About me
Christopher W. Puleo, MD is a noninvasive cardiologist at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute. He is board certified in internal medicine and board eligible in cardiovascular disease, adult echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.
As a noninvasive cardiologist, Dr. Puleo diagnoses and treats a broad spectrum of cardiovascular health conditions, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and valvular disease. He predominantly sees patients in the outpatient setting in addition to performing routine inpatient cardiovascular consultations for patients admitted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He incorporates his experience with a variety of cardiac imaging modalities, including echocardiography and nuclear stress testing, to further risk stratify patients for a wide range of cardiac conditions.
Dr. Puleo’s main clinical interest is in preventive care – he emphasizes the importance of preventing disease, not just treating it. He has a strong interest in working with patients to identify and incorporate healthy lifestyle choices that they enjoy to both treat and prevent cardiac disease before it reaches advanced stages. Dr. Puleo’s research interests are also focused on preventive cardiology and include cardiac biomarkers and cardiac risk stratification. He is very excited by the continuous development of new medicines and interventions in the field of cardiology.
Dr. Puleo earned his medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He then completed an internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, before joining Ochsner Clinic Foundation for a three-year cardiovascular disease fellowship program.
Dr. Puleo is excited to be living in the DC area, the closest he has been in recent years to his family in the Northeast. It is also very special for him to have the opportunity to practice medicine in the region where his grandfather was a physician many years ago.
Philosophy of Care
“Medicine is both an art and a science. Physicians go through training for years and years to master that science, but it’s all for nothing unless you're able to build a relationship with your patient.
“As cardiologists, we’re not here to tell people, ‘you need to do this’ or ‘you need to stop eating that.’ We’re here to make recommendations and to work with patients to help them meet their health goals and live the lives they want.
“My goal is to help all of my patients feel better, live longer, manage their conditions, and prevent future disease. I believe the best way to do all of the above is by building a strong patient-physician partnership and working together to achieve the health goals of the individual patient, whether that’s playing with grandkids or running marathons.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Care
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Management
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Hypertension
- Palpitations
- Syncope
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Coronary Angiography
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Abnormal Stress Test
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- Amyloidosis
- Anomalies Of The Coronary Artery
- Aortic Diseases
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arteriosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of The Aorta
- Athletic Heart Syndrome
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Autoimmune Pericarditis
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Angina
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardio Oncology
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carotid Aneurysm
- Carotid Intimal Thickness
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
- Chemodectoma
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Coronary Artery Calcification
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Fistula
- Cyanotic Heart Disease
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Double Aortic Arch
- Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)
- Dysautonomia
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Edema
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Elevated Creatine Kinase
- Exercise Intolerance
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- First Degree Heart Block
- Genetic Cardiomyopathy
- Giant Cell Myocarditis
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Problems
- Heart Racing
- Heart Valve Disease
- High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Intestinal Ischemic Syndrome
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Left Heart Failure
- Left Ventricular Dysfunction
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mthfr Mutation
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Myocarditis
- Myxoma
- Orthopnea
- Orthostatic Hypotension
- Palpitations
- Papillary Muscle Disorders
- Paraganglioma
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericarditis
- Peripheral Edema
- Pre Excitation Syndrome
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Beats
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Prinzmetals Angina
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
- Pulmonary Capillary Hemangiomatosis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Hypoplasia
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
- Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease
- Refractory Angina
- Renal Vein Compression
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis
- Rheumatic Diseases Of Pulmonary Valve
- Rheumatic Fever
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Failure
- Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Right Bundle Branch Block
- Right Heart Failure
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Defect
- Subaortic Stenosis
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome
- Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Type 1 Second Degree Heart Block
- Type 2 Second Degree Heart Block
- Unstable Angina
- Valve Stenosis
- Valvular Endocarditis
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Variant Angina
- Vasospastic Angina
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Venous Tumors
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Viral Cardiomyopathy
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Duplex Ultrasound
- Adenosine Stress Test
- Advanced Lipid Blood Tests
- Anticoagulation
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
- Cardiovascular Care
- Cholesterol Management
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Coronary Brachytherapy
- Directional Atherectomy
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Electrophysiology Testing
- Heart Health
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- In Office Cardiac Echocardiogram
- In Office Cardiac Stress Test
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Loop Recorder
- Optical Coherence Tomography
- Preoperative Evaluation
- Preventative Cardiology
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Rotational Atherectomy
- Sports Related Cardiovascular Assessment
- Stress Echo Cardiogram
- Thallium Stress Test
- Tilt Table Test
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair
- Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Vo2 Measurement
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
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- 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
- 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
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship Program: Ochsner Foundation Hospital (2022)
Residency Program: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons (2016)