About me
Rania Kaoukis, MD, is an attending advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant cardiologist affiliated with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Kaoukis is board certified in heart failure and transplant cardiology, cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine. She specializes in the treatment and management of patients with congestive heart failure, end-stage heart failure, and ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies.
Dr. Kaoukis provides guideline-directed medical therapy as the cornerstone of treatment for heart failure. She also provides mechanical circulatory support and manages patients before, during, and after heart transplantation.
Her research interests have focused on the use of echocardiography to monitor changes in cardiac anatomy and function in patients on guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure.
Dr. Kaoukis is passionate about using her experience to provide advanced heart failure treatments to rural communities; those who historically have had less access to the care that is provided at large academic medical centers located in metropolis areas.
Dr. Kaoukis received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
She completed an internal medicine residency at Loyola University Medical Center and a three-year cardiovascular fellowship at Temple University Hospital. She then completed advanced fellowship training in heart failure and transplantation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.
When not dedicating her time to providing heart failure treatment to her community, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog. She loves to travel and enjoys cooking and preparing Greek pastries.
Philosophy of care
“I’m dedicated to a philosophy of continuous learning. My promise to my patients is that I will continue to be as up-to-date as possible when it comes to the field of heart failure medicine so that I can offer my patients the most vanguard treatments and appropriate care for their diagnosis and health history.
“I approach each patient with the intention of treating them as a whole. I believe it’s essential to understand both the medical needs as well as the psychosocial needs of each of my patients in order to recommend and deliver the most appropriate care. I take the time to ask the right questions, and actively listen to my patients’ concerns and treatment goals.
“As a heart failure specialist who has been trained within the MedStar Health system, I look forward to collaborating with providers, surgeons, and team members to provide thorough, high-quality, and multidisciplinary care.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Circulatory Assist Device Management
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertension Treatment
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Maternal Cardiac Arrest Management
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 Arrest
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Device Complications
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Rejection
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Implantable Defibrillators
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- 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
- Pulmonary Edema
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Venous Embolism
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Enzyme Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Monitoring
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Tamponade Treatment
- Cardioversion
- Circulatory Assist Device Management
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Device Implantation For Cardiac Conditions
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Endomyocardial Biopsy
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart-Lung Transplant
- Hyperlipidemia Treatment
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Management
- Inotropic Therapy
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Management
- Left Ventricular Reconstruction
- Maternal Cardiac Arrest Management
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support
- Orthotopic Heart Transplant
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pacemaker Upgrade
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Pulmonary Artery Stenting
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Renal Artery Denervation
- Right Ventricular Reconstruction
- Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection Treatment
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- 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
- United Healthcare Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Medicare Direct
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Basic
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- Network OA
- UHC Passport
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- OA Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- Optimum Choice
- United Student Resources
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- HighMark
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice POS II
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-POS Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Navigate
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Sentara Health
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
Videos
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: Medstar Washington Hospital Center (2021)
Fellowship: Temple University Hospital (2020)
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center (2017)
Medical School: Indiana Univ/Purdue University-Indianapolis (2014)