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
- Advanced Heart Failure Treatment
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Device Management
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Management
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Inotropic Management
- Transplant Evaluation
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 Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- 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
- Cor Pulmonale
- 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
- Venous Embolism
Procedures I perform
- Advanced Heart Failure Treatment
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Management
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Angioplasty
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Device Implantation
- Cardiac Device Management
- Cardiac Disease Management
- Cardiac Disease Prevention
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Study
- Cardiac Health Education
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Nutrition Counseling
- Cardiac Output Monitoring
- Cardiac Remodeling Diagnosis
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Optimization
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Management
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Stenting
- Cardiac Tamponade Treatment
- Cardiogenic Shock Treatment
- Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program
- Cardiovascular Risk Factor Modification
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Congestive Heart Failure Treatment
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Echocardiography
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure Medication Management
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Optimization
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Management
- Inotropic Therapy
- Internal Jugular Central Line Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Left Heart Failure Treatment
- Lifestyle Modification
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Prostate Injury Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Soft Tissue Tumor Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Evaluation
- Transplant Glomerulopathy Treatment
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm Treatment
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 Advantage 5750
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Navigate
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-POS
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HighMark
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Choice POS II
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Beech Street PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Medicare FFS
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- IH-POS Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Choice POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Network OA
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst NASCO
- First Health PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
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)