About me
John Conte, MD, is a highly experienced and accomplished cardiovascular surgeon at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital with over 30 years of experience. He is known for his expertise in treating aortic, coronary artery, and heart valve disease, often performing complex and re-operative surgeries.
A pioneer in his field, Dr. Conte was the first in Pennsylvania to use the HAART aortic valve ring, which is now commonly used. Additionally, he contributed to an early body of research that led to technologies like artificial hearts and heart pumps. A strong advocate of the safe integration of new technologies, he firmly believes it is a physician's responsibility to help clients navigate the world of developing technologies to determine the best option for their clinical situation and long-term health goals.
A strong advocate for the safe integration of new technologies, Dr. Conte firmly believes it is a physician's responsibility to help clients navigate the world of developing technologies to determine the best option for their clinical situation and their long-term health goals. He pays close attention to evolving technologies that will allow surgeons to do less invasive valve repairs and replacements and incorporates them into his clinical practice.
Dedicated to advancing cardiovascular knowledge and improving outcomes, Dr. Conte was integral in founding the Maryland Cardiac Surgery Quality Initiative (MCSQI) and served as its first president. The MCSQI’s mission is to bring surgeons from across the state together to share, review, and analyze data to improve patient outcomes and lower patient surgery costs. This organization focuses on collaboration versus competition and is moving the needle to ensure that every patient in Maryland receives the best care possible, regardless of location or means.
Dr. Conte completed his medical training and residency in general surgery at Georgetown University, followed by fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University. His professional career began at the University of Maryland in 1995, where he held leadership positions. Later, he spent 20 years at Johns Hopkins Hospital before assuming the role of Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vice Chair of the Geisinger Heart Institute in 2020.
Throughout his long career, Dr. Conte has belonged to and held leadership positions in all the major cardiological society organizations. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology. He has received numerous honors and awards, including a Meritorious Achievement Award in 2019 from the Maryland Cardiac Surgery Qualitative Initiative.
Philosophy of Care
“After decades of being away from Maryland, I am excited to return to my home where it all started. As an experienced practitioner, I look forward to being a part of a fantastic team of physicians who are dedicated to building and developing the program at MedStar Health.
“Once I take on a patient, I do everything possible to ensure they have the best shot possible to heal and recover. I want my patients to know that I am experienced, and more importantly, I will do what is best for them, no matter what.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Bentall Procedure
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Abdominal Wall Stoma Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Artery Bone Graft Harvest
- Arthrocentesis
- Atrial Fibrillation Surgery
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Bentall Procedure
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Cardioversion
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Surgery For Cardiac Tumors
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Transplantation
- Cardiac Surgery For Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Event Monitoring
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Optimization
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Intraoperative Echocardiography
- Laparoscopic Revision Of Gastric Restrictive Procedure
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mons Filler
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment
- Peripheral Venous Access
- Pillar Procedure
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pregnancy-Related Cardiac Arrest
- Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Stenting Of An Artery
- Surgical Treatment Of Cardiac Tamponade
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Valvuloplasty
- Venous Closure Device Placement
- Ventricular Restoration
- Wheat Procedure
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-EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- POS OA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HighMark
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- OA Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Sentara Health
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Employee Health Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-POS Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Beech Street PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Medicare Direct
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Navigate
- CareFirst EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open HMO Option
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Network OA
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Student Resources
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- MultiPlan, Inc
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TRICARE East Select
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-POS
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Residency: Stanford University Hospitals & Clinics GME (1995)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (1992)
Medical School: Georgetown University (1986)