About me
Ricardo Nieves, MD, is a cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. As a general cardiologist, he treats patients with a wide range of cardiovascular disorders, utilizing traditional and advanced cardiology methods like stress testing, coronary CTA, and cardiac MRI. He is board-certified in internal medicine, echocardiography, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac MRI.
His treatment approach is patient-centered and holistic. Passionate about helping people improve their health while considering their lifestyle and the social determinants that influence their access to care, he works closely with his patients to develop a care plan that aligns with their personal goals and values. He promotes lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, to improve cardiovascular health.
Dr. Nieves specializes in utilizing cardiac MRI imaging technology to better diagnose, treat, and understand heart diseases such as infiltrative cardiomyopathies and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, among other processes. He is also excited about the future of 4D cardiac MRI imaging, a technology that allows cardiologists to evaluate blood flow in the heart in real-time while simultaneously evaluating the structure of the heart.
Dr. Nieves completed his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency, internship, and two fellowship programs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
In his career, Dr. Nieves has received several awards and honors, including the Galal M. Ziady Memorial Award for his commitment to the underserved and the UPMC Excellence in Research Award. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and Alpha Omega Alpha.
Dr. Nieves speaks fluent Spanish. When he is not working with patients, he likes to play guitar, row, exercise, and spend time with his family.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care is simple: the patient comes first. It is important to me to focus on someone’s goals and fully understand where they are coming from. I believe that knowledge is power and that the more you know, the better equipped you are to take care of yourself and your health. When I sit and talk with patients, I am seeking to understand where they are coming from and how I can meet them there with information regarding their health.
Clinical areas of focus
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Electrocardiogram
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram
- 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 Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Conduction Disorders
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Sudden Death
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol Management
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocarditis
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Renal Artery Thrombosis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Vasculitis
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation Therapy
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Duplex Scan Of Extremity Veins
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Leadless Pacemaker Insertion
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Nuclear Stress Test
- Palpitation Treatment
- Peripheral Venous Access
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Ablation
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Vasopressor Administration
- 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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- OA Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Medicare FFS
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-POS
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- First Health PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- HumanaChoice PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Choice POS II
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HighMark
- Navigate
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Indemnity
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Network OA
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open POS II
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- POS OA
- CareFirst NASCO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Medicare Direct
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice POS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Classic 5000
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2023)
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2022)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2019)
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2016)