About me
Christopher W. Puleo, MD is a noninvasive cardiologist at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute. He is board certified in internal medicine and board certified in cardiovascular disease, adult echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.
As a noninvasive cardiologist, Dr. Puleo diagnoses and treats a broad spectrum of cardiovascular health conditions, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and valvular disease. He predominantly sees patients in the outpatient setting in addition to performing routine inpatient cardiovascular consultations for patients admitted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He incorporates his experience with a variety of cardiac imaging modalities, including echocardiography and nuclear stress testing, to further risk stratify patients for a wide range of cardiac conditions.
Dr. Puleo’s main clinical interest is in preventive care – he emphasizes the importance of preventing disease, not just treating it. He has a strong interest in working with patients to identify and incorporate healthy lifestyle choices that they enjoy to both treat and prevent cardiac disease before it reaches advanced stages. Dr. Puleo’s research interests are also focused on preventive cardiology and include cardiac biomarkers and cardiac risk stratification. He is very excited by the continuous development of new medicines and interventions in the field of cardiology.
Dr. Puleo earned his medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He then completed an internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, before joining Ochsner Clinic Foundation for a three-year cardiovascular disease fellowship program.
Dr. Puleo is excited to be living in the DC area, the closest he has been in recent years to his family in the Northeast. It is also very special for him to have the opportunity to practice medicine in the region where his grandfather was a physician many years ago.
Philosophy of Care
“Medicine is both an art and a science. Physicians go through training for years and years to master that science, but it’s all for nothing unless you're able to build a relationship with your patient.
“As cardiologists, we’re not here to tell people, ‘you need to do this’ or ‘you need to stop eating that.’ We’re here to make recommendations and to work with patients to help them meet their health goals and live the lives they want.
“My goal is to help all of my patients feel better, live longer, manage their conditions, and prevent future disease. I believe the best way to do all of the above is by building a strong patient-physician partnership and working together to achieve the health goals of the individual patient, whether that’s playing with grandkids or running marathons.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Echo
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Stress Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atherosclerotic Disease
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Palpitations
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Device Implantation
- Cardiac Echo
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With Pacemaker
- Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Coronary Stenting
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Electrophysiology Study
- Event Monitoring
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Invasive Cardiac Procedures
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Renal Artery Stenting
- Stress Echocardiography
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
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
- Navigate
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Student Resources
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HighMark
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Basic
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Passport
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Medicare Direct
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- POS OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-POS Plus
- Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- First Health PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Ochsner Foundation Hospital (2022)
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons (2016)