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