About me
Christian Shults, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is the regional director of cardiac aortic surgery, surgical ablation, and innovation, as well as the fellowship director for the complex aortic structural heart program. He is also an assistant professor of surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Shults is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Shults specializes in the treatment of complex aortic disease, structural heart disease, valvular disease and redo valves, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation through the use of open, endovascular, minimally invasive, and transcatheter treatment therapies. In particular, he treats patients with aneurysms of the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta, in addition to anomalous coronaries, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, endocarditis.
As a national proctor for the Convergent Procedure for minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation, Dr. Shults has performed one of the highest volumes in the country and gives lectures nationwide to other physicians about the procedure.
Dr. Shults is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Shults recently served as interim chair of Cardiac Surgery between 2019 and 2021.
After receiving his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Shults completed a residency in general surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital-Washington Hospital Center. During this time, he spent a year at Harvard Medical School for a research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he focused on developing novel strategies to treat patients in hemorrhagic shock. He then returned to MedStar Washington Hospital Center as chief resident of general surgery. After this, Dr. Shults continued his specialty training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University, where he completed a three-year specialized fellowship focusing on revascularization, complex aortic disease, valvular and transcatheter valvular therapies, as well as all other aspects of cardiac surgery. Next, he traveled to Leipzig, Germany for a visiting fellowship in minimally invasive/transcatheter aortic valve repair at the University of Leipzig Heart Hospital. He returned to the U.S. for an aortic surgery mini-fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston Memorial Hermann Hospital and an endovascular mini-fellowship at the Arizona Heart Hospital Department of Heart & Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Shults takes interest in healthcare reform, healthcare economics, and innovations for minimally invasive or transcatheter therapies. His research efforts include treatment outcomes for complex aortic disease, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease. Dr. Shults is currently enrolling patients in several unique clinical trials, including the use of GORE® TAG® TBE, thoracic endoprosthesis in the treatment of lesions of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta; GORE® TAMBE, thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis for the treatment of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms; NeoChord artificial chordae delivery system, a mitral valve repair technique for patients with severe mitral regurgitation; a new stent for the endovascular treatment of arch aneurysms; Allergan/Botox® study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Botox for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; as well as several trials involving the latest in transcatheter valve technology. Additionally, he is principal investigator for the Bolton Medical acute complicated type B thoracic aortic dissection clinical trial.
Philosophy of Care
“My goal is to deliver the best solution possible to my patients, incorporating all of the innovation and technology available, while minimizing the impact on the body, such as recovery time and time away from work and daily activities. I take my role in the health of my patients very seriously. I’ve seen firsthand the impact that heart disease can have on a family: the downside of untreated heart disease and the downside of heart disease treatment complications. I’m intent on addressing and preventing complications from happening while also providing solutions. Each patient and their family are the center of a world that gets my full attention. An important aspect of treatment is explaining the disease process and providing an educational foundation to my patients so that they fully understand the significance of the disease and why it’s important to treat.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Heart Transplant
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Anomalies Of Pulmonary Circulation
- Anomalous Pulmonary Artery
- Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Atrioventricular Canal Defects
- Chest Wall Disorder
- Collapsed Lung
- Congenital Tricuspid Stenosis
- Contusion Of Chest Wall
- Double Aortic Arch
- Endocardial Cushion Defect
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Infundibular Pulmonic Stenosis
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Loeys Dietz Syndrome
- Lung Contusion
- Malignant Effusion
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Main Bronchus
- Marfan Syndrome
- Maternal Valvular Disease
- Mediastinitis
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Bridge
- Pectus Carinatum
- Pectus Excavatum
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pleural Effusion
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Rib Fracture
- Rupture Of Papillary Muscle
- Sternal Fracture
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Valvular Endocarditis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair
- Balloon Catheter
- Bloodless Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Circulatory Assist Devices
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Convergent Procedure
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Correction Of Pectus Deformity
- Cryoablation
- Diaphragm Pacemaker Procedure
- Diaphragm Pacing
- Embolectomy
- Endoscopic Surgery
- Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy Eecp
- Epicardial Lead Placement
- Esophageal Diverticulectomy
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Transplant
- Impella Insertion
- Impella Management
- Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Mechanical Circulatory Support
- Median Sternotomy
- Mediastinoscopy
- Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
- Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Lobectomy
- Minimally Invasive Ventricular Septal Defect Closure
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass
- Open Biopsy Of Bronchus
- Open Biopsy Of Lesions Of Mediastinum
- Open Biopsy Of Lung
- Paravalvular Leak Repair
- Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
- Percutaneous Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
- Percutaneous Ventricular Septal Defect Closure
- Pericardiocentesis
- Pericardiotomy
- Pleurodesis
- Pleurx Catheter Insertion
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Pulmonary Clearance For Surgery
- Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Pulmonic Valve Replacement
- Radiofrequency Ablation For Barrett's Esophagus
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
- Repair Of Diaphragm
- Replacement Of Heart Valve
- Robotic Assisted Cardiac Surgery
- Robotic Thoracic Surgery
- Ross-Konno Procedure
- Septal Myectomy
- Surgical Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Thrombectomy
- Total Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tube Pericardiostomy
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Septal Defect Repair
- Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
110 Irving Street Northwest MHVI-1st Floor North Addition Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-7464Fax 202-877-2799
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
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Student Resources
- United Select Plus (POS)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- United Golden Rule
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- D-SNP)
- I-SNP
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Choice Plus
- United Choice
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Signature
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Kaiser Select
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Cigna Indemnity
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Cigna EPO
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland
- Virginia Premier
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Optimum Choice
- United Navigate
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Tricare for Life East
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Tricare East Select
- Tricare East Prime
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Carefirst EPO
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Fellowship Program: Emory University Hospital (2013)
Residency Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine (2004)