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