Overview
Washington, DC occupies a unique position in American medicine. The city is home to some of the most research-active institutions in the world — the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus sits just across the Maryland border in Bethesda, and Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the metropolitan region. This environment shapes the standard of care for patients in DC: physicians here are often connected to ongoing research, train at affiliated academic hospitals, and treat a highly informed patient population that regularly asks hard questions about evidence, credentials, and outcomes.
Regenerative medicine — including stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and related orthobiologic procedures — has grown significantly in the DC market over the past decade. Patients typically seek these treatments after exhausting conservative options such as physical therapy and corticosteroid injections, but before committing to surgery. Common motivations include chronic joint pain from osteoarthritis, sports injuries involving tendons and ligaments, and spinal conditions. The appeal is real: autologous procedures (using the patient’s own cells) carry a well-established safety record, and a growing body of peer-reviewed literature supports their use in specific musculoskeletal conditions. That said, the FDA continues to classify most cell-based therapies as experimental outside of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood cancers, and patients should maintain clear-eyed expectations about what current science can and cannot promise.
Clinics operating in this space fall into two broad categories. Academic hospital programs — such as those affiliated with MedStar Georgetown or George Washington University Hospital — focus primarily on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for oncology indications. They operate under rigorous accreditation standards (FACT certification) and are appropriate for patients facing leukemia, lymphoma, or related hematologic conditions. The second category is outpatient regenerative orthopedics practices, which focus on musculoskeletal applications: joint pain, tendon injuries, cartilage damage, and spinal conditions. These practices are physician-owned or group-owned outpatient offices; they are not accredited for transplant oncology, but many operate within recognized quality networks such as the Regenexx provider network, which maintains its own training and outcomes-tracking standards.
Evaluating any clinic in this space requires scrutiny. A credible practice will be led by board-certified physicians (MD or DO) with documented specialty training — not chiropractors, naturopaths, or unlicensed practitioners. The treating physician should be able to explain exactly which cell source is being used, why it is appropriate for your diagnosis, and what the peer-reviewed outcome literature says. Imaging guidance (musculoskeletal ultrasound or fluoroscopy) should be used for all injections. Clinics that promise cures, offer poorly defined “stem cell IVs” for systemic conditions, or pressure patients into large prepaid packages warrant significant skepticism. The three clinics listed below have verifiable DC-area addresses, licensed MD physicians, and publicly accessible websites — the baseline minimum for patient due diligence.
Top Stem Cell Therapy Clinics in Washington, DC
1. Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics — Scott Faucett, MD
Address: 1015 18th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 835-2222
Website: https://www.scottfaucettmd.com
About: Scott Faucett, MD, MS is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon practicing with the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), one of the largest orthopaedic groups on the East Coast, with a dedicated Washington, DC office. Dr. Faucett’s clinical focus is complex knee and hip surgery, and he serves as Director of the Hip Preservation Center at George Washington University Hospital. His regenerative medicine work is integrated into a full-spectrum orthopaedic practice, meaning stem cell and PRP procedures are offered alongside surgical options — patients receive an honest comparison of modalities rather than a single-track recommendation. The practice has earned a 4.8-star rating across 138 patient reviews and Dr. Faucett has been recognized as a Washingtonian Top Doctor. He has also served as a pool physician for the United States Ski and Snowboard teams and as team doctor for George Washington University Athletics.
Physicians:
- Scott C. Faucett, MD, MS — Board-certified orthopaedic surgeon; MD from Dartmouth College (Geisel School of Medicine); orthopaedic surgery residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital; fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (Vail, CO), one of the most selective sports medicine fellowship programs in the United States; MS degree in clinical research; more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and 500+ citations; member of AOSSM and ISAKOS.
Services:
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) / Stem Cell Injections: Dr. Faucett harvests stem cells from the patient’s own bone marrow under anesthesia, concentrates them via centrifuge, and reintroduces them into the target joint or tissue. The autologous approach eliminates rejection risk and relies on the patient’s own healing biology.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Blood is drawn, centrifuged to concentrate growth factors, and injected directly into damaged tissue. PRP is Dr. Faucett’s stated preferred regenerative modality for conditions with a strong evidence base, and he applies it selectively based on diagnosis.
- Hip Preservation and Arthroscopy: Management of hip impingement, labrum tears, and cartilage damage — conditions where regenerative adjuncts are often used alongside or instead of surgery depending on severity.
- Complex Knee Surgery and Meniscus Repair: One of Dr. Faucett’s primary research areas; regenerative options are evaluated as part of the treatment planning process.
Conditions Treated:
- Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement) and labrum tears
- Knee osteoarthritis and cartilage defects
- Meniscus injuries
- Ligament sprains and partial tears
- Rotator cuff pathology
- Sports-related musculoskeletal injuries
Technology and Equipment: Procedures are performed with imaging guidance consistent with the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics’ clinical standards. The practice is affiliated with Capital Orthopaedic Surgery Center and Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center for any surgical components.
