Joseph Watson, MD| Neurosurgery | MedStar Health
Joseph Watson

Joseph Watson, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.9 out of 5 (591 reviews)

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Languages: English

703-748-1010

About me

A senior neurosurgeon and professor of Neurosurgery at Georgetown University, Dr. Watson leads the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Watson earned his Bachelor of Science at Stanford University and his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. He completed his neurosurgical residency at the Medical College of Virginia (now V.C.U.) in Richmond. Dr. Watson was fellowship trained at the National Institutes of Health in pituitary surgery and cerebrovascular research/surgery. He brings the wisdom of “those pioneers in neurosurgery from both coasts who instructed me” to bear on his patients here at MGUH.

Clinical areas of focus

  • Aneurysm
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Herniated Disc
  • Parkinson's Disease (PD)
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Tumor
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Acromegaly
  • Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma
  • Aneurysm
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arterial Malformation Brain
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma Tumors
  • Benign Neoplasm Of Brain
  • Berry Aneurysm
  • Brachial Nerve Tumors
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Cavernous Hemangioma
  • Central Nervous System Tumors
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Clivus Chondroma
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Dural Arteriovenous Fistula
  • Elevated Growth Hormone
  • Ependymoma
  • Glioblastoma Multiforme
  • Glioma
  • Gliosarcoma
  • Hemangioblastoma
  • Herniated Disc
  • Intracranial Mass
  • Intraventricular Tumor
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Mass
  • Lumbar Spine Tumor
  • Malignant Brain Neoplasm
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of Cerebellum
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of Frontal Lobe
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of The Spinal Cord
  • Meningioma
  • Meningioma Of The Spine
  • Metastatic Brain Cancer
  • Moyamoya
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 1
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2
  • Neurogenic Claudication
  • Non Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Olfactory Neuroblastoma
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma
  • Parkinson's Disease (PD)
  • Peripheral Nerve Tumors
  • Peripheral Schwannoma
  • Pituitary Adenoma
  • Pituitary Cancer
  • Primary Brain Tumor
  • Rathke Cleft Cysts
  • Ruptured Brain Aneurysm
  • Scoliosis
  • Skull Base Tumor
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Mass
  • Spine Tumor
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Thoracic Spine Mass
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Tuberous Sclerosis
  • Vascular Brain Tumors
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Spine
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Procedures I perform

  • Acoustic Neuroma Removal
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Awake Craniotomy
  • Biopsy Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Skull
  • Brain Surgery
  • Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Cerebrovascular Bypass Surgery
  • Cervical Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Cervical Laminotomy
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Clipping Of Brain Aneurysm
  • Craniotomy
  • Decompression Median Nerve At Elbow
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Endoscopic Endonasal Approach
  • Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
  • Intracranial Arterial Bypass
  • Laminectomy
  • Microsurgery
  • Microvascular Decompression
  • Microvascular Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Open Biopsy Of Brain
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Resection Of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Robotic Assisted Neurosurgery
  • Spinal Schwannoma Surgery
  • Spinal Stenosis Surgery
  • Spine Microsurgery
  • Standard Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Stereotactic Brain Biopsy
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Transnasal Repair Csf Leak
  • Ulnar Nerve Decompression
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
1 Lombardi
Washington, DC, 20007

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

2300 Opitz Boulevard
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
Woodbridge, VA, 22191

703-523-1000

Fax 571-542-9992

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 571-542-9992

3300 Gallows Road
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church, VA, 22042

855-694-6682

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Pasquerilla Healthcare Center 6th Fl
Washington, DC, 20007

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

8230 Boone Boulevard
Suite 360
Vienna, VA, 22182

703-748-1000

Fax 703-748-1010

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-748-1010

1850 Town Center Parkway
Reston Hospital Center
Reston, VA, 20190

703-689-9000

Fax 703-689-9174

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 703-689-9174

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
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • 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
    • 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)
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Police and Fire Clinic
    • United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • United Optimum Choice
    • United Navigate
    • United Core Essential (HMO)
    • 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
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery

Fellowship Program: National Institute of Health (1999)

Residency Program: Medical College of Virginia (1997)

Internship Program: Medical College of Virginia (1992)

Medical School: University of California at San Diego (1991)

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

    4.9
  • Care provider’s discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.9
  • Provider included you in decisions

    4.9
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.9
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.9
  • Aug 13, 2024

    Felt reassured and informed

  • Aug 13, 2024

    Dr. Watson is wonderful

  • Jul 25, 2024

    Dr. Watson is excellent.