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
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- 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 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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Student Resources
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Indemnity
- POS OA
- Sentara Health
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Medicare FFS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Optimum Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Network OA
- IH-POS
- Employee Health Plan
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HighMark
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- First Health PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Navigate
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 3500
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice POS
- TRICARE East Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- OA Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: St. Elizabeth's 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