Dr. Mesfin Aklilu Lemma is the son of a renowned Ethiopian pathobiologist, Professor Aklilu Lemma. Professor Aklilu’s research focused on endod, a trailing shrub used as a soap, shampoo, poison to stun fish, and lethal to snails. He established the Institute of Pathobiology at Addis Ababa University in 1966. Professor Aklilu received the Right Livelihood Award for discovering and campaigning relentlessly for an affordable preventative against bilharzia in1989. He also established the Endod Foundation with his colleagues to support all endod-related work.
Dr. Mesfin is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, & lumbar spine disorders. He began his career as a mechanical engineer. He then completed his residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He served as division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital before joining the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in 2014.
Dr. Mesfin A. Lemma performs the world’s first-ever minimal invasive spine surgery with an Intelligent Imaging System. He used the Excelsius3D 3-in-1 Intelligent Imaging System to eliminate the need for multiple imagining devices by combining cone-beam CT, fluoroscopy, and digital radiography into one device. Dr. Mesfin uses tubular retractors instead of conventional open surgery, state-of-the-art technologies, and computer-assisted navigation to save time during procedures and reduces patients’ time under surgery. He also focuses on treating spinal problems in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, spinal deformity, and revision spinal surgery.
Dr. Mesfin is currently serving as division chief of spine surgery and director of minimally invasive surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He has received numerous recognitions for his work, including being named the Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine and selected among the Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the U.S. by Becker’s Healthcare. He was also among the ‘Top Doctors in the U.S.’ list by U.S. News & World Report’s and Castle Connolly.
