About me
John Conte, MD, is a highly experienced and accomplished cardiovascular surgeon at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital with over 30 years of experience. He is known for his expertise in treating aortic, coronary artery, and heart valve disease, often performing complex and re-operative surgeries.
A pioneer in his field, Dr. Conte was the first in Pennsylvania to use the HAART aortic valve ring, which is now commonly used. Additionally, he contributed to an early body of research that led to technologies like artificial hearts and heart pumps. A strong advocate of the safe integration of new technologies, he firmly believes it is a physician's responsibility to help clients navigate the world of developing technologies to determine the best option for their clinical situation and long-term health goals.
A strong advocate for the safe integration of new technologies, Dr. Conte firmly believes it is a physician's responsibility to help clients navigate the world of developing technologies to determine the best option for their clinical situation and their long-term health goals. He pays close attention to evolving technologies that will allow surgeons to do less invasive valve repairs and replacements and incorporates them into his clinical practice.
Dedicated to advancing cardiovascular knowledge and improving outcomes, Dr. Conte was integral in founding the Maryland Cardiac Surgery Quality Initiative (MCSQI) and served as its first president. The MCSQI’s mission is to bring surgeons from across the state together to share, review, and analyze data to improve patient outcomes and lower patient surgery costs. This organization focuses on collaboration versus competition and is moving the needle to ensure that every patient in Maryland receives the best care possible, regardless of location or means.
Dr. Conte completed his medical training and residency in general surgery at Georgetown University, followed by fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University. His professional career began at the University of Maryland in 1995, where he held leadership positions. Later, he spent 20 years at Johns Hopkins Hospital before assuming the role of Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vice Chair of the Geisinger Heart Institute in 2020.
Throughout his long career, Dr. Conte has belonged to and held leadership positions in all the major cardiological society organizations. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology. He has received numerous honors and awards, including a Meritorious Achievement Award in 2019 from the Maryland Cardiac Surgery Qualitative Initiative.
Philosophy of Care
“After decades of being away from Maryland, I am excited to return to my home where it all started. As an experienced practitioner, I look forward to being a part of a fantastic team of physicians who are dedicated to building and developing the program at MedStar Health.
“Once I take on a patient, I do everything possible to ensure they have the best shot possible to heal and recover. I want my patients to know that I am experienced, and more importantly, I will do what is best for them, no matter what.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Bentall Procedure
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Abdominal Wall Stoma Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Artery Bone Graft Harvest
- Arthrocentesis
- Atrial Fibrillation Surgery
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Bentall Procedure
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Cardioversion
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Surgery For Cardiac Tumors
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Transplantation
- Cardiac Surgery For Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Event Monitoring
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Optimization
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Intraoperative Echocardiography
- Laparoscopic Revision Of Gastric Restrictive Procedure
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mons Filler
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment
- Peripheral Venous Access
- Pillar Procedure
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pregnancy-Related Cardiac Arrest
- Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Stenting Of An Artery
- Surgical Treatment Of Cardiac Tamponade
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Valvuloplasty
- Venous Closure Device Placement
- Ventricular Restoration
- Wheat Procedure
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 Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Core Essential (HMO)
- HighMark
- Optimum Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Police and Fire Clinic
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Sentara Health
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Navigate
- IH-HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- POS OA
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Employee Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Medicare Direct
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- OA Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Residency: Stanford University Hospitals & Clinics GME (1995)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (1992)
Medical School: Georgetown University (1986)