About me
Susan O'Donoghue, MD, is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She previously served as Associate Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Director of the Combined Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is presently Director of Cardiogenetic Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a new program for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited cardiac disorders, which she developed. Dr. O'Donoghue has been providing care for more than 25 years.
Dr. O'Donoghue is a member of the Washington Electrophysiologic Society, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). She has authored numerous textbook chapters and journal articles.
Dr. O'Donoghue specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders through the use of electrophysiologic studies, catheter ablation procedures and devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). She is currently conducting research measuring the energy present on the skin surface when an internal defibrillator fires.
Dr. O'Donoghue completed her undergraduate studies in the Honors program at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated summa cum laude and received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency training in internal medicine at Emory University, and her Cardiology Fellowship at Emory University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. O'Donoghue also completed a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Philosophy of Care
"From a young age, I began volunteering at a nursing home. I volunteered until I was hired as a nurse's aide at the age of 16 and continued this work while completing my undergraduate degree. I still remember many of my patients to this day. Together with my love of science, that early experience helped me come to the decision to become a physician
It is an honor to participate in an individual's care. Each person I meet receives my full attention and a unique approach to their diagnosis and treatment plan. I strive to be a patient and empathetic listener, especially when it comes to the concerns of my patients. I feel fulfilled when my patients tell me that they're glad they came to see me and that they would recommend their loved ones to me.
Referring physicians should know that I will communicate clearly back to them and maintain a dialogue. I will take excellent care of their patients."
Clinical areas of focus
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Heart Racing
- Implantable Defibrillator
- Pacemaker
- Palpitations
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tachycardia
- Watchman Device Implantation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Anomalous Atrioventricular Excitation
- Arrhythmias During Pregnancy
- Arrhythmias In Adults With Congenital Heart Diseases
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Channelopathies
- Cardiac Conduction Defects
- Cardiac Device Infection
- Cardiac Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Complete Atrioventricular Block
- Complex Arrhythmia
- Conduction Defects
- Familial Arrhythmias
- Family History Of Sudden Cardiac Death
- First Degree Heart Block
- Heart Racing
- Lead Malfunction
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Lown Ganong Levine Syndrome
- Pacemaker Infection
- Pacemaker Malfunction
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
- Pre Excitation Syndrome
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Beats
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presyncope
- Right Bundle Branch Block
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Sinoatrial Node Dysfunction
- Sinus Node Dysfunction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome
- Trifascicular Block
- Type 1 Second Degree Heart Block
- Type 2 Second Degree Heart Block
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Procedures I perform
- 4D Flow Mri
- Ablation Arrhythmogenic Focus
- Ablation Av Node
- Ablation For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Fibrillation Cryoablation
- Atrial Fibrillation Radiofrequency Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM)
- Cardiac Device Implant
- Cardiac Devices
- Cardiac Implantable Device Replacement
- Cardiac Mapping
- Cardioversion
- Convergent Procedure
- Defibrillator Malfunction
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- Implantable Defibrillator
- Intracardiac Catheter Ablation
- Intravenous Lead Extraction
- Lariat Procedure
- Laser Lead Extraction
- Lead Extraction
- Loop Recorder
- Pacemaker
- Pacemaker And Icd Interrogation
- Pacemaker Placement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Rhizotomy
- Remote Cardiac Device Monitoring
- Replacement Of Defibrillator
- Resynchronization Therapy
- Tilt Table Test
- Transvenous Lead Extraction
- Watchman Device Implantation
- Wearable Defibrillator
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
- CareFirst NASCO
- Tricare East Select
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Signature
- United Navigate
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Tricare for Life East
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Golden Rule
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Tricare East Prime
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- WellPoint Maryland
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Carefirst EPO
- United Optimum Choice
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Administrators
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Select
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Virginia Premier
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Indemnity
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Select Plus (POS)
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- United Choice Plus
- Cigna EPO
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- I-SNP
- United Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- D-SNP)
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (1988)
Fellowship Program: Emory University Hospital (1986)
Residency Program: Emory University Hospital (1984)
Internship Program: Emory University Hospital (1982)
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine (1981)