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
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- United Healthcare Choice
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Tricare Prime
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Student Resources
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- FIRST HEALTH
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- CIGNA Indemnity
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)