Learn More About Me
Specialties: Cardiac Surgery
Languages: English
202-877-3503
About me
Ammar S. Bafi, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board certified in thoracic surgery.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Bafi treats all adult cardiac disease, such as valvular and coronary artery disease, through the use of advanced surgical techniques. He specializes in mitral valve repair, as well as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
With more than 25 years of experience, he has performed more than 10,000 heart operations with superb results, exceeding the national average in outcomes and patient satisfaction. In his high-volume clinical practice, he performs approximately 400 heart surgeries each year.
Dr. Bafi serves on the Cardiovascular Surgery Program Quality Improvement Committee at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. He is also a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Dr. Bafi received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine before completing a general surgery internship at Cornell University Medical Center/North Shore University Hospital. He then returned to the George Washington University Hospital to complete a six-year general surgery residency, which included one year of research. Finally, he completed a two-year specialty residency in cardiothoracic surgery at GWU, and one year as a clinical associate in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Bafi’s clinical research includes serving as principal or co-investigator in multiple transcatheter aortic and mitral valve studies, including the CoreValve®, PARTNER, COAPT, and NeoChord™ trials. He continues to participate in many cardiac surgery and cardiology clinical trials, particularly as they relate to percutaneous valvular therapies. He works with a team of skilled interventional cardiologists to continue bringing novel treatments to his patients. Dr. Bafi’s research is widely published in medical journals.
Philosophy of Care
“Growing up as a child of diplomats, I lived in different countries. As a part of this experience, I learned to develop and appreciate a wide perspective on many people, religions, and cultures. I believe this contributes to my ability to connect and empathize with my patients and colleagues. I am driven by the knowledge that every day I’m working to improve the quality of life for my patients. I feel it is my privilege and honor to have a positive impact on my patients’ health and their lives.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Heart Transplant
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Amyloidosis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Angina
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Coarctation Of The Aorta
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Cardiac Surgery
- Complications Of Heart Transplant
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Ebstein's Anomaly
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Infectious Endocarditis
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Arch Reconstruction
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Bilateral Cardiac Sampling And Pressure
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Surgery
- Cardiac Bypass Surgery
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Surgery For Cardiac Tumors
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Defects
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Block
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Cardioversion
- Cerebral Embolic Filtration
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Valve Reconstruction
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Reconstruction
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- 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
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Open HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- OA Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Network OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Sentara Health
- Navigate
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UHC Passport
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-POS
- Choice POS
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- HighMark
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- POS OA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Medicare FFS
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- United Student Resources
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic (1996)
Fellowship: George Washington University School of Medicine (1995)
Residency: George Washington University Hospital (1993)
Medical School: George Washington University (1989)
Internship: North Shore University Hospital (1988)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025