
Dr. Maria Esperanza Rodrigo, MD
Contact this Provider
(202) 877-4698
About Me
About the Provider
Maria Esperanza Rodrigo, MD, is the Associate Director for the Heart Transplant Program and attending physician in the Advanced Heart Failure Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Transplantation Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a heart failure and transplant cardiologist, she primarily sees individuals with advanced heart failure, including patients requiring heart transplants and mechanical circulatory support. She also specializes in managing cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Rodrigo’s approach to treating patients with heart failure begins with a thorough evaluation to determine the type of treatment they will require. She initially offers treatment with medication, and often further advanced treatments, such as implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation. Dr. Rodrigo specializes in determining the eligibility of patients for these advanced heart failure therapies. When LVAD implantation is necessary, Dr. Rodrigo is part of a multidisciplinary team that offers patients the latest technology available in the field. Dr. Rodrigo follows these patients in the pre-, peri- and post-surgical period.
With a strong interest in advancing the field of heart transplantation, Dr. Rodrigo is the site principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAFT) study, a project across five area transplant hospitals that is exploring the use of cell-free DNA in heart transplantation.
After receiving her medical degree from Universidad Favaloro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2003, Dr. Rodrigo completed an NIH research fellowship in cardiovascular disease, during which she focused her work on endothelial progenitor cells. She then joined MedStar Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown University Hospital, where she completed her internal medicine residency in 2009, followed by a year as Chief Resident. Dr. Rodrigo then went on to complete a first fellowship in cardiology in 2013 and a second fellowship in advanced heart failure & transplant cardiology in 2014, both at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center. She is board certified internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.
Philosophy of Care
“It’s important for me to have open communication with each of my patients to understand that person’s wishes, expectations and environment. This helps me to provide compassionate, individualized care that is most appropriate for the patient and their family.
“Patients who come to our program will be receiving the very best care that is available today. We generate a relationship that is long-term with each individual — the patient becomes our patient for life, and it’s a journey that we go through together.”
Practice Locations
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street NorthwestWashington, DC 20010
Fax 877-245-1499
Insurances Accepted
MedStar Health Providers participate with a wide range of health insurance products. We accept self-pay patients and the insurances plans listed below. This list is not comprehensive, it is updated periodically and is subject to change. If you do not see your health insurance plan or product listed, or if you have any questions regarding MedStar Health’s participation with your health plan, please contact your health plan to verify participation with our providers.
Since the MedStar Health providers span the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia regions, our participation with DC, Maryland and Virginia Medical Assistance programs varies by provider group. Please contact your MedStar Physician’s Office to assist with verifying Medical Assistance participation. If you are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Organization, please contact your Medicaid health plan to verify participation.
- AETNA
Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
Aetna Student Health Insurance
Aetna USAccess (POS)
Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
Innovation Health: Indemnity
Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
Innovation Health: POS Plus
Innovation Health: PPO
Open EPO Plus
Open POS II
- CAREFIRST
Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE
Choice Fund PPO
CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
CIGNA Indemnity
CIGNA POS/Network POS
Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
POS OA & OA Plus
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK
Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
Coventry Health Care of Virginia
Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
First Health PPO
- FIRST HEALTH (NOW COVENTRY)
FIRST HEALTH
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE
MedStar Family Choice
- MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE
MedStar Medicare Choice
- MEDSTAR SELECT
MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, INC. (PHCS)
Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- TRICARE
Tricare Extra (Indemnity)
Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
Tricare Prime
Tricare Standard
- UNITED HEALTHCARE
M.D. IPA (HMO)
M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
OneNet PPO, Inc.
Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
United Healthcare Choice Plus
United Healthcare Compass (HMO)
United Healthcare Core Essential (HMO)
United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
United Healthcare Select HMO
United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
United Student Resources