About me
Regional Chief of Cardiology – Baltimore Region
Samer Najjar, MD, is the Regional Chief of Cardiology for the Baltimore region, overseeing cardiology services at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, and MedStar Harbor Hospital. He also provides leadership for MedStar Health’s ambulatory cardiology practices.
Clinical Expertise
Dr. Najjar is a cardiologist with subspecialty expertise in advanced heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He specializes in state-of-the-art therapies for heart failure and cares for patients with advanced heart failure, those supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), and heart transplant recipients.
Leadership & Academic Appointments
Dr. Najjar is a Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University and co-chairs MedStar’s Cardiology Clinical Practice Council. He previously served as Director of the advanced heart failure program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he led its growth into one of the leading programs in the nation.
Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Najjar was on faculty at Johns Hopkins University. He was also a member of the NIH intramural clinical research program, where he served as Head of the Human Cardiovascular Studies Unit at the National Institute on Aging.
During his fellowship, Dr. Najjar received the prestigious American College of Cardiology/Merck Research Award.
Research & Publications
Dr. Najjar is passionate about advancing cardiovascular care through research and innovation. He has received numerous honors and awards and has authored more than 175 manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Patient-Centered Care
Dr. Najjar and his team provide a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to care, partnering closely with patients and caregivers. This includes collaboration with heart failure nurses, coordinators, pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, and symptom management specialists.
Personal
Outside of medicine, Dr. Najjar enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three children.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Amyloidosis
- Amyloidosis Of The Heart
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Disease
- Cardiac Fibrosis
- Cardiac Graft Failure
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Complications Of Ventricular Assist Devices (VADS)
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Inotropic Therapy Management
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Myocarditis
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Ventricular Tachycardia
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
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Core Essential (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- UHC Passport
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna HMO
- Medicare Direct
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-POS
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Employee Health Plan
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Network OA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- OA Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HighMark
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- POS OA
- TRICARE for Life East
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- First Health PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2000)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1996)
Graduate: Yale University School of Medicine (1993)
Graduate: Yale University (1993)
Awards
- Baltimore Magazine, Top Doc, 2024, 2025