Marius Chukwurah, MD

Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

Marius Chukwurah, MD, FACC, is a sports cardiologist. He specializes in preventive cardiology, clinical lipidology, and cardiovascular imaging. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and clinical lipidology.

Dr. Chukwurah has clinical expertise in caring for athletes and highly active individuals who have, or are at risk for, various forms of heart conditions but want to continue exercising safely and optimize their performance. Passionate about helping his patients stay active, he offers comprehensive evaluations, including advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (maximal effort VO2 studies), to prevent, diagnose, and manage cardiovascular issues such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, dyslipidemia, complex lipid disorders, valvular and vascular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy. He is engaged in preparticipation screening, return-to-play evaluations, and overall cardiovascular care of professional/elite, masters, collegiate, high school, tactical (military, police, firefighter, etc) personnel, and recreational athletes.

His approach to patient care is rooted in evidence-based medicine. He begins with lifestyle changes and risk-factor management and, when necessary, prescribes the latest guideline-directed medical therapies. Dr. Chukwurah firmly believes in shared decision-making, partnering closely with patients to develop tailored care plans that align with their health goals and fit their lifestyles.

Dr. Chukwurah's research centers on disparities in health outcomes of cardiovascular disease, sudden cardiac death in athletes, and advancing the understanding of the athlete’s heart, particularly how exercise affects cardiac structure and function over time. In his clinic, he utilizes echocardiography and stress testing to differentiate between benign physiological adaptations in athletes and malignant cardiac pathology.

Throughout his career, Dr. Chukwurah has been recognized for his dedication to mentoring future physicians, expanding opportunities in medicine to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and advancing research that reduces health disparities. The National Medical Association awarded him the Early Career Investigator Award and Emerging Scholars Award. During his fellowship at Duke University, he earned the Excellence in Graduate Medical Education Award and the Dr. Brenda Armstrong Award. He also received the Black Health Connect 40 under 40 Award.

Dr. Chukwurah was born in the DMV, specifically Laurel, MD, and raised in Baltimore, MD. Outside of work, he is passionate about community service and enjoys spending time with family. He also enjoys attending sporting events, traveling both domestically and internationally, listening to music, attending art and comedy shows, cooking, and trying new food scenes.

Philosophy of Care