Dr. Christopher F. Barnett, MD

Christopher Barnett, MD, MPH, is Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program and Director of the Medical Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board certified in critical care medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. He is a member of the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation, the American College of Cardiology, and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Dr. Barnett specializes in the care of patients with pulmonary hypertension as well as patients who are critically ill with cardiovascular disease. In his pulmonary hypertension practice, he manages patients with advanced therapies including parenteral treatments. In the cardiac intensive care unit, he leads a multidisciplinary team that provides optimal, collaborative care to patients with severe cardiovascular disease as well as to patients before and after advanced, special cardiovascular procedures. He works closely and collaboratively with referring providers and other specialist physicians, including transplant cardiologists and the palliative care team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Dr. Barnett received his medical degree and his master’s degree in public health from Northwestern University. He completed his internal medicine residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He then completed a clinical and research fellowship in critical care medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of California, San Diego. He joined the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, where he became Associate Professor of Medicine, prior to joining MedStar.

Dr. Barnett is passionate about growing and evolving the already outstanding pulmonary hypertension program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He hopes to give patients advanced, exceptional pulmonary hypertension care as well as access to clinical trials and a chance to participate in groundbreaking research. As a cardiologist who completed his fellowship training in critical care, Dr. Barnett’s skill set is unique. It is this kind of specialized training that contributes to MedStar’s mission of providing forward-thinking, cutting-edge care for patients in the D.C. Metropolitan area.

Dr. Barnett is an advocate for physician and patient education of pulmonary hypertension. He is actively involved with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and has co-chaired multiple events for patients and providers such as “PHA on the Road,” a day-long event dedicated to the education and support for patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and their families.

Dr. Barnett is also a board member and volunteer for Special Love for Children With Cancer, a non-profit organization committed to providing rich experiences for children with cancer and their families. He first volunteered during his fellowship training with the NIH, and since then, has continued to dedicate time to this organization every year.

Philosophy of Care

“I work hard to make sure my patients have as much information as possible about their diagnosis. I take the time to listen so that I may understand the goals each individual has for their treatment. I communicate clearly to my patients the severity of their condition in order to empower them to take control of their care.

It is equally as important to communicate with all of the patient’s physicians, especially referring doctors. Collaborative care extends beyond the immediate environment of care.

My involvement with organizations such as the Pulmonary Hypertension Association allows me to offer patients more than just high-level, compassionate care. As part of a comprehensive approach to treatment, educational activities not only give my patients the opportunity to learn more about their diagnosis, it also allows them to find necessary support.”