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
“I consider it a privilege to take care of my patients–a privilege that, to me, implies a sacred trust. I care for every patient as if they were a member of my own family, and I try to do for them what I would want someone to do for my wife, my daughter, my brother, or my sister. There is no problem too big and no problem too small for my attention and my care.
“The practice of medicine now is a team sport. The beauty of MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute is that there is an incredible team of talented physicians and caregivers working together providing exceptional care. As with any team, one of the most important responsibilities is communication. When I work with referring physicians, my communication with them is vital for the patient’s success, since patients will return to their referring physicians after their heart surgery.
“While you can't always cure every disease or make every diagnosis, you can always be kind to every patient. Oftentimes, that is the medicine that helps the most; listening to them, understanding them, and being willing to help them. Throughout all my years of practice, I have found this to be absolutely true.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Gastric Surgery
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- 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
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Echocardiography
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- MRA With Contrast
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Perineum Muscle
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Aorta Restriction
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Tumor Resection And Reconstruction
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventriculomyotomy
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
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice POS II
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Navigate
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Employee Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Network OA
- IH-EPO Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Choice Fund PPO
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- POS OA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- First Health PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- HighMark
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- First Health PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst EPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- TRICARE East Select
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open POS II
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Medicare FFS
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice POS
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1997)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1995)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1988)