About me
About the Provider
Maria Esperanza Rodrigo, MD, is the Medical Director for the Heart Transplant Program and attending physician in the Advanced Heart Failure Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Transplantation Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She also directs the outpatient LVAD (left ventricular assist device) clinic. As a heart failure and transplant cardiologist, she primarily sees individuals with advanced heart failure, including patients requiring heart transplants and mechanical circulatory support. She also specializes in managing cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy, and treats patients with infiltrative cardiomyopathies such as sarcoidosis and amyloidosis.
Dr. Rodrigo’s approach to treating patients with heart failure begins with a thorough evaluation to determine the type of treatment they will require. She initially offers treatment with medication, and often further advanced treatments, such as implantation of a LVAD or heart transplantation. Dr. Rodrigo specializes in determining the eligibility of patients for these advanced heart failure therapies. When LVAD implantation is necessary, Dr. Rodrigo is part of a multidisciplinary team that offers patients the latest technology available in the field. Dr. Rodrigo follows these patients in the pre-, peri- and post-surgical period.
With a strong interest in advancing the field of heart transplantation, Dr. Rodrigo is the site principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAFT) study, a project across five area transplant hospitals that is exploring the use of cell-free DNA in heart transplantation. She is also the site principal investigator for SHORE (Surveillance HeartCare Outcomes Registry) assessing the utility of AlloMap (gene-expression profile) and AlloSure (donor-derived cell-free DNA) to more comprehensively monitor heart transplant recipients for allograft rejection.
After receiving her medical degree from Universidad Favaloro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2003, Dr. Rodrigo completed an NIH research fellowship in cardiovascular disease, during which she focused her work on endothelial progenitor cells. She then joined MedStar Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown University Hospital, where she completed her internal medicine residency in 2009, followed by a year as Chief Resident. Dr. Rodrigo then went on to complete a first fellowship in cardiology in 2013 and a second fellowship in advanced heart failure & transplant cardiology in 2014, both at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center. She is board certified internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.
Philosophy of Care
“It’s important for me to have open communication with each of my patients to understand that person’s wishes, expectations and environment. This helps me to provide compassionate, individualized care that is most appropriate for the patient and their family.
“Patients who come to our program will be receiving the very best care that is available today. We generate a relationship that is long-term with each individual -- the patient becomes our patient for life, and it’s a journey that we go through together.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Echocardiography
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chagas' Disease
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Heart Transplant
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Cor Pulmonale
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Myocarditis
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Arthrocentesis
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Cardiac Afterload Assessment
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Defibrillator Threshold Testing
- Cardiac Enzyme Testing
- Cardiac Function Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Monitoring
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Tamponade Treatment
- Cardioversion
- Circulatory Assist Device Management
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Congestive Heart Failure Management
- Device Implantation For Cardiac Conditions
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Endomyocardial Biopsy
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart-Lung Transplant
- Hyperlipidemia Treatment
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Management
- Inotropic Therapy
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Management
- Left Ventricular Reconstruction
- Maternal Cardiac Arrest Management
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support
- Orthotopic Heart Transplant
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pacemaker Upgrade
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring
- Pulmonary Artery Stenting
- Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure Measurement
- Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure Monitoring
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Pulmonary Vascular Resistance Measurement
- Renal Artery Denervation
- Right Ventricular Reconstruction
- Sarcoidosis Management
- Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Systemic Vascular Resistance Measurement
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Function Testing
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm Treatment
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
- Core Essential (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Student Resources
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Beech Street PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Employee Health Plan
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare FFS
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-POS
- UHC Passport
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Choice POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Network OA
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Medicare Direct
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Navigate
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- OA Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- POS OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HighMark
- Sentara Health
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2014)
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2013)
Residency: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Universidad Favaloro (2003)