About me
Miguel Pinilla Vera, MD, also known as ‘Doctor Miguel’ to his patients, is an attending in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute.
Dr. Miguel Pinilla Vera provides diagnostic testing and evidence-based treatment to patients who are at all stages of heart failure (weakening of the heart muscle)–from the early and asymptomatic stages to the most advanced situations, in which a heart transplant or a mechanical long-term pump might be needed.
A major focus of Dr. Pinilla Vera’s practice involves taking care of patients by using medications; recommending changes in lifestyle; and evaluating the necessity of using mechanical pumps, like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and heart transplantation, when medication treatment is no longer an option. He works closely with the cardiac surgeons at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, one of the largest LVADs centers in the world, to care for patients who require surgical intervention for advanced heart failure.
His clinical and research interests include diagnosing, treating, and providing long-term care for patients with advanced heart failure and inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Dr. Pinilla Vera is passionate about further understanding the mechanisms of the development of heart failure as well as finding better ways to treat patients with this condition. He plans to collaborate with other physicians and investigators at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute aiming to discover and offer better options to care for patients with heart failure.
Dr. Pinilla Vera trained in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and in cardiology and heart failure and transplant cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. He also obtained extensive training in molecular research at Duke University and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School, in addition to research training in molecular cardiology at Johns Hopkins. This led to multiple publications in the best scientific journals and, most recently, a scholarship from the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
Dr. Pinilla Vera is also a native Spanish speaker. When not accompanying his patients in their care journey, Dr. Pinilla Vera enjoys being a husband and father to two kids, swimming, playing soccer, and learning to snowboard and play the drums.
Philosophy of care
“My family members and I have been patients too. I strive to provide and encourage everyone on my team to care for patients as if it was for me or my family members. When I meet my patients for the first time, I emphasize that I have their backs and am navigating this journey with them and their families; rain or shine, through smooth and stormy waters.
“Caring for patients with advanced heart conditions requires a team approach. I prioritize communication with other members of the team across MedStar Health, but especially with referring physicians, who allow me the privilege of becoming a member of their team by taking care of their patients.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Cardiac Graft Failure
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Rejection
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Heart Transplant
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Complications Of Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Myocarditis
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Prosthetic Valve Failure
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
Procedures I perform
- Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring
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
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Basic
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-PPO
- HighMark
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst EPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Employee Health Plan
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-POS
- OA Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Choice POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Choice POS II
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Navigate
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Police and Fire Clinic
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Tricare Reserve Select
- POS OA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Student Resources
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna HMO
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice
- First Health PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2022)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2021)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2008)