About me
Rachel Harrison, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. She is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Harrison treats ischemic cardiac disease, structural heart conditions, valvular disease, and rhythm disorders, often through minimally invasive approaches. She is uniquely skilled in complex lead extraction and management, related to pacemakers and defibrillators, which may be necessary due to infections, device recalls, and other complications.
As a result of Dr. Harrison’s advanced surgical training, she offers her patients high levels of confidence in her technical expertise. She’s also had significant experience caring for very sick patients––prior to joining MedStar Health, she managed advanced heart failure, providing mechanical support, such as LVADs, and heart transplantation. She has served as an educator in the fields of lead management and heart failure, sharing her knowledge with other clinicians.
Dr. Harrison’s current research interests focus on structural heart and valvular protocols, including minimally invasive methods for replacing and repairing the tricuspid and mitral valves.
Philosophy of Care
“Every patient of mine is number one––in the clinic and in the operating room. I ensure the whole care team is united in our goals for surgery, always prioritizing what’s best for the patient. I treat each person as if they were a member of my own family and help guide them through decisions with a measured approach. I am conservative when recommending surgery and will only do so if it is truly in the best interest of the patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Chest Wall Disorder
- Collapsed Lung
- Contusion Of Chest Wall
- Double Aortic Arch
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Loeys Dietz Syndrome
- Lung Contusion
- Malignant Effusion
- Marfan Syndrome
- Maternal Valvular Disease
- Mediastinitis
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Bridge
- Pectus Carinatum
- Pectus Excavatum
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pleural Effusion
- Pneumothorax
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Rib Fracture
- Rupture Of Papillary Muscle
- Sternal Fracture
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Valvular Endocarditis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair
- Balloon Catheter
- Bloodless Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiac Implantable Device Replacement
- Convergent Procedure
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Correction Of Pectus Deformity
- Cryoablation
- Embolectomy
- Endoscopic Surgery
- Epicardial Lead Placement
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Transplant
- Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Median Sternotomy
- Mediastinoscopy
- Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Replacement
- Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass
- Paravalvular Leak Repair
- Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
- Pericardiocentesis
- Pericardiotomy
- Pleurodesis
- Pleurx Catheter Insertion
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
- Pulmonic Valve Replacement
- Reoperative Cardiac Surgery
- Repair Of Diaphragm
- Replacement Of Heart Valve
- Robotic Thoracic Surgery
- Septal Myectomy
- Surgical Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Thrombectomy
- Total Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tube Pericardiostomy
- Valvuloplasty
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Open HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Open EPO Plus
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Student Resources
- Tricare Prime
- United Healthcare Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Opoen HMO Option
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Open POS II
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- FIRST HEALTH
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Network OA
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery
Residency Program: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2016)
Residency Program: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2009)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Gangadharamurth D, Furqan MM, Klein AL, Malhotra S, Harrison R, Jaikumar L, Pidikiti, Richards, LeBaron, Patel, Jagtap, Prather J. Timely Recognition and Successful Clinical Outcome of an Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection. Circulation;142:A13504, 12 Nov 2020.
Shi J, Tricot GJ, Malaviarachchi PA, Szmania SM, Kellum RE, Storrie B, Mulder A, Shaughnessy JD, Barlogie B, van Rhee F. Bortezomib Down-Regulates The Cell-Surface Expression Of HLA Class I And Enhances Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Lysis Of Myeloma. Blood. 2008 Feb; 111(3): 1309-1317.