About
Melissa A. Wright, MD, is a fellowship-trained, board-eligible shoulder and elbow surgeon at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute. She sees patients in Westminster and at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Wright received her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and also completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital-Washington University in St. Louis. She completed a fellowship specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Wright is experienced in the latest surgical techniques. Her clinical interests include shoulder replacement (including reverse, stemless, revision, and outpatient options); shoulder and elbow arthritis, trauma, dislocations, fractures, and arthroscopy; rotator cuff pain; distal biceps surgery; and sports-related shoulder and elbow problems. Her published research includes work on shoulder replacement outcomes in geriatric patients, the impact of social deprivation on orthopaedic care, and anterior glenohumeral instability.
The mind-body connection is part of Dr. Wright’s philosophy of care, and she believes her patients’ unique circumstances can affect their pain perceptions and surgical outcomes. Dr. Wright works with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan, taking their preferences and needs into account. In addition to her day-to-day medical practice, she is passionate about advocating for women and people of color within orthopaedics as an active member of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society. She is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.
Credentials
Board Certification
- Orthopaedic Surgery
Education
- Fellowship Program MedStar Union Memorial Hospital (2020)
- Residency Program Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital (2019)
- Medical School Washington University School of Medicine (2014)
Conditions Treated
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Rotator Cuff Tear
A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the shoulder’s rotator cuff, cause pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. A rotator cuff tear occurs in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis to partial tears to…
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Elbow Fractures
Without much protection from muscles or other soft tissues, the elbow can easily break if you experience a direct blow to the elbow or fall on a bent elbow. When the elbow structure is altered, either by breaking a bone…
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Avascular Necrosis (Shoulder)
Avascular necrosis of the shoulder occurs when a region of bone dies as the result of loss of its blood supply. The condition can be caused by a number of things including trauma, the use of corticosteroids, excessive alcohol consumption…
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Proximal Humerus Fractures
A proximal humerus fracture is a common injury to the shoulder, especially among older individuals due to osteoporosis. This type of fracture occurs when the ball, of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint, is broken. About 80 percent of proximal humerus fractures…
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Labrum Tear
The labrum is a soft fibrous tissue rim surrounding the shoulder socket that helps stabilize the joint. In addition, it serves as an attachment site for several ligaments. Injuries to the tissue rim, surrounding the shoulder socket, can occur from…
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Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator Cuff Tear A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the rotator cuff, cause shoulder pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. Rotator cuff injuries and tears occur in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis…
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Shoulder Pain, Instability and Dislocations
Shoulder pain is a common problem for many people, especially those who are active. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may continue and require…
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Arthritis (Shoulder)
Shoulder arthritis can make it difficult and painful to perform even the simplest daily tasks. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can destroy the shoulder joint and surrounding tissue. They can also cause degeneration and tearing of the capsule or the…
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Locations
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
Insurance
MedStar Health Providers participate with a wide range of health insurance products. We accept self-pay patients and the insurances plans listed below. This list is not comprehensive, it is updated periodically and is subject to change. If you do not see your health insurance plan or product listed, or if you have any questions regarding MedStar Health’s participation with your health plan, please contact your health plan to verify participation with our providers.
Since the MedStar Health providers span the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia regions, our participation with DC, Maryland and Virginia Medical Assistance programs varies by provider group. Please contact your MedStar Physician’s Office to assist with verifying Medical Assistance participation. If you are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Organization, please contact your Medicaid health plan to verify participation.
Insurance Plans Accepted-
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
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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
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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
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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
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FIRST HEALTH
1
- FIRST HEALTH (NOW COVENTRY) — FIRST HEALTH
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MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE
2
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice – Maryland Health Choice
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice-DC Healthy Families
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MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE
1
- MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE — MedStar Medicare Choice
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MEDSTAR SELECT
1
- MEDSTAR SELECT — MedStar Select
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PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
1
- PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC. (PHCS) — Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
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TRICARE
4
- TRICARE — Tricare Extra (Indemnity)
- TRICARE — Tricare Prime
- TRICARE — Tricare Standard
- TRICARE — Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
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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