About me
Syed Waqas Haider, MD, MPH, FACC, is Director of the Pericardial Disease Program at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute and a board-certified cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He also serves as Clinical Lead for Ambulatory Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Haider specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent and refractory pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, constrictive and effusive-constrictive pericarditis, myopericarditis, and pericardial disease associated with autoimmune or systemic inflammatory conditions. He frequently provides second opinions for patients with persistent symptoms, recurrent inflammation, corticosteroid dependence, uncertain diagnoses, or disease that has not responded adequately to standard treatment.
His clinical approach combines detailed evaluation with advanced echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to identify active inflammation, characterize pericardial effusions, assess constrictive physiology, and guide individualized treatment. He works closely with rheumatologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, infectious disease specialists, cardiac imaging specialists, and other experts to provide coordinated care for complex pericardial disease. Treatment may include conventional anti-inflammatory therapy, advanced targeted therapies, clinical trial participation, genetic testing when clinically appropriate, or procedural and surgical evaluation.
Dr. Haider’s academic work focuses on inflammatory pericardial disease, advanced cardiac imaging, and the development and evaluation of new treatments for recurrent pericarditis. He is a MedStar Research Scholar and an investigator in clinical trials and registries studying emerging therapies and long-term outcomes in pericardial disease. His scholarly work has appeared in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, JACC Advances, JACC: Case Reports, and Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.
Dr. Haider served as a content expert reviewer for the American College of Cardiology’s expert consensus guidance on the diagnosis and management of pericarditis. He was also selected as an invited faculty moderator for the 2026 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and has provided expert commentary on cardiovascular health and pericardial disease for television and news media.
Dr. Haider is deeply committed to medical education and mentorship. He received the 2026 James A. Curtin Award for Excellence in Teaching and was named Educator of the Year by the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center Cardiovascular Fellowship Program in 2023.
Philosophy of Care
Many of my patients call me an “old-school doctor,” a term I wear with pride. I believe in personalized, attentive care and take the time to listen beyond a patient’s cardiac symptoms. By understanding the whole person, I often uncover important clinical details that lead to a more accurate diagnosis and a more effective treatment plan.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death, yet much of it can be prevented, treated, or controlled. My goal is to translate complex medical information, guidelines, and treatment options into clear, practical steps tailored to each patient. I want every patient to understand their condition, participate meaningfully in decisions, and feel confident in the plan we develop together.
Clinical Trials
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG) Analysis
- Cardioversion
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope Treatment
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
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 (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aorta Disorders
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Blockage
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Valve Disorders
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- 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
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Myocarditis
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- 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
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG) Analysis
- Absolute Quantitation Of Myocardial Blood Flow
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Disease Treatment
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope Treatment
- Tilt Table Test
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
110 Irving St NW
MHVI-1st Floor North Addition
Washington, DC, 20010
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
PHC Bldg 5th Fl
Washington, DC, 20007
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 Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Administrators
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE for Life East
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- TRICARE East Prime
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- OA Plus
- TRICARE East Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Medicare Direct
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- POS OA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HighMark
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-HMO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- First Health PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Choice POS
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst NASCO
- Optimum Choice
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice POS II
- Navigate
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Core Essential (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Network OA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center-Roosevelt Division (2021)
Residency: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center-Roosevelt Division (2017)
Medical School: Ziauddin University (2012)
Awards
- 2026 James A. Curtin Award for Excellence in Teaching Educator of the Year – MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center Fellowship (2023) Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) Academic Program Scholarship” - National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2020) “Merit Excellent Student Achievement Scholarship”- Milken Institute of Public- George Washington University (2017)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Media Appearances
FOX 5 DC – Heart Health Month: Pericarditis (February 2024)
WTOP – Commentary on “One Chip Challenge”–related cardiac implications (May 2024)
Syed Haider, MD, Cardiology, spoke with the Associated Press and WBAL-TV (Baltimore) about the effects of a chili pepper extract known as capsaicin on the heart. Recent autopsy reports from a teen who participated in a tortilla chip challenge died of cardiac arrest from ingesting large doses of capsaicin. Read the AP story here. Watch the WBAL story here.
Fairfax Times – Interview on cardiac risk and snow shoveling (January 2024)
Publications
Dr. Haider’s peer-reviewed work spans pericardial disease, cardiac imaging, and cardiovascular complications of systemic illness, and includes publications in JACC Case Reports, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, and Frontiers in Medicine.
Ronderos Botero D.M., Omar A.M.S., Pengo MF, Haider S.W., Latif H, Parati G, Pengo V, Cañas Arboleda A., Díaz M., Villaquirán-Torres C., Contreras J. and Chilimuri S. D-dimer trends elaborate the heterogeneity of risk in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a multi-national case series from different waves. Front. Med. 2023. 10:1205719.
Walter, D.J., Bigham G.E., Lahti, S., and Haider, S.W. Shifting perspectives in Coronary Involvement of Polyarteritis Nodosa: Case of 3-vessel Occlusion Treated with 4-vessel CABG and Review of Literature. [Accepted] BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.
Haider S.W., Patel A, Argulian E, Kwan TW. Successful Transcatheter Closure of a Rare Malaligned Atrial Septal Defect With a Membranous Chord. JACC Case Rep. 2021 Aug 19;3(10):1327-1331.
Isath, A., Padmanabhan, D., Haider, S.W., Siroky, G., Perimbeti, S., Correa, A., Chahal, A.A., Shenthar, J., Asirvatham, S., Mehta, D. Does the use of Intracardiac Echocardiography during Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation improve outcomes and cost? A Nationwide 14-year analysis from 2001 to 2014. A nationwide 14-year analysis from 2001 to 2014. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2021 Sep;61(3):461-468.
Correa, A., Haider, S.W., Aronow, W.S. Precision medicine in cardiac electrophysiology: where we are and where we need to go. Expert Review of Precision Medicine and Drug Development. 2020, 5:3, 165-180.
Cohen, R., Bavishi, C., Haider. S, Thankachen, J., Rozanski, A. The American Journal of Cardiology. Meta-Analysis of Relation of Vital Exhaustion to Cardiovascular Disease Events. 2017, Apr; 19 (8):1211-1216.
Kamani, L., Hamid, S.S., Ismail, F.W., Haider, S.W., Awan, S., Ahmed, A., Jafri, W. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. Morbidity and Mortality Assessment In Acute Hepatitis-E. 2015, Jan; 27(1): 64-69.
Lassi, Z.S., Das, J.K., Haider, S.W., Salam R.A., Qazi S.A., Bhutta Z.A. Archives of Disease in Childhood, British Medical Journal. Systematic review on antibiotic therapy for pneumonia in children between 2 and 59 months of age. 2015, Jan; 99(7): 687-93.