Patient Experience: Voted Washingtonian Top Doctor; 4.8-star rating from 138 verified patient reviews. Team physician experience with elite athletes across GWU Athletics and US national ski programs.
2. Regenerative Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (ROSM)
Address: 1145 19th Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 681-7671
Website: https://rosm.org
About: ROSM was co-founded in 2014 by Dr. John Ferrell III, Dr. David Wang, and the late Dr. Victor Ibrahim. Starting from a single Capitol Hill location, the practice has expanded to six offices across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, now employing eleven physicians and two physician assistants. The DC office at 19th Street NW remains the flagship location. ROSM positions itself as filling the treatment gap between cortisone injections and surgery — a gap that is precisely where regenerative orthopedics operates. All procedures at ROSM are performed under musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance, which the practice uses as a bedside imaging tool rather than routing patients to external radiology. This approach allows real-time visualization of the injection target, improving accuracy and reducing the variability that characterizes non-image-guided procedures. Dr. Ferrell also serves as adjunct teaching faculty at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center and sits on the board of the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine.
Physicians:
- John Ferrell III, MD — Board-certified Family Medicine physician with Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine and certification in Musculoskeletal Sonography; MD from Penn State College of Medicine (Hershey Medical Center); internship at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; four years of active duty naval medicine; sports medicine fellowship during which he served as team physician for the Washington Nationals and Washington Redskins (now Commanders), and team physician for George Mason University; adjunct faculty at University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center; board member of the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine and The Orthobiologics Institute.
- Michael Auriemma, MD — Primary training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; completed a sports medicine fellowship through Harvard University with extensive training in orthobiologics.
- Additional physicians on staff include Dr. Nameer Haider, MD; Dr. Aubrey Verdun, MD; and Alex Schultz, PA-C.
Services:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Blood is drawn and centrifuged to concentrate platelets and growth factors, then injected under ultrasound guidance directly into the injury site. ROSM physicians have published and lectured on cases involving partially torn shoulder tendons treated successfully with PRP, avoiding surgery.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC): Stem cell-rich bone marrow is harvested and concentrated for injection into target joints or soft tissue. Used for more advanced arthritic conditions where higher cell concentration is clinically indicated.
- Autologous Microfragmented Adipose Injections: Fat-derived regenerative cells harvested from the patient’s own adipose tissue, processed minimally, and injected into target areas.
- Prolotherapy: Injection of a dextrose solution to stimulate the body’s natural healing cascade in ligament and tendon injuries.
- Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment (EPAT/Shockwave Therapy): Non-invasive shockwave technology to stimulate tissue healing, often used as an adjunct to cell-based procedures.
- Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB): Injection targeting sympathetic nerve activity; used for select pain and autonomic conditions.
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: Real-time bedside imaging used for diagnosis and to guide all injectable procedures.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee osteoarthritis and meniscus pathology
- Shoulder pain including partial rotator cuff tears and labrum conditions
- Neck and back pain, including facet and SI joint conditions
- Hip pain and hip osteoarthritis
- Elbow, wrist, and hand injuries (including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow)
- Ankle and foot conditions
- Nerve entrapment syndromes
Technology and Equipment: Bedside musculoskeletal ultrasound for real-time imaging guidance on all injections; EPAT shockwave device; KneeKG motion analysis system for biomechanical assessment of knee function.
Patient Experience: Yelp-verified reviews available; multiple physician and PA staff provide scheduling flexibility. Office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
3. StemCell ARTS (National Spine and Pain Centers)
Address: 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 450, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (nearest location to Washington, DC; also serves DC metro area patients)
Phone: (301) 453-5573
Website: https://stemcellarts.com
About: StemCell ARTS operates as a division of National Spine and Pain Centers (NSPC), one of the largest interventional pain management networks in the mid-Atlantic. The StemCell ARTS brand was established to concentrate the group’s orthobiologics and regenerative medicine expertise under a dedicated identity. The Chevy Chase location is the primary hub and is accredited as a Regenexx network provider — a network that requires physicians to complete specialized training in orthobiologic procedures, use standardized protocols, and contribute outcomes data to a central registry. This outcomes-tracking infrastructure gives StemCell ARTS physicians longitudinal data on their procedures that most independent clinics do not have access to. Dr. Mayo Friedlis, the practice’s most senior regenerative physician, is recognized as one of the first practitioners in the DC metropolitan area to introduce bone marrow concentrate for musculoskeletal injuries and introduced the Regenexx protocol set to the practice in 2012 after more than 20 years of regenerative work in the region.
Physicians:
- Mayo Friedlis, MD — Board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management and the National Board of Medical Examiners; MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine; Chief Resident during residency at Sinai Hospital in Detroit; residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University; Co-Medical Director of National Spine and Pain Centers (Virginia division); introduced regenerative medicine to the DC area over 20 years ago and introduced Regenexx protocols to the practice in 2012; co-author of “Performing a Better Bone Marrow Aspiration,” published in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America (2016, with Christopher J. Centeno); invited lecturer in China on Regenerative Injection Therapy; member of the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine, American Academy of Pain Management, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, International Spinal Injection Society, and Virginia Medical Society; voted Washingtonian Magazine Top Doctor and Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor; 5.0-star rating from 253 patient reviews.
- Rodney Dade, MD — Board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Academy of Pain Management; Fellow of the Physiatry Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation; MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine; internship at University of Pennsylvania Hospital Systems; residency at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan; attending physician at the University of Michigan Hospital System before joining NSPC/StemCell ARTS in 1995; over 30 years of clinical experience; recognized in Washingtonian Magazine Top Doctors and Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctors; past recipient of the Congressional National Leadership Award for achievements in the medical community; 4.7-star rating from 133 patient reviews.
Services:
- Regenexx Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMAC): Proprietary Regenexx protocols for bone marrow harvest, concentration, and injection, with outcomes tracked in the Regenexx national registry for longitudinal data comparison.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Multiple PRP formulations including Regenexx-SD (same-day) and Regenexx-SCP (super concentrated platelet) protocols, calibrated to the specific diagnosis and tissue type being treated.
- Prolotherapy: Dextrose-based injections for ligament and tendon stabilization, a technique in which Dr. Friedlis has decades of experience including teaching it internationally.
- Interventional Pain Management: Conventional interventional procedures offered alongside regenerative options, allowing patients to access a full treatment spectrum within the same practice.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee arthritis and ligament/meniscus injuries
- Hip arthritis and labrum pathology
- Shoulder conditions including rotator cuff and AC joint injuries
- Spinal pain including disc, facet, and SI joint conditions
- Tendon and ligament injuries across all major joints
- Elbow, wrist, ankle, and foot conditions
Technology and Equipment: Regenexx network provider with access to standardized processing protocols and the Regenexx outcomes registry. All injections performed under imaging guidance.
Insurance and Pricing: Regenerative procedures are not covered by insurance and are self-pay. Local in-office consultation visits may be filed with medical insurance. Accepted payment: checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover. Contact the clinic directly for current procedure pricing.
What to Know Before Choosing a Stem Cell Clinic in Washington, DC
Before committing to any regenerative medicine provider in the DC area, patients should prepare a set of direct questions that no legitimate clinic will refuse to answer. Ask specifically: What is the cell source for this procedure — autologous (from my own body) or allogeneic (from a donor or commercial product)? If allogeneic, is the product FDA-approved or under an investigational new drug application? Is this injection performed under imaging guidance (ultrasound or fluoroscopy)? What is your published or tracked outcomes data for this specific procedure applied to my specific diagnosis? Any clinic that cannot answer these questions clearly, or that pivots to testimonials and marketing language rather than clinical data, warrants serious concern. In Washington, DC, patients have access to some of the most credentialed physicians in the country — there is no reason to settle for opacity.
Imaging and laboratory evaluation prior to treatment are not optional — they are part of responsible care. A reputable regenerative orthopedics clinic will require recent MRI or ultrasound imaging of the affected structure before proceeding. Treating a knee for osteoarthritis without knowing the degree of cartilage loss, or injecting a shoulder without characterizing the rotator cuff anatomy, is clinically indefensible. Similarly, baseline laboratory work matters: systemic inflammatory markers, metabolic panels, and in some cases platelet counts affect both the quality of PRP that can be produced from a given patient’s blood and the overall candidacy for cell-based procedures. If a clinic is willing to schedule a procedure without reviewing your imaging, that is a red flag.
Board certification is the minimum credential threshold, not a luxury filter. In DC, as in all US jurisdictions, any licensed MD or DO can legally administer injections of any kind — there is no specialty-specific legal requirement for regenerative procedures. This makes credential verification by the patient non-negotiable. The physicians listed in this directory are board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, Family Medicine with Sports Medicine CAQ, or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — specialties with direct anatomical relevance to musculoskeletal regenerative work. Patients should verify credentials independently through the American Board of Medical Specialties (abms.org), which allows free public lookup of board certification status. Fellowship training in sports medicine or interventional pain management, while not required, is a meaningful positive indicator of procedural skill.
Washington, DC patients also benefit from proximity to major academic medical centers that can provide a second opinion before any elective regenerative procedure. George Washington University Hospital, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center all have orthopaedic and sports medicine departments that can review your imaging and offer an independent assessment of whether you are a suitable candidate for regenerative versus surgical versus conservative management. Using these resources costs relatively little — often just a single specialist consultation — and substantially reduces the risk of undergoing a procedure you did not need or that will not address your underlying condition. The academic infrastructure that makes DC an exceptional medical city is available to patients who choose to use it.
Disclaimer: This directory is for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement. Verify credentials and consult a licensed physician before pursuing any treatment.