About me
Aiman Alassar, MD, PGDip, FRCS, PhD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and serves as the associate director of the heart transplant program.
Dr. Alassar’s clinical focus encompasses the full spectrum of cardiothoracic conditions and treatment approaches, such as: complex coronary artery bypass graft surgery including total arterial revascularization; aortic valve replacement; major aortic surgery, including aortic root replacement, valve sparing aortic root replacement, ascending aorta and arch replacement; mitral valve repair/replacement; minimally invasive surgery; complex reoperative cardiac surgery; heart transplantation; lung transplantation; mechanical circulatory support (MCS); extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implants.
Dr. Alassar is committed to education, teaching, and delivering the highest quality of care while achieving the best outcomes. He has invested time in earning a PhD in Cardiac Surgery at University in London, UK. He has also earned a Diploma in Surgical Sciences from the University of Edinburgh. He held teaching roles at Stanford University and the University of London. This dual-degree “surgeon-scientist” background allows Dr. Alassar to treat his patients with the most innovative and comprehensive care.
This unique academic background, combined with clinical expertise, afforded him the ability to obtain prestigious awards such as Ronald Edwards Medal by The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, research grants such as research fellowship award by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in addition to Ethicon fellowship award and travelling awards from The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, European Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, and Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. Alassar has presented at the most prestigious international conferences in the field and serves as reviewer for several high-impact journals and publications.
Dr. Alassar is extensively involved with cardiac surgery, heart transplant, and LVAD research, and continues to advance MedStar Health’s position at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation.
This benefits his patients by ensuring they have access to the latest and greatest treatment options.
Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Alassar worked as cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical instructor of cardiac surgery, cardiothoracic transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support at Stanford University Hospital, one of the world’s busiest transplant and cardiac surgery programs.
Clinical areas of focus
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Double Aortic Arch
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Loeys Dietz Syndrome
- Malignant Effusion
- Marfan Syndrome
- Maternal Valvular Disease
- Mediastinitis
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Bridge
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pleural Effusion
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Rupture Of Papillary Muscle
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Valvular Endocarditis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair
- Balloon Catheter
- Bloodless Cardiac Surgery
- Convergent Procedure
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Cryoablation
- Embolectomy
- Endoscopic Surgery
- Epicardial Lead Placement
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Median Sternotomy
- Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass
- Paravalvular Leak Repair
- Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
- Pericardiocentesis
- Pericardiotomy
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Pulmonic Valve Replacement
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
- Replacement Of Heart Valve
- Septal Myectomy
- Surgical Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Thrombectomy
- Total Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tube Pericardiostomy
- Valvuloplasty
Insurance
MedStar Medical Group accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Medical Group, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO"
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)"
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)"
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Choice
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Tricare Prime
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- FIRST HEALTH
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
Education
Fellowship Program: Royal Papworth Hospital (2020)
Residency Program: Wessex Deanery Health Education England (2019)
Graduate Education: University of London (2013)
Medical School: Tishreen University School of Medicine (2004)