About me
Rachel Marcus, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, and the Interim Director of the Echo Labs at MedStar Union Memorial and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospitals. Her practice focuses on the use of echocardiogram procedures like transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure. She is a structural echocardiographer who helps guide the non-surgical valve repair and replacement procedures at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Through her work as the Medical Director of the non-profit Latin American Society of Chagas she has become an internationally recognized expert in Chagas disease, and provides consultation for both doctors and patients who have questions about this disease.
After receiving her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Marcus completed an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She then went on to complete an internal medicine residency and a cardiovascular medicine fellowship at the Stanford University Medical Center.
Dr. Marcus is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Philosophy of Care
"I strive to provide the best quality of care to all of my patients, including them as a partner in the decisionmaking process."
Clinical areas of focus
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Flutter
- Cardioversion
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Screening
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Echocardiography
- Heart Disease
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension
- Hypertension Treatment
- Palpitations
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arterial Embolism
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Benign Neoplasm Of Intrathoracic Organs
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cellulitis
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Clotting Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Congenital Malformations Of Trachea And Bronchus
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dizziness And Lightheadedness
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Family History Of Disabilities And Chronic Diseases
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gestational Edema
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Valve Disorders
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Liver Enzyme Abnormalities
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Myocarditis
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Orthopedic Implant Complications
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Subcortical Infarction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Thromboembolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation Therapy
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Cholesterol Screening
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Angiography With Cardiac Catheterization
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Coronary Thrombectomy
- Echocardiographic Contrast Agent
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Endomyocardial Biopsy
- Exercise Stress Test
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Valve Repair
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Infarction Treatment
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Peripheral Angioplasty
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Prostate Injury Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Glomerulopathy Treatment
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Unlisted Gastroenterology Procedure
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Restoration
- 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
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- First Health PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Student Resources
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- IH-EPO Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- HighMark
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-PPO
- First Health PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Open POS II
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst NASCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- UHC Passport
- Choice POS II
- Employee Health Plan
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Network OA
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- POS OA
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine (2001)
Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine (1999)
Residency: Brigham and Women's Hospital (1996)
Medical School: Stanford University (1994)
Graduate: Stanford University (1989)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Dr. Marcus is one of seven physicans that helped save the life of Steven Jones, the husband of Dr. Sandra Swain.
Marcus, R., Atwood, E. Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation. Advances in Internal Medicine, Vol. 44, Chapter 9, 1999 Mosby.
Do, D., Marcus, R., Froelicher, VF., et al. Predicting Severe Angiographic Coronary Artery Disease Using Computerization of Clinical and Exercise Test Data. Chest 1998 114:1437–45.
Vagelos, R., Marcus, R., Atwood, JE. Signs, Symptoms, and Laboratory Abnormalities in Cardiovascular Disease. Hospital Medicine, Chapter 24 April 2000, Lippincott Press.
Prakash, M., Myers, J., Froelicher, VF., Marcus, R., et al. Diagnostic Exercise Tests on 4000 Consecutive Men. Am Heart J. 2001 142(1):127-35.
Prakash, M., Myers, J., Froelicher, VF., Marcus, R., et al. Clinical and Exercise Test Predictors of All-Cause Mortality: Results from >6000 Consecutive Referred Male Patients. Chest 2001 120(3):1003-13.
Shetler K., Marcus, R., Froelicher, VF., et al. Heart Rate Recovery: Validation and Methodologic Issues. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2001 Dec; 38(7):1980-7.
Spin, JM., Prakash, M., Froelicher, VF., Partington, S., Marcus, R., et al. The Prognostic Value of Exercise Testing in Elderly Men. Am J Med. 2002 Apr. 15; 112(6):453-9.
Marcus RR., Kalisetti, D., Raxwal, V., et al. Early Repolarization in Spinal Cord Injury: Prevalence and Clinical Significance. J. Spinal Cord Med. 2002 Spring 25(1):33-38.
Prakash M, Raxwal V, Froelicher VF, Kalisetti D, Vieira A, O'Mara G, Marcus R, et al. Electrocardiographic Findings in Patients With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. I Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Aug;81(8):601-8
Kolasa, MW., Lee, JC., Atwood, JE., Marcus, R., Eckert, RE,. Relation of QTc Duration Heterogeneity to Mortality Following Orthotopic Heart Transplantation. Am J Cardiol. 2005 Feb 1;95(3):431-2.
Perez, MV., Dewey, FE., Marcus, R., Ashley, EA., et al. Electrocardiographic Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation. Am Heart J. 2009 Oct; 158(4):622-8
Kaplinski M, Jois M, Galson-Cardenas G, et al. Sustained Domestic Vector Exposure Is Associated With Increased Chagas Cardiomyopathy Risk but Decreased Parasitemia and Congenital Transmission Risk Among Young Women in Bolivia. Clin Infect Dis. (2015) 61 (6): 918-926.
Fu, K, Zamudio, R, et al. Association of caspase-1 Polymorphisms with Chagas Cardiomyopathy among individuals in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 50(4):516-523, July-Aug 2017.
Acquatella, H, Asch F, et al. Recommendations for Multimodality Cardiac Imaging in Patients with Chagas Disease: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography in Collaboration with the InterAmerican Association of Echocardiography (ECOSIAC) and the Cardiovascular Imaging Department of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC-SBC). JASE January 2018 31(1): 3-25.
Castro, Y and Marcus, R. Epidemiology of Chagas Disease in the USA: High Risk Patient Populations for Screening. Curr. Trop. Med. Reports 12 Jan 2019
Marcus RR. Chagas Disease: It’s Not the Zebra You Think It Is. http://www.acc.org. April 9, 2019.
Echeverria, L, Marcus, R, Novick, G et al. WHF IASC Roadmap on Chagas Disease. Global Heart, 15(1), p.26
Marcus RR. A Latin American Immigrant With Cardiac Arrest. http://www.acc.org. Apr 14, 2020.
Marcus RR. Poll: Chagas Disease in the United States. http://www.acc.org. Apr 14, 2020.
Castro-Sesquen, Y, Saldana, A, Patino Nava, D, et al. Use of a Latent Class Analysis in the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 7:ciaa1101
Wheelock, A Sandhu S, Loskill A et al. Testing for Chagas disease in an at-risk population. J Card Fail. 2020 Sep 6:S1071-9164.
Echeverria L, Rojas, L Rueda Ochoa O, et al. Circulating Trypanosoma cruzi load and major cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a prospective cohort study. Trop Med Int Health. 2020 Sep 10.
Zaidel, E, Forsyth C, Novick G, Marcus R, et al. Covid-19: implications for people with Chagas disease. Global Heart 2020;15(1):69.
Shehadeh, M, Barac, A, Marcus, R. Clinical Presentations of Chagas Cardiomyopathy. Case Rep Cardiol. 2020 Nov 3;2020:8884910
Poster:
Prevalence of Chagas Disease in Bolivian Immigrants to North America, Marcus, R, and Sanchez, J. ASTMH annual meeting 2013.