Learn More About Me
Specialties: Cardiac Surgery
Languages: English
410-554-6534
About me
Rachel Harrison, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. She is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Harrison treats ischemic cardiac disease, structural heart conditions, valvular disease, and rhythm disorders, often through minimally invasive approaches. She is uniquely skilled in complex lead extraction and management, related to pacemakers and defibrillators, which may be necessary due to infections, device recalls, and other complications.
As a result of Dr. Harrison’s advanced surgical training, she offers her patients high levels of confidence in her technical expertise. She’s also had significant experience caring for very sick patients––prior to joining MedStar Health, she managed advanced heart failure, providing mechanical support, such as LVADs, and heart transplantation. She has served as an educator in the fields of lead management and heart failure, sharing her knowledge with other clinicians.
Dr. Harrison’s current research interests focus on structural heart and valvular protocols, including minimally invasive methods for replacing and repairing the tricuspid and mitral valves.
Philosophy of Care
“Every patient of mine is number one––in the clinic and in the operating room. I ensure the whole care team is united in our goals for surgery, always prioritizing what’s best for the patient. I treat each person as if they were a member of my own family and help guide them through decisions with a measured approach. I am conservative when recommending surgery and will only do so if it is truly in the best interest of the patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperative Cardiac Conditions
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Surgical Device Explantation
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cerebral Embolic Filtration
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Left Ventricular Reconstruction
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
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
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- TRICARE for Life East
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna HMO
- Choice POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- OA Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA EPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-POS Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Navigate
- Choice POS II Open Access
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-HMO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open HMO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- POS OA
- TRICARE East Select
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HighMark
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2016)
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2009)
Awards
- Baltimore Magazine, Top Doc, 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Gangadharamurth D, Furqan MM, Klein AL, Malhotra S, Harrison R, Jaikumar L, Pidikiti, Richards, LeBaron, Patel, Jagtap, Prather J. Timely Recognition and Successful Clinical Outcome of an Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection. Circulation;142:A13504, 12 Nov 2020.
Shi J, Tricot GJ, Malaviarachchi PA, Szmania SM, Kellum RE, Storrie B, Mulder A, Shaughnessy JD, Barlogie B, van Rhee F. Bortezomib Down-Regulates The Cell-Surface Expression Of HLA Class I And Enhances Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Lysis Of Myeloma. Blood. 2008 Feb; 111(3): 1309-1317.