James P. Higgins MD

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.

Each year the two largest national scientific organizations of hand and microsurgery select a traveling ambassador surgeon from among their ranks of thousands of surgeons around the globe. Dr. Higgins has served as the selected ambassador and traveling fellow for each of these groups. In 2010 Dr. Higgins served as the Godina traveling fellow for the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. In 2013 he then served as the Sterling Bunnell traveling 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.