About me
Miguel Pinilla Vera, MD, also known as ‘Doctor Miguel’ to his patients, is an attending in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute.
Dr. Miguel Pinilla Vera provides diagnostic testing and evidence-based treatment to patients who are at all stages of heart failure (weakening of the heart muscle)–from the early and asymptomatic stages to the most advanced situations, in which a heart transplant or a mechanical long-term pump might be needed.
A major focus of Dr. Pinilla Vera’s practice involves taking care of patients by using medications; recommending changes in lifestyle; and evaluating the necessity of using mechanical pumps, like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and heart transplantation, when medication treatment is no longer an option. He works closely with the cardiac surgeons at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, one of the largest LVADs centers in the world, to care for patients who require surgical intervention for advanced heart failure.
His clinical and research interests include diagnosing, treating, and providing long-term care for patients with advanced heart failure and inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Dr. Pinilla Vera is passionate about further understanding the mechanisms of the development of heart failure as well as finding better ways to treat patients with this condition. He plans to collaborate with other physicians and investigators at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute aiming to discover and offer better options to care for patients with heart failure.
Dr. Pinilla Vera trained in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and in cardiology and heart failure and transplant cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. He also obtained extensive training in molecular research at Duke University and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School, in addition to research training in molecular cardiology at Johns Hopkins. This led to multiple publications in the best scientific journals and, most recently, a scholarship from the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
Dr. Pinilla Vera is also a native Spanish speaker. When not accompanying his patients in their care journey, Dr. Pinilla Vera enjoys being a husband and father to two kids, swimming, playing soccer, and learning to snowboard and play the drums.
Philosophy of care
“My family members and I have been patients too. I strive to provide and encourage everyone on my team to care for patients as if it was for me or my family members. When I meet my patients for the first time, I emphasize that I have their backs and am navigating this journey with them and their families; rain or shine, through smooth and stormy waters.
“Caring for patients with advanced heart conditions requires a team approach. I prioritize communication with other members of the team across MedStar Health, but especially with referring physicians, who allow me the privilege of becoming a member of their team by taking care of their patients.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Advanced Heart Failure Treatment
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Device Management
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Management
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Inotropic Management
- Transplant Evaluation
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 Graft Failure
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Rejection
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Heart Transplant
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Complications Of Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
- Cor Pulmonale
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Myocarditis
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Prosthetic Valve Failure
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Advanced Heart Failure Treatment
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Management
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Angioplasty
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Device Implantation
- Cardiac Device Management
- Cardiac Disease Management
- Cardiac Disease Prevention
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Health Education
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Nutrition Counseling
- Cardiac Output Monitoring
- Cardiac Remodeling Diagnosis
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Optimization
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Management
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Stenting
- Cardiac Tamponade Treatment
- Cardiogenic Shock Treatment
- Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program
- Cardiovascular Risk Factor Modification
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Congestive Heart Failure Treatment
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Echocardiography
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure Medication Management
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Optimization
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Management
- Inotropic Therapy
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Left Heart Failure Treatment
- Lifestyle Modification
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Prostate Injury Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Soft Tissue Tumor Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Evaluation
- Transplant Glomerulopathy Treatment
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- 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
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Core Essential (HMO)
- OA Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HighMark
- Aetna Classic 3500
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Student Resources
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice POS II
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Navigate
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- Choice POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst NASCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2022)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2021)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2008)