About

Dr. James Higgins is Chief of The Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Higgins specializes in complex reconstruction after trauma, microsurgery, congenital hand surgery as well as fractures and disorders of the arm and wrist. He is fellowship trained in hand surgery and board certified in plastic surgery.

Dr. Higgins is recognized as a leading surgeon in the field and a sought-after national and international presenter and visiting professor. His numerous research studies and clinical trial research projects are published in prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. While treating commonplace hand conditions he has been recognized as a leader in complex areas of hand surgery including microsurgery, hand replantation and transplantation, and wrist reconstruction.

Dr. Higgins believes in treating all patients in the same way that he would treat a family member. His dedication to patient care and compassion led him to be named a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine and a Super Doctor by The Washington Post.

Each year the two largest national scientific organizations of hand and microsurgery select a travelling ambassador surgeon from among their ranks of thousands of surgeons around the globe. Dr Higgins has served as the selected ambassador and travelling fellow for each of these groups. In 2010 Dr. Higgins served as the Godina travelling fellow for the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. In 2013 he then served as the Sterling Bunnell travelling fellow for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr Higgins is one of only two surgeons globally who have ever received both of these prestigious accolades.

Dr. Higgins was named a 2019 “Top Doc” by Baltimore Magazine for Hand Surgery and has been recognized since 2015.

Credentials

Board Certification

• Hand Surgery (Primary); certified in 2004

Education

• Fellowship Program Raymond Curtis Hand Cntr (2002)
• Residency Program Strong Memorial Hospital (1998 - 2001)
• Medical School University of Rochester School of Medicine (1996)
• Internship Program Strong Memorial Hospital (1997)

Conditions Treated

Locations

Videos

Insurance

• AETNA 13
  • AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
  • AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS) Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
  • AETNA — Aetna HMO Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
  • AETNA — Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA Innovation Health: POS Open HMO Opoen HMO Option Open EPO Plus
  • AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice (POS) Innovation Health: POS Plus
  • AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS) Choice POS & Choice POS II Innovation Health: Open POS Plus Open POS II
  • AETNA — Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
  • AETNA — Aetna Open Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: PPO
  • AETNA — Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
  • AETNA — Aetna Student Health Insurance
  • AETNA — Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: Indemnity
  • AETNA — Aetna USAccess (POS)
  • AETNA — Aetna Worker’s Compensation Network
• CAREFIRST 8
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access BlueChoice Open Access Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO POS)
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
  • CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
  • CAREFIRST — CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO HealthyBlue PPO
• CIGNA 6
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA EPO PPO and PPO Plus Choice Fund PPO
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA) Network OA POS OA & OA Plus
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA Indemnity
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA POS/Network POS
  • CIGNA HEALTH CARE — Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
• COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK 4
  • COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
  • COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care of Virginia
  • COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
  • COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — First Health PPO
• FIRST HEALTH 1
  • FIRST HEALTH (NOW COVENTRY) — FIRST HEALTH
• MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE 2
  • MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice – Maryland Health Choice
  • MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice-DC Healthy Families
• MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE 1
  • MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE — MedStar Medicare Choice
• MEDSTAR SELECT 1
  • MEDSTAR SELECT — MedStar Select
• PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC. 1
  • PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC. (PHCS) — Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
• TRICARE 4
  • TRICARE — Tricare Extra (Indemnity)
  • TRICARE — Tricare Prime
  • TRICARE — Tricare Standard
  • TRICARE — Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
• UNITED HEALTHCARE 12
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA (HMO)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — OneNet PPO Inc.
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice United Healthcare Navigate United Healthcare Compass (HMO)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice Plus
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice United Healthcare Core Essential (HMO)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO GEHA Compass Rose)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select HMO – EPO/NPP
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
  • UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Student Resources