About me
Joseph L. Ferguson, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Ferguson specializes in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
With advanced expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Ferguson performs a wide range of procedures in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and help patients return to an active lifestyle. His surgical expertise includes transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar fusion (ALIF), extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF), and lumbar fusion techniques tailored to each patient’s unique condition.
He also specializes in surgical disc replacement, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminoplasty, and lumbar laminectomy, offering both traditional and motion-preserving approaches depending on the clinical needs of each case. Dr. Ferguson frequently treats patients with complex degenerative spine disorders and employs innovative strategies to manage spinal instability, deformity, and nerve compression.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ferguson is committed to advancing the field of degenerative spine surgery through research, education, and the integration of the latest technologies. His expertise in thoracic fusion and minimally invasive techniques allows him to achieve optimal outcomes with reduced recovery times and improved patient satisfaction.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Ferguson believes each patient is unique and requires an individualized, focused, and thorough approach to address the diagnosis. He approaches each patient-physician relationship as a partnership, with the best outcomes resulting from a collaborative effort. His goal is to help patients and their families understand their conditions and to educate them on all possible options, in order to restore function and relieve pain for a return to an active lifestyle.
He specializes in
- Cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower-back) pathologies
- Minimally invasive techniques
- Lumbar stenosis
- Lumbar degenerative spine disorders
- Cervical Stenosis
- Cervical herniated disks
- Neck and/or arm pain or weakness
- Leg pain and weakness
- Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy
- Scoliosis (adult)
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spinal Stenosis
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Disorders In Diseases
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Coccydynia
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Sacral Spine Herniation
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Herniation
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Thumb Synovitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Bulging Disc Treatment
- Cauda Equina Syndrome Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Degenerative Spine Surgery
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Fusion
- Lumbar Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Spinal Deformity Correction In Adolescents
- Spinal Deformity Correction With Intraoperative Ct
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Dural Fistula Treatment
- Spinal Facet Joint Pain Treatment
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Hematoma Treatment
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Injury Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Fusion
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
1 Gorman
Washington, DC, 20007
1120 20th St NW
Bldg 1 S A Level
Washington, DC, 20036
5454 Wisconsin Ave
Ste 1100
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
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
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Indemnity
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Network OA
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HealthyBlue PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna HMO
- TRICARE East Select
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice POS II
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Choice POS
- IH-Open POS II
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Prime
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Navigate
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthpedic Surgery
Fellowship: Atrium Health Union West (2019)
Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2019)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2018)
Residency: Medstar Health (2018)
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College (2013)
Graduate: Drexel University (2007)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Basques, BA, Ferguson JF, Kunze KN, Phillips, FP. Lumbar Spinal Fusion in the Outpatient Setting: An Update on Management, Surgical Approaches and Planning. Journal of Spine Surgery (accepted, pending publication).
- Louie PK, Haws BE, Khan JM, Markowitz J, Movassaghi K, Ferguson J, Lopez GD, An HS, Phillips FM. Comparison of Stand-alone Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion versus Open Laminectomy and Posterolateral Instrumented Fusion in the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease following Previous Lumbar Fusion Surgery. Spine. Aug 12, 2019 (ePub ahead of print).
- Ferguson J, Mariorenzi M, Kalantar SB. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion for a single-level disc herniation. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2014; 26(3): 154-9.
- Ferguson J, Hwang S, Tataryn Z, Samdani A. Neuromonitoring changes in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a single-institution experience. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2014; 13(3): 247-54.
- Radcliff K, Ferguson JL, Reis-Rodrigues LM, Gruskay J, Levine AM, Albert T, Vaccaro AR. Chapter 24: Traumatic Spondylolisthesis of the Axis (Hangman's Fracture) in Spine Trauma, 2nd edition. Eds: Zigler JE, Eismont FJ, Garfin SR, Vaccaro AR, from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011.
- Samdani AF, Cahill PJ, Hwang SW, King J, Edwards A, Fine A, Ferguson J, Betz RR: Larger curve magnitude is associated with markedly increased perioperative complications after scoliosis surgery in patients with spinal cord injury. 18th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (podium), Copenhagen, Denmark, July 13-16, 2011.
- Zlotolow DA, Ferguson JL, Knutsen E, Kozin SH. The Natural History of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. NARAKAS meeting, May 19-22, 2011, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Ferguson JL, Zlotolow DA, Kozin SH. Timing of Recovery of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.
- Poster, AOA Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, March 2nd, 2012
- E-Poster, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, September 6-8, 2012, Chicago, IL.
- Ferguson JL, Hwang SW, Stanton P, Fine A, Samdani AF. Neuromonitoring Changes in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery: Single Institution Experience. New England Neurosurgical Society annual meeting, June 21-23, 2012.