About me
Vaani Panse Garg, MD, is a cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, and adult comprehensive echocardiography.
Dr. Garg diagnoses and treats the full spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, from hypertension to heart failure. She is passionate about prevention and works with patients for the entire duration of their disease process.
She is particularly interested in structural echocardiography, which enhances her diagnosis of, and treatment decisions for, a variety of pathology. She is highly skilled at interpreting–and teaching other providers how to read–transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE), transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE), and 3-D echocardiography.
Her current research interests involve novel techniques and teaching approaches in echocardiography, as well as new initiatives to enhance provider wellness and medical education.
Dr. Garg earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She then completed an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Following her residency, she remained at Mount Sinai Hospital for a clinical cardiovascular disease fellowship, during which she served as chief cardiology fellow for two years.
Participating in several international projects throughout her training years introduced Dr. Garg to a global health perspective. This interest brought her to Soweto, South Africa, where she was a volunteer at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Cardiology Department, as well as Pune, India, where she was a public health service corps fellow with the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service Program. She brings this broad, global health awareness to her practice today.
Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Garg practiced at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where she also served as site director for the cardiology fellowship program (Veterans Affairs track) and the associate program director of the cardiology fellowship program. She was also a clinical assistant professor of medicine (cardiology) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Philosophy of Care
I always aim to understand each patient’s life and daily practices. This gives me a deep understanding of how to coach them on medications, exercise, and healthy lifestyle changes. I also emphasize hands-on health education. I draw diagrams, share images, and ensure all questions are answered. I fully explain the “why” of decision making, and in doing so, empower them to better manage their health.
In my partnerships with referring providers, I emphasize open communication and make myself readily available to discuss patient cases.
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cholesterol Screening
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Holter Monitoring
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Stress Echocardiography
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
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
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Chamber Disorders
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- 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 Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Peripheral Vascular System
- 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 Block
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- High Cholesterol
- 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
- Myocarditis
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- 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
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Pacemaker Measurement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With Pacemaker
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Cholesterol Screening
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Holter Monitoring
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Stress Echocardiography
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
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
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Medicare Direct
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Tricare Reserve Select
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Student Resources
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-POS
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Network OA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- POS OA
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Medicare FFS
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Sentara Health
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA EPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Navigate
- OA Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- HighMark
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Mount Sinai Hospital (2016)
Residency: Mount Sinai Hospital (2012)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (2009)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- American College of Cardiology Program Directors and Graduate Medical Educations Section and Leadership Council, Virtual Education Webinar panelist
Online recording: Sept. 19, 2020
- American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Management Section Podcast Practice Made Perfect Storytellers, Guest Speaker
Airdate: Aug. 14, 2020
- American College of Cardiology Academic Leadership Council Academic Profiles, Interviewee Feature date: July 17, 2020
- Tufts Medicine “The Long Goodbye”
Article featured from personal work and travel blog: July 2008