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
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Care
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Cholesterol Management
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Dizziness
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Hypertension
- Palpitations
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Coronary Angiography
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Abnormal Stress Test
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- Amyloidosis
- Anomalies Of The Coronary Artery
- Aortic Diseases
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Ulcer
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Sclerosis
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of The Aorta
- Athletic Heart Syndrome
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrioventricular Block
- Autoimmune Pericarditis
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Angina
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Tumor
- Cardio Oncology
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Cardiorenal Syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carotid Aneurysm
- Carotid Intimal Thickness
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
- Chemodectoma
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Coronary Artery Calcification
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Fistula
- Cyanotic Heart Disease
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Dizziness
- Double Aortic Arch
- Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)
- Dysautonomia
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Edema
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Elevated Creatine Kinase
- Exercise Intolerance
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- First Degree Heart Block
- Genetic Cardiomyopathy
- Giant Cell Myocarditis
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Problems
- Heart Racing
- Heart Valve Disease
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis
- Infiltrative Disorders Of The Heart
- Intestinal Ischemic Syndrome
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Left Heart Failure
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mthfr Mutation
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Myocarditis
- Myxoma
- Orthopnea
- Orthostatic Hypotension
- Palpitations
- Papillary Muscle Disorders
- Paraganglioma
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Tachycardia
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericarditis
- Peripheral Edema
- Pre Excitation Syndrome
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Beats
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Prinzmetals Angina
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
- Pulmonary Capillary Hemangiomatosis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
- Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease
- Refractory Angina
- Renal Vein Compression
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis
- Rheumatic Diseases Of Pulmonary Valve
- Rheumatic Fever
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Failure
- Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation
- Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
- Right Bundle Branch Block
- Right Heart Failure
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Defect
- Subaortic Stenosis
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tachycardia Bradycardia Syndrome
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Type 1 Second Degree Heart Block
- Type 2 Second Degree Heart Block
- Unstable Angina
- Valve Stenosis
- Valvular Endocarditis
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Variant Angina
- Vasospastic Angina
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Venous Tumors
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Viral Cardiomyopathy
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Duplex Ultrasound
- Adenosine Stress Test
- Advanced Lipid Blood Tests
- Anticoagulation
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
- Cardiovascular Care
- Cholesterol Management
- Collateral Vessel Closure
- Coronary Brachytherapy
- Directional Atherectomy
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Electrophysiology Testing
- Heart Health
- Holter Monitor
- Implantable Cardiac Monitor Procedure
- In Office Cardiac Echocardiogram
- In Office Cardiac Stress Test
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure
- Loop Recorder
- Optical Coherence Tomography
- Preoperative Evaluation
- Preventative Cardiology
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Rotational Atherectomy
- Sports Related Cardiovascular Assessment
- Stress Echo Cardiogram
- Thallium Stress Test
- Tilt