About me
Ricardo Nieves, MD, is a cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. As a general cardiologist, he treats patients with a wide range of cardiovascular disorders, utilizing traditional and advanced cardiology methods like stress testing, coronary CTA, and cardiac MRI. He is board-certified in internal medicine, echocardiography, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac MRI.
His treatment approach is patient-centered and holistic. Passionate about helping people improve their health while considering their lifestyle and the social determinants that influence their access to care, he works closely with his patients to develop a care plan that aligns with their personal goals and values. He promotes lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, to improve cardiovascular health.
Dr. Nieves specializes in utilizing cardiac MRI imaging technology to better diagnose, treat, and understand heart diseases such as infiltrative cardiomyopathies and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, among other processes. He is also excited about the future of 4D cardiac MRI imaging, a technology that allows cardiologists to evaluate blood flow in the heart in real-time while simultaneously evaluating the structure of the heart.
Dr. Nieves completed his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency, internship, and two fellowship programs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
In his career, Dr. Nieves has received several awards and honors, including the Galal M. Ziady Memorial Award for his commitment to the underserved and the UPMC Excellence in Research Award. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and Alpha Omega Alpha.
Dr. Nieves speaks fluent Spanish. When he is not working with patients, he likes to play guitar, row, exercise, and spend time with his family.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care is simple: the patient comes first. It is important to me to focus on someone’s goals and fully understand where they are coming from. I believe that knowledge is power and that the more you know, the better equipped you are to take care of yourself and your health. When I sit and talk with patients, I am seeking to understand where they are coming from and how I can meet them there with information regarding their health.
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
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arteriosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of The Aorta
- Athletic Heart Syndrome
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Autoimmune Pericarditis
- Bacterial Endocarditis
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Angina
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardio Oncology
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carotid Aneurysm
- Carotid Intimal Thickness
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
- Chemodectoma
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Coronary Artery Calcification
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Fistula
- Cyanotic Heart Disease
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Double Aortic Arch
- Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)
- 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
- High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
- 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 Dysfunction
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Microvascular Dysfunction
- 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
- Paraganglioma
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)
- 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 Capillary Hemangiomatosis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Hypoplasia
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
- Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease
- Refractory Angina
- Renal Vein Compression
- 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
- Single Ventricle Defect
- Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
- 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
- Venous Tumors
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Viral Cardiomyopathy
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Duplex Ultrasound
- Adenosine Stress Test
- Advanced Lipid Blood Tests
- Anticoagulation
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
- Cardiovascular Care
- Cholesterol Management
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Coronary Brachytherapy
- Directional Atherectomy
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Electrophysiology Testing
- Heart Failure Screening
- Heart Health
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- In Office Cardiac Echocardiogram
- In Office Cardiac Stress Test
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Loop Recorder
- Optical Coherence Tomography
- Preoperative Evaluation
- Preventative Cardiology
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Rotational Atherectomy
- Sports Related Cardiovascular Assessment
- Stress Echo Cardiogram
- Thallium Stress Test
- Tilt Table Test
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Vo2 Measurement
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
110 Irving Street Northwest MHVI-1st Floor North Addition Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-7777Fax 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 Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna HMO
- I-SNP
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Tricare East Prime
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Kaiser Select
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Medicaid - Maryland
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna Network Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Tricare for Life East
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Tricare East Select
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Carefirst EPO
- United Choice
- Cigna Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- United Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- United Golden Rule
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- WellPoint Maryland
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Signature
- United Navigate
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Choice Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- D-SNP)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: POS
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2023)
Fellowship Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2022)
Residency Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine (2016)