About me
Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC, FAHA, is Chairman of Cardiology at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, including Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Taylor is a board-certified cardiologist and clinical researcher, specializing in cardiovascular imaging and prevention. He is a member of the corporate Board of Directors for MedStar Health, the leading academic health system in the Washington, D.C and Maryland region.
Dr. Taylor obtained his medical training at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, followed by internal medicine residency training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC, and a cardiovascular disease fellowship at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. During a 20-year career in the United States Army at Walter Reed, he served as the Director of Cardiovascular Research, Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Training Program, and Chief of the Cardiology service. He retired from military service in 2008 at the rank of Colonel, during which he held the Army's "A" proficiency designator and was decorated with the Legion of Merit. He is a full Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda MD, and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Taylor's major research accomplishments include defining the role of lipid lowering therapy on carotid atherosclerosis, focusing on HDL cholesterol and the use of niacin. His pioneering work in the field of cardiac CT includes conducting long-term prospective outcomes trials, randomized clinical trials on the utility of the technique, and methods to enhance the safety and appropriateness of cardiovascular imaging. He has published more than 210 manuscripts in the areas of imaging, lipids, prevention, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality in journals, such as Circulation, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He receives ongoing research funding from various federal and private sources, including the NIH. He is the author and/or editor of 5 books on topics within cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Taylor served as founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cardiovascular CT, and as Editor of the Braunwald's Heart Disease companion text atlas on cardiac CT. He is a Past President of the Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention, and within the American College of Cardiology has held the posts of Chair of the Imaging Council, Chair of the FOCUS campaign for Appropriate Use of Cardiovascular Imaging, and member of the Board of Governors. He is a founder of the Society of Cardiovascular CT, serving on its Board of Directors from 2006-2012, and also a founder of the Certification Board of Cardiovascular CT. He serves on the board of directors for Inteleos, an organization leading certification pathways and excellence among cardiovascular imaging experts. His work on national writing groups and task forces includes multi-society guidelines on cardiac CT training, terminology, and performance, quality standards for imaging performance and radiation protection, Appropriate Use Criteria for diagnostic testing, and national standards on cardiovascular disease management and prevention.
Dr. Taylor contributes frequently to media reports as an authority on cardiovascular disease in major regional and national venues such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, US News and World Report, CNN, Associated Press, Reuters, Forbes, National Public Radio and as a frequent commentator on national video media including Good Morning America, and the NBC and CBS Nightly News programs.
Media Story: Binge Working Increases Risk of Heart Attack (NBC Nightly News)
Clinical areas of focus
- Angiogram
- Atrial Flutter
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardioversion
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Screening
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Echocardiography
- Event Monitoring
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Lymphedema
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bleeding Disorders
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cellulitis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Clotting Disorders
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Congenital Malformations Of Trachea And Bronchus
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Cough
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Rhythm Disorders
- Heart Valve Disorders
- High Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol Management
- Hodgkin Disease
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Intrathoracic Organ Injury
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Liver Injury
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Myocarditis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Obesity
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Disease Of The Intestines
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Poisoning
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Sleep Disorders
- Subcortical Infarction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Thyrotoxic Crisis
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Embolism
- Venous Thromboembolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Arthrocentesis
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Line Insertion
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Pacemaker Measurement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Carotid Endarterectomy
- Cholesterol Screening
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Electrophysiology Study
- Endomyocardial Biopsy
- Event Monitoring
- Exercise Stress Test
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Lymphedema
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Prostate Injury Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ultrasonography Inferior Vena Cava
- Unlisted Gastroenterology Procedure
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
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
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UHC Passport
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Network OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- First Health PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-POS
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Student Resources
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Indemnity
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Choice POS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- OA Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Sentara Health
- HighMark
- CIGNA EPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Navigate
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Network Only Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Direct
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Employee Health Plan
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
Videos
Education
Fellowship: University of Virginia School of Medicine (1994)
Residency: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (1991)
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1988)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Media Story: Binge Working Increases Risk of Heart Attack (NBC Nightly News)
Center Scope Fall 2015: Medical Advice: When Should You Follow It?
Blogs
Stress: As dangerous as high cholesterol and blood pressure
The 'other' drug problem: Poor medication adherence
The surprising heart risks of too much sleep and exercise
Know your heart-healthy numbers‚ including CRP
How much caffeine is safe for you and your child?
Why I think it's time to make statins available over-the-counter
5 ways to help a patient with heart disease
Shared decision-making: It's no longer 'doctor knows best'
What do the new blood pressure guidelines mean?