Evacuation
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Revision
- Cervical Nerve Release
- Cervical Spinal Cord Release
- Cervical Vertebral Disc Excision
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Cranial Nerve Neurostimulator Electrode Array And Pulse Generator Implantation
- Craniectomy For Hematoma Evacuation
- Cranioplasty
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dura Mater Supplement
- Endovascular Intracranial Prolonged Administration Of Pharmacologic Agent
- Excision Of Cerebral Ventricle
- Lumboperitoneal Shunt
- Lumbosacral Disc Excision
- Occlusion Intracranial Artery
- Open Brain Release
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parotid Biopsy
- Removal Of Bone Flap
- Resection Of Thoracic Vertebral Disc
- Sacral Nerve Release
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy For Brain Tumors
- Stereotactic Spinal Procedure
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aorta To Carotid Artery Bypass With Synthetic Substitute
- Thoracic Laminectomy
- Thoracic Nerve Release
- Upper Artery Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Vestibular Nerve Tumor Surgery
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
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Navigate
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HighMark
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Beech Street PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Network OA
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE East Select
- United Student Resources
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Basic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- OA Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- TRICARE for Life East
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Medicare FFS
- IH-HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Choice POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Tricare Reserve Select
- First Health PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- POS OA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery
Fellowship: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medical (2022)
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Jefferson Health (2021)
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital (2020)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2013)