About me
Robert Lager, MD, is a clinical cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He serves as Physician Lead of MedStar Cardiology Associates, a 43-physician cardiology group at MedStar Health. He is Director of MedStar Ambulatory Services for the Southern region of the MedStar Health system, which includes the District of Columbia and Southern Maryland. Dr. Lager worked as an interventional cardiologist for 20 years and has performed over 10,000 cardiac catheterizations. He has served as a national proctor for Abbott and Medtronic, training physicians from around the nation how to perform the transradial wrist approach for catheterization. In addition, he has trained many cardiology fellows in the interventional cardiology fellowship program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center,and contributed as a clinical investigator in multiple interventional cardiology research studies involving new devices and interventional techniques
Dr. Lager specializes in conditions related to coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and structural heart disease. He also sees patients for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and cholesterol disorders, with a strong interest in preventive cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Lager received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania before completing his internship training and residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital. He then completed a general cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as a fellowship in vascular medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of Boston. Throughout his fellowship training, Dr. Lager served as Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lager appreciates referrals from physicians and hospital centers for patients with all types of cardiac problems, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and cholesterol disorders. When not practicing cardiology, Dr. Lager enjoys regular exercise with his family and pursues his passion for travel.
Philosophy of Care
“I live by the golden rule that I treat patients like I would treat my family members or treat myself. I have found that this simple rule has guided me along my journey to develop an empathetic and patient-centered practice.
“Patients have better outcomes when they are informed and educated. For this reason, I’m very much about communication and transparency. An educated patient is generally a healthy patient. I also ask patients to take ownership of their care and urge them to live a healthy lifestyle.
“Empathy and taking the time to listen are a big part of my practice. The history and the story that one gets by listening to the patient are as valuable as any objective testing that we do. Above all, I want each of my patients to feel that they are my only patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Care
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Management
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Hypertension
- Palpitations
- Syncope
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Coronary Angiography
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Abnormal Stress Test
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- Amyloidosis
- Anomalies Of The Coronary Artery
- Aortic Diseases
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of The Aorta
- Athletic Heart Syndrome
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Autoimmune Pericarditis
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Angina
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carotid Aneurysm
- Carotid Intimal Thickness
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Coronary Artery Calcification
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Fistula
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Dysautonomia
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Edema
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Elevated Creatine Kinase
- Exercise Intolerance
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- First Degree Heart Block
- Genetic Cardiomyopathy
- Giant Cell Myocarditis
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Problems
- Heart Racing
- Heart Valve Disease
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Intestinal Ischemic Syndrome
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Left Heart Failure
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mthfr Mutation
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Myocarditis
- Myxoma
- Orthopnea
- Orthostatic Hypotension
- Palpitations
- Papillary Muscle Disorders
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericarditis
- Peripheral Edema
- Pre Excitation Syndrome
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Beats
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Prinzmetals Angina
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease
- Refractory Angina
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis
- Rheumatic Diseases Of Pulmonary Valve
- Rheumatic Fever
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Failure
- Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Right Bundle Branch Block
- Right Heart Failure
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Subaortic Stenosis
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Type 1 Second Degree Heart Block
- Type 2 Second Degree Heart Block
- Unstable Angina
- Valve Stenosis
- Valvular Endocarditis
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Variant Angina
- Vasospastic Angina
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Viral Cardiomyopathy
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Duplex Ultrasound
- Adenosine Stress Test
- Advanced Lipid Blood Tests
- Anticoagulation
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
- Cardiovascular Care
- Cholesterol Management
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Heart Health
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- In Office Cardiac Echocardiogram
- In Office Cardiac Stress Test
- Loop Recorder
- Preoperative Evaluation
- Preventative Cardiology
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Sports Related Cardiovascular Assessment
- Stress Echo Cardiogram
- Thallium Stress Test
- Tilt Table Test
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Vo2 Measurement
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- UNITED HEALTHCARE (UHC)
United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
United Select Plus (POS)
United Choice Plus
United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
United Navigate
United Erickson Advantage Plans
United Golden Rule
United Student Resources
United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
United Optimum Choice
United MD IPA (HMO)
United Mamsi Life & Health
United Core Essential (HMO)
United Choice
United AARP Medicare Complete
United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
I-SNP
United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
D-SNP)
United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE
Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
Cigna Choice Fund PPO
Cigna Indemnity
Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
Cigna POS/Network POS
Cigna EPO
Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
Cigna Preferred Medicare
Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
Cigna Network Open Access
Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
Cigna HMO Open Access
Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- KAISER PERMANENTE
Kaiser Signature
Kaiser Flexible Choice
Virginia Premier
Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
Kaiser Select
Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
Kaiser Select-Added Choice
Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
Kaiser Medicare Plus
Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CAREFIRST
CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
CareFirst NASCO
CareFirst Administrators
CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
CareFirst MedStar PPO
HealthyBlue PPO
Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
Carefirst EPO
Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- AETNA
Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
Aetna Student Health Insurance
Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
Innovation Health: Indemnity
Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
Aetna HMO
Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
Innovation Health: POS Plus
Innovation Health: Open POS II
Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
Innovation Health: PPO
Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
Innovation Health: POS
Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- HUMANA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
HumanaChoice PPO
HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- AMERIHEALTH CARITAS DC
AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- AMERIGROUP
Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
Amerigroup DC Alliance
WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MEDICAID (MD, DC, VA)
Medicaid - District of Columbia
Medicaid - Maryland
Medicaid - Virginia
- PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, INC. (PHCS)
Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- JOHNS HOPKINS HEALTHCARE
Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- POLICE AND FIRE CLINIC (PFC, INC.)
Police and Fire Clinic
- HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (HSCSN)
Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- MEDICARE
Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE
MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HUMANA MILITARY (TRICARE EAST)
Tricare for Life East
Tricare East Prime
Tricare East Select
Tricare Reserve Select
- VETERAN'S AFFAIRS COMMUNITE CARE NETWORK (VA CCN)
Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- CHOICE CARE NETWORK/HUMANA
Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- WELLPOINT MARYLAND
WellPoint Maryland
- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HEALTH PARTNERS
Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK
Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
First Health PPO
Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- UNITED HEALTHCARE (UHC)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2001)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1998)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (1995)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Heart Healthy Month: Living with heart disease
- 8 Warning Signs of a 'Silent' Heart Attack That Are Easy to Overlook
- Heart Disease in COVID-19 Survivors - MedStar Health Blog
- Dr. Lager is one of seven physicians that helped save the life of Steven Jones, the husband of Dr. Sandra Swain.
- Risk factors for heart attacks can begin accumulating during teenage years- WTOP Radio
- Heart risks begin in teenage years - FOX News
- Cardiovascular Physician Fall 2015: MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute First in Area to Offer the WATCHMAN Device
- Cardiovascular Physician Spring 2016:Transradial Caths Gain Traction With Interventional Cardiologists