About me
Robert Lager, MD, is a clinical cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He serves as Physician Lead of MedStar Cardiology Associates, a 43-physician cardiology group at MedStar Health. He is Director of MedStar Ambulatory Services for the Southern region of the MedStar Health system, which includes the District of Columbia and Southern Maryland. Dr. Lager worked as an interventional cardiologist for 20 years and has performed over 10,000 cardiac catheterizations. He has served as a national proctor for Abbott and Medtronic, training physicians from around the nation how to perform the transradial wrist approach for catheterization. In addition, he has trained many cardiology fellows in the interventional cardiology fellowship program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center,and contributed as a clinical investigator in multiple interventional cardiology research studies involving new devices and interventional techniques
Dr. Lager specializes in conditions related to coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and structural heart disease. He also sees patients for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and cholesterol disorders, with a strong interest in preventive cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Lager received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania before completing his internship training and residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital. He then completed a general cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as a fellowship in vascular medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of Boston. Throughout his fellowship training, Dr. Lager served as Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lager appreciates referrals from physicians and hospital centers for patients with all types of cardiac problems, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and cholesterol disorders. When not practicing cardiology, Dr. Lager enjoys regular exercise with his family and pursues his passion for travel.
Philosophy of Care
“I live by the golden rule that I treat patients like I would treat my family members or treat myself. I have found that this simple rule has guided me along my journey to develop an empathetic and patient-centered practice.
“Patients have better outcomes when they are informed and educated. For this reason, I’m very much about communication and transparency. An educated patient is generally a healthy patient. I also ask patients to take ownership of their care and urge them to live a healthy lifestyle.
“Empathy and taking the time to listen are a big part of my practice. The history and the story that one gets by listening to the patient are as valuable as any objective testing that we do. Above all, I want each of my patients to feel that they are my only patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angiogram
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Electrocardiogram
- Holter Monitoring
- Stress Test
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- 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 Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Carotid Artery Occlusion
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- 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 Attack
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol Management
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Irregular Heartbeat
- 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
- Myopathies
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- 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
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Absolute Quantitation Of Myocardial Blood Flow
- Angiogram
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Electrophysiology Study
- Event Monitoring
- Extended Ecg Analysis
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Biopsy
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Holter Monitoring
- Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Pacemaker Insertion
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Subcutaneous Cardiac Rhythm Monitor System Evaluation
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- 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
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Network OA
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- OA Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- POS OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS II
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HighMark
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Student Resources
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Beech Street PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- TRICARE for Life East
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Administrators
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Navigate
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Police and Fire Clinic
- UHC Passport
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Sentara Health
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2001)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1998)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (1995)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Heart Healthy Month: Living with heart disease
- 8 Warning Signs of a 'Silent' Heart Attack That Are Easy to Overlook
- Heart Disease in COVID-19 Survivors - MedStar Health Blog
- Dr. Lager is one of seven physicians that helped save the life of Steven Jones, the husband of Dr. Sandra Swain.
- Risk factors for heart attacks can begin accumulating during teenage years- WTOP Radio
- Heart risks begin in teenage years - FOX News
- Cardiovascular Physician Fall 2015: MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute First in Area to Offer the WATCHMAN Device
- Cardiovascular Physician Spring 2016:Transradial Caths Gain Traction With Interventional Cardiologists