James Brennan Spies, MD| Vascular Interventional Radiology | MedStar Health
James Brennan Spies

James Brennan Spies, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.8 out of 5 (136 reviews)

Specialties: Vascular Interventional Radiology

Languages: English

(877) 219-2787

About me

James Brennan Spies, MD, is professor and chair in the Department of Radiology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. After attending Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Spies completed a radiology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a fellowship at New York University School of Medicine in vascular and interventional radiology. He also has received a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Spies served four years in the United States Air Force. After military service, he was in private practice for several years before joining the faculty of Georgetown University in 1997. He has served as chair of the Department of Radiology since 2005.
He has an active practice in uterine embolization for fibroids and has performed extensive research in the procedure. He is recognized as an international authority on the procedure. He has more than 100 published scientific studies, given over 300 invited presentations, and has edited a text on uterine embolization. He continues to actively research uterine embolization, measuring outcomes for fibroid therapies and is now studying the safety and efficacy of prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Dr. Spies is a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), and the American College of Radiology (ACR) and has also been named a Distinguished Fellow of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and Honorary Fellow of the British Society of Interventional Radiology. He  has served on numerous national committees for both SIR and ACR and is past president of the Society of Interventional Radiology, the largest interventional radiology professional organization in the U.S.
Dr. Spies's Philosophy of Care
I believe in a collaborative approach to patient care, actively involving the patient and the patient's other physicians. I believe that a well-informed patient is best able to participate in that process, and I strive to ensure that patients have the information they need to choose the medical approach best suited to them.

Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
  • Vascular Malformation
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Procedures I perform

  • Gonadal Embolization
  • Gonadal Venography
  • Hypogastric Artery Embolization
  • Uterine Artery Angiogram
  • Uterine Artery Embolization
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization Counseling
  • Varicocele Embolization
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

5601 Loch Raven Boulevard
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
Baltimore, MD, 21239

443-444-2430

Fax 443-444-4656

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 443-444-4656

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
CCC Bldg Ground Fl
Washington, DC, 20007

202-444-3400

Fax 202-444-3411

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-444-3411

201 East University Parkway
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
Baltimore, MD, 21218

410-554-2728

Fax 410-554-2584

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 410-554-2584

18101 Prince Philip Drive
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Olney, MD, 20832

301-774-8650
Get Directions

miles away

106 Irving Street Northwest
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC, 20010

202-877-9729

Fax 301-209-5616

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 301-209-5616

18101 Prince Philip Drive
Olney, MD, 20832

301-774-8950

Fax 301-774-8943

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 301-774-8943

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Concentrated Care Center Ground Level Room CG201
Washington, DC, 20007

202-444-5478

Fax 877-219-2787

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 877-219-2787

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
    • Employee Health Plan (EHP)
    • Beech Street PPO
    • Anthem Plus BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
    • Anthem (POS & Open Access POS) BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
    • Anthem HMO - BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Innovation Health: Open POS II
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
    • Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna HMO
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
    • Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
    • Cigna Preferred Medicare
    • Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
    • Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
    • United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
    • United Student Resources
    • United Select Plus (POS)
    • United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
    • United Golden Rule
    • United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
    • D-SNP)
    • I-SNP
    • United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
    • United Erickson Advantage Plans
    • United Choice Plus
    • United Choice
    • United Mamsi Life & Health
    • United Core Essential (HMO)
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
    • United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
    • United MD IPA (HMO)
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Signature
    • Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
    • Kaiser Select-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Select
    • Kaiser Medicare Plus
    • Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
    • Kaiser Flexible Choice
    • Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
    • HumanaChoice PPO
    • HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
    • Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
    • Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna POS/Network POS
    • Cigna Indemnity
    • Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
    • Cigna Network Open Access
    • Cigna HMO Open Access
    • Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
    • CIGNA EPO
    • Cigna Choice Fund PPO
    • Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
    • WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
    • WellPoint Maryland
    • Virginia Premier
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
    • UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
    • United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
    • Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
    • Police and Fire Clinic
    • United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • United Optimum Choice
    • United Navigate
    • United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
    • United AARP Medicare Complete
    • Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
    • Medicaid - Virginia
    • Medicaid - Maryland
    • Medicaid - District of Columbia
    • Tricare for Life East
    • Tricare Reserve Select
    • Tricare East Select
    • Tricare East Prime
    • Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • CareFirst NASCO
    • CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
    • CareFirst MedStar PPO
    • CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
    • CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
    • CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
    • CareFirst Administrators
    • CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
    • Carefirst EPO
    • Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
    • First Health PPO
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO

Videos

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology

Fellowship Program: New York University Medical Center (1985)

Residency Program: University of California Hospitals and Clinics (1984)

Internship Program: Pacific Medical Center (1981)

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine (1980)

Ratings and reviews

  • Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

    4.9
  • Extent to which the care provider listened to you

    4.8
  • Care provider’s discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.8
  • Provider included you in decisions

    4.8
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.9
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.8
  • Aug 5, 2024

    Simply incredible physician!

  • Nov 5, 2023

    Excellent provider! Informative, competent, confident and specific. Dr. Spies answered ALL my questions and related to me in a manner that makes me confident that he can do the job WELL.

  • Oct 13, 2023

    *Dr. Spies was very nice & informative. He was a breath of fresh air & answered all my questions. He even wrote a letter to my physician.