About me
Minhal Makshood, MD, is a board-certified general and preventive cardiologist at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. She treats a broad spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, with particular expertise in women’s health and cardio-obstetrics.
Dr. Makshood focuses on preventing and managing cardiovascular disease in both men and women. Her approach is comprehensive and personalized, integrating lifestyle changes such as exercise, stress management, and nutrition with evidence-based therapies and advanced diagnostic tools. She offers individualized and culturally sensitive counseling to support sustainable changes that promote long-term heart health. With Level III training in echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography, she performs and interprets advanced cardiac imaging with precision, ensuring accurate diagnoses and informed treatment decisions.
A specialist in women’s cardiovascular health and cardio-obstetrics, Dr. Makshood is deeply committed to improving outcomes for women across the reproductive lifespan, particularly in addressing the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. She counsels women with pre-existing cardiac disease on the safety of pregnancy and provides close monitoring before, after, and during pregnancy, including guiding labor and delivery and postpartum care. In collaboration with maternal-fetal physicians, she treats a wide variety of pregnancy-related cardiac conditions such as preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy of various etiologies. Overall, Dr. Makshood has a unique understanding of the presentation of cardiac disease in women and how hormonal changes, particularly in menopause, affect cardiac risk.
Dr. Makshood’s research centers on pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease and ethnic disparities in heart health. She is especially passionate about reducing risk factors in South Asian populations, who are disproportionately affected by premature coronary artery disease. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Risk Reports, and JACC: Case Reports, and she has presented at international conferences, including the Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy (CPP) meeting.
Dr. Makshood completed her medical training at Albany Medical College, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. She then did her residency at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, where she was selected to serve as Chief Resident. After her residency, she completed a three-year general cardiology fellowship with specialized training in women’s health and cardio-obstetrics. She went on to do a one-year advanced fellowship training in advanced imaging with a focus on echocardiography and nuclear imaging.
Throughout her career, Dr. Makshood has been recognized for her clinical excellence, research contributions, outstanding character, and integrity. She received the Lou and Nancy Endowed Research Fellowship to support her research during her fellowship at Johns Hopkins and the Hynson Howell Marwell, Jr. Scholarship for embodying qualities such as respect and dedication to helping others from diverse backgrounds.
She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, and the American Heart Association.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that every patient, regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status, or background, deserves compassionate, personalized, and high-quality cardiovascular care. My guiding philosophy centers on health equity, cultural humility, and patient empowerment, with a particular commitment to addressing the unique cardiovascular risks faced by women, especially during and after pregnancy, and by racially marginalized communities."
Clinical areas of focus
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Arrhythmia
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Spasm
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Heart Attack
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Palpitations
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocarditis
- Palpitations
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shortness Of Breath
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angioplasty
- Atherectomy
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Angioplasty
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
- Cardiovascular Disease Screening
- Cardioversion
- Cholesterol Screening
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Disease Management
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Coronary Stenting
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Event Monitoring
- Exercise Stress Test
- Extended Ecg Analysis
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Biopsy
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Heart Rhythm Monitoring
- Holter Monitoring
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
- Implantable Loop Recorder
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Lipid Profile
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Preventive Cardiology
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Renal Artery Stenting
- Stent Placement
- Stress Test
- Syncope Treatment
- Tilt Table Test
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
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 Premier 200PD
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- First Health PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HighMark
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Sentara Health
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst NASCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TRICARE for Life East
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- First Health PPO
- Aetna HMO
- IH-POS
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open HMO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- TRICARE East Select
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare Direct
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- OA Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Choice POS
- Choice Fund PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- POS OA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Navigate
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2025)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2024)
Residency: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center-GME/Registrar (2020)
Medical School: Albany Medical College (2017)