About me
Susan O'Donoghue, MD, is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She previously served as Associate Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Director of the Combined Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is presently Director of Cardiogenetic Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a new program for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited cardiac disorders, which she developed. Dr. O'Donoghue has been providing care for more than 25 years.
Dr. O'Donoghue is a member of the Washington Electrophysiologic Society, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). She has authored numerous textbook chapters and journal articles.
Dr. O'Donoghue specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders through the use of electrophysiologic studies, catheter ablation procedures and devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). She is currently conducting research measuring the energy present on the skin surface when an internal defibrillator fires.
Dr. O'Donoghue completed her undergraduate studies in the Honors program at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated summa cum laude and received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency training in internal medicine at Emory University, and her Cardiology Fellowship at Emory University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. O'Donoghue also completed a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Philosophy of Care
"From a young age, I began volunteering at a nursing home. I volunteered until I was hired as a nurse's aide at the age of 16 and continued this work while completing my undergraduate degree. I still remember many of my patients to this day. Together with my love of science, that early experience helped me come to the decision to become a physician
It is an honor to participate in an individual's care. Each person I meet receives my full attention and a unique approach to their diagnosis and treatment plan. I strive to be a patient and empathetic listener, especially when it comes to the concerns of my patients. I feel fulfilled when my patients tell me that they're glad they came to see me and that they would recommend their loved ones to me.
Referring physicians should know that I will communicate clearly back to them and maintain a dialogue. I will take excellent care of their patients."
Clinical areas of focus
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Palpitations
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Conduction Disorders
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Electric Shock Injuries To The Heart
- Heart Block
- Heart Racing
- Implantable Cardioverter
- Implantable Defibrillator Maintenance
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Pacemaker Implantation
- Palpitations
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Defibrillator Threshold Testing
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardioversion
- Electrophysiology Study
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Endometrial Extraction
- Event Monitoring
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Rhythm Monitoring
- Holter Monitoring
- Implantable Loop Recorder
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Pacemaker Lead Replacement
- Pacemaker Placement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Temporary Transcutaneous Pacing
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
- Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome Treatment
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
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Choice POS
- IH-EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Medicare FFS
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst NASCO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Indemnity
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HighMark
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-Open HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- First Health PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Sentara Health
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Basic
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Employee Health Plan
- Navigate
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Prime
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Fellowship: Medstar-Washington Hospital Center (1988)
Residency: Emory University Hospital-GME (1984)
Internship: Emory University Hospital-GME (1982)
Medical School: Georgetown University (1981)
Medical School: University Of Connecticut (1977)