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