Learn More About Me
Specialties: Cardiac Surgery
Languages: English
202-877-3503
About me
Thomas MacGillivray, MD, is Physician Executive Director of Cardiac Surgery at MedStar Health and Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. MacGillivray served as the Jimmy F. Howell, MD, Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery, Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Transplant Surgery, and Associate Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Houston Methodist Hospital.
As a board-certified surgeon and thoracic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. MacGillivray is highly-skilled in both traditional open and minimally-invasive methods. While he performs conventional coronary artery bypass operations, valve repairs, and valve replacements, Dr. MacGillivray’s expertise stretches into more specialized procedures, including thoracic aortic repair and replacement, maze procedures, septal myectomies, and cardiac tumor procedures. He also has extensive experience in treating adult congenital heart disease.
Dr. MacGillivray is passionate about performing surgery — his dedication to clinical outcomes and seeing his patients through the entire care journey is evident in his love of caring for patients in the ICU and in the nursing units.
Dr. MacGillivray’s clinical interests include diseases of the aorta, including the aortic root, aortic arch, and thoracoabdominal aorta. He is a nationally recognized leader in the surgical treatment of patients with adult congenital heart disease, heart failure, and pulmonary embolism.
In addition to direct patient care, he also has a specific interest in quality improvement processes in cardiac disease, which involves database and outcome research. Dr. MacGillivray has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on aortic diseases, adult congenital heart disease, mechanical circulatory support, and cardiac tumors.
Dr. MacGillivray earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine before completing a general surgery internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a two-year research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco before returning to Massachusetts General Hospital for a specialty fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. MacGillivray did additional training in congenital heart surgery as the Chief Resident at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Before joining MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, Dr. MacGillivray spent 19 years as a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, followed by five and a half years at Houston Methodist Hospital as the Jimmy F. Howell, M.D. Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery.
Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. MacGillivray was the 59th President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He is former President of the Northeast Cardiothoracic Surgery Society, is currently a member of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation Board of Directors, and holds a seat on the Editorial Board of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He has been involved in writing a number of clinical practice guidelines. He was the Writing Committee Chairman for the STS/AATS Clinical Practice Guidelines on Type B Aortic Dissection, and served on the writing group for the American Heart Association guidelines for the surgical treatment for pulmonary embolism. Some of his many acknowledgments have included multiple Partners in Excellence Team Awards by Massachusetts General Hospital and recognitions by Marquis Who’s Who In America and Best Doctors.
Dr. MacGillivray is excited to offer his expertise in various cardiac surgical subspecialties (complex aortic surgery) to the adept team at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute and is honored to get to work in this nationally recognized heart program.
Philosophy of care
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Complications Of Cardiac Surgery
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Bilateral Cardiac Sampling And Pressure
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
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 Student Health Insurance
- OA Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- TRICARE East Prime
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Navigate
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst NASCO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst EPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Student Resources
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HighMark
- IH-POS Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- UHC Passport
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Optimum Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- POS OA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice POS
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Sentara Health
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1997)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1995)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1988)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025