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
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Beech Street PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Network OA
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UHC Passport
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- OA Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- HighMark
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare Direct
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- HealthyBlue PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Choice POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS
- United Student Resources
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- POS OA
- Navigate
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
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