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 certified 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
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Echo
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Stress Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atherosclerotic Disease
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Palpitations
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Device Implantation
- Cardiac Echo
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With Pacemaker
- Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Coronary Stenting
- Duplex Scan Of Upper Extremity Arteries
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Electrophysiology Study
- Event Monitoring
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Invasive Cardiac Procedures
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Renal Artery Stenting
- Stress Echocardiography
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- 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
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Student Resources
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst EPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HighMark
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Passport
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- First Health PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Network OA
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-POS
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Medicare FFS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Sentara Health
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Open POS II
- HealthyBlue PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna HMO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- POS OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- First Health PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Ochsner Foundation Hospital (2022)
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons (2016)