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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-POS
- POS OA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Navigate
- IH-HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- TRICARE East Select
- CIGNA EPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Beech Street PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE for Life East
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HighMark
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Choice
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Blue Choice Advantage
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- IH-Indemnity
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Optimum Choice
- Medicare Direct
- Choice POS II Open Access
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Basic
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Core Essential (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Classic 5000
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
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)