About me
Christian Shults, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is the regional director of cardiac aortic surgery, surgical ablation, and innovation, as well as the fellowship director for the complex aortic structural heart program. He is also an assistant professor of surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Shults is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Shults specializes in the treatment of complex aortic disease, structural heart disease, valvular disease and redo valves, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation through the use of open, endovascular, minimally invasive, and transcatheter treatment therapies. In particular, he treats patients with aneurysms of the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta, in addition to anomalous coronaries, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, endocarditis.
As a national proctor for the Convergent Procedure for minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation, Dr. Shults has performed one of the highest volumes in the country and gives lectures nationwide to other physicians about the procedure.
Dr. Shults is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Shults recently served as interim chair of Cardiac Surgery between 2019 and 2021.
After receiving his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Shults completed a residency in general surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital-Washington Hospital Center. During this time, he spent a year at Harvard Medical School for a research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he focused on developing novel strategies to treat patients in hemorrhagic shock. He then returned to MedStar Washington Hospital Center as chief resident of general surgery. After this, Dr. Shults continued his specialty training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University, where he completed a three-year specialized fellowship focusing on revascularization, complex aortic disease, valvular and transcatheter valvular therapies, as well as all other aspects of cardiac surgery. Next, he traveled to Leipzig, Germany for a visiting fellowship in minimally invasive/transcatheter aortic valve repair at the University of Leipzig Heart Hospital. He returned to the U.S. for an aortic surgery mini-fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston Memorial Hermann Hospital and an endovascular mini-fellowship at the Arizona Heart Hospital Department of Heart & Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Shults takes interest in healthcare reform, healthcare economics, and innovations for minimally invasive or transcatheter therapies. His research efforts include treatment outcomes for complex aortic disease, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease. Dr. Shults is currently enrolling patients in several unique clinical trials, including the use of GORE® TAG® TBE, thoracic endoprosthesis in the treatment of lesions of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta; GORE® TAMBE, thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis for the treatment of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms; NeoChord artificial chordae delivery system, a mitral valve repair technique for patients with severe mitral regurgitation; a new stent for the endovascular treatment of arch aneurysms; Allergan/Botox® study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Botox for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; as well as several trials involving the latest in transcatheter valve technology. Additionally, he is principal investigator for the Bolton Medical acute complicated type B thoracic aortic dissection clinical trial.
Philosophy of Care
“My goal is to deliver the best solution possible to my pat
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Mitral Valve Repair
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Amyloidosis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- 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
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Disease
- Heart Transplant Complications
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Infectious Endocarditis
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Pericardium Diseases
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Rheumatic Fever With Heart Involvement
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Defects
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Transplantation
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Microvascular Transplant Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Reconstruction
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Reconstruction
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Fibrillation 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
- HighMark
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Navigate
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Medicare Direct
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Network OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- POS OA
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- First Health PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-POS
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA EPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- Choice POS II
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- OA Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine (2013)
Residency: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (2004)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025