Learn More About Me
Specialties: Surgical Critical Care, Transplant Surgery, General Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic Surgery
Languages: English
About me
Keki R. Balsara, MD, MBA, FACS, FACC, is Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, the highest volume ventricular-assist device program in the Mid Atlantic, and Professor of Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Balsara joins us from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief Quality and Safety Officer in the Department of Cardiac Surgery. Moreover, he was the Vice Chair of Network Surgical Strategy and Development for the Section of Surgical Sciences. He had an additional appointment at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. He was previously Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgical Director for the Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes Jewish Hospital.
As a board-certified cardiac surgeon and intensivist with nearly 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Balsara sees patients across the entire spectrum of cardiac disease. This includes coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, aortic pathology, and complex re-operative surgery. He has a particular interest in end-stage heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He brings with him a wealth of experience in expanding both the donor and recipient pools for transplantation, including the use of hepatitis-C and DCD-donors, as well as broad utilization of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System platform and normothermic regional perfusion.
Additional clinical interests include cardiac critical care and end-of-life care. Dr. Balsara has a particular interest in quality improvement and standardization of care to improve outcomes, reduce waste, and increase access to care. In particular, he is passionate about leveraging the scale of health systems to offer a variety of cutting-edge therapies to patients from varied geographic and economic backgrounds who have previously been denied access.
His research interests have focused on expanding ways to increase the number of organs available, including the use of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System, identifying DCD (donor after cardiac death) donors, and the use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) for DCD donor organs. More recently, his research has looked at maximizing hospital-wide efficiencies, focusing on cost-containment in the operating room, an interest that goes hand-in-hand with his MBA focus on management and strategy.
Dr. Balsara received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an internship and residency in general surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition, he completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in end-stage heart and lung failure and a fellowship in surgical critical care at Duke. He did his cardiothoracic surgical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Balsara is widely published and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, and has been an invited lecturer, discussant, and/or moderator for numerous national and international meetings. He is also committed to teaching medical students and residents, cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders.
He is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dr. Balsara is an Ad Hoc reviewer for multiple publications, including Allergy – The European Journal of Allergy and Immunology, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Heart Attack
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Surgical Device Explantation
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- External Heart Assist System Insertion
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Assist System Insertion
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pericardiotomy
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Assist Device
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
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open POS II
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- HumanaChoice PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Navigate
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst NASCO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst EPO
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Choice Fund PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- TRICARE East Prime
- TRICARE East Select
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Sentara Health
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Network OA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Student Resources
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Indemnity
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2014)
Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center (2011)
Residency: Duke University Medical Center (2010)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2003)