Rizwan Ahmad Tahir, MD| Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery | MedStar Health
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
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
- Bleeding In Brain
- Brain Tumor
- Hydrocephalus
- Laminectomy
- Parotid Biopsy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abscess Of The Brain
- Aneurysm
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
- Bleeding In Brain
- Blindness And Low Vision
- Bone Discontinuity
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Disorders
- Brain Tumor
- Carotid Stenosis
- Cerebral Edema
- Cerebral Vasospasm
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Chiari Malformation
- Congenital Hydrocephalus
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Skull And Face Bones
- Craniopharyngioma
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Epidural Hematoma
- Epilepsy
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Head Injury
- Hemangioma
- Hydrocephalus
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningioma
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Fracture
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Neurofibromatosis
- Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Omphalocele
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Scoliosis
- Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Brain
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Tumor
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Syringomyelia
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
- Vertebral Fractures
Procedures I perform
- Bifrontal Craniectomy
- Central Nervous Electrical Activity Monitoring
- Cerebellar Hemorrhage Evacuation
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Revision
- Cervical Nerve Release
- Cervical Spinal Cord Release
- Cervical Vertebral Disc Excision
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Craniectomy For Hematoma Evacuation
- Cranioplasty
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Dura Mater Supplement
- Electroencephalogram
- Electroencephalogram Review
- Excision Of Cerebral Ventricle
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Fluoroscopy Of Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries Using Other Contrast Agent
- Foot Subcutaneous Tissue Diagnostic Drainage
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Iliopopliteal Bypass
- Incision And Drainage Of Abscess
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intracranial Subdural Space Drainage
- Intravenous (IV) Fluids
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Lumbar Nerve Release
- Lumbar Vertebral Disc Excision
- Lumboperitoneal Shunt
- Lumbosacral Disc Excision
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
- Microsurgical Procedures
- Occlusion Intracranial Artery
- Occlusion Left External Iliac Artery
- Open Brain Release
- Orbitocranial Approach To Anterior Cranial Fossa
- Papilledema And Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parotid Biopsy
- Pathology Consultation
- Pressure Flow Study
- 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 Fluoroscopy
- Thoracic Aorta To Carotid Artery Bypass With Synthetic Substitute
- Thoracic Laminectomy
- Twist Drill Hole With Ventricular Catheter
- Unlisted Male Genital System Procedure
- 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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Basic
- United Student Resources
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Choice POS II
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- Optimum Choice
- UHC Passport
- HighMark
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-POS
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Sentara Health
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- POS OA
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Core Essential (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-EPO Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery
Fellowship: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medical (2022)
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Jefferson Health (2021)
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital (2020)