About me
Paulina Skaff, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist at MedStar Cardiology Associates at Annapolis. She is board-certified in cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine.
Dr. Skaff treats patients for general heart-related diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, valvular disorders, atrial fibrillation, and lipid disorders. With specialized fellowship training in women’s cardiovascular health, her clinical interests include coronary microvascular dysfunction, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA), and cardiovascular disease during pregnancy.
Recognizing that every patient is unique, Dr. Skaff takes a holistic, patient-centered approach to care, developing individualized care plans that integrate prevention, advanced cardiovascular diagnostics, and evidence-based treatment strategies. She actively educates patients on the latest prevention strategies, optimizes appropriate screenings, and manages cardiovascular disease through lifestyle interventions, such as diet and physical activity, as well as medications when appropriate.
Dr. Skaff earned her medical degree from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Next, she completed her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in general cardiology at West Virginia University. She went on to conduct a special fellowship in women’s heart and preventive cardiology at Cedars Sinai Women’s Heart Center, where she served as Chief Fellow.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Skaff keeps her own heart healthy by taking pilates and barre classes and walking her dog Echo (named after echocardiogram).
Philosophy of Care
“I know that patients can often feel overwhelmed by the amount of information they receive, which is why I prioritize clear and consistent communication. It’s important that we are on the same page so we can make decisions together that align with their personal needs, life circumstances, and goals. I believe everyone deserves access to high-quality care, and I am deeply committed to addressing health disparities. Above all, I want my patients to know that we are a team, working together every step of the way.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Breathing
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Hypertension
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Sleep Disorders
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- 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
- Arterial Embolism
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Benign Neoplasm Of Intrathoracic Organs
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Circulatory System Complications
- Circulatory System Disorders
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Spasm
- Cough
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Disorders Of White Blood Cells
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Emergency Use Of U07
- Emotional State Symptoms
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Gout
- Heart Attack
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Failure
- 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
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Personal Risk Factors
- Postprocedural States
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Problems Related To Lifestyle
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Respiratory Disorders
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shock
- Shortness Of Breath
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Sleep Disorders
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Systemic Connective Tissue Involvement
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Ablation Therapy
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- 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
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Carotid Endarterectomy
- Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test
- Cholesterol Screening
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease Management
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Coronary Stenting
- Echocardiography
- 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
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Peripheral Angioplasty
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Preventive Cardiology
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Renal Artery Stenting
- Stent Placement
- Stress Test
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Ablation
- Syncope Treatment
- Tilt Table Test
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Ventricular Assist Device
- 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 Better Health of VA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-EPO Plus
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- First Health PPO
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Navigate
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Network OA
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Medicare FFS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Choice
- Choice POS
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Choice POS II
- Sentara Health
- UHC Passport
- POS OA
- HighMark
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- First Health PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-POS
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Residency Program: West Virginia University Hospitals (2021)
Medical School: Marshall University School of Medicine (2018)