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 Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Kaiser Signature
- United Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Choice Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Navigate
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Golden Rule
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Student Resources
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Indemnity
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Optimum Choice
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Cigna EPO
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Choice
- Virginia Premier
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Medicaid - Virginia
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Tricare for Life East
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Carefirst EPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Tricare East Prime
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- I-SNP
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Tricare East Select
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- D-SNP)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship Program: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship Program: St. Elizabeths Hospital of Boston (2002)
Residency Program: Massachusetts General Hospital (1998)
Internship/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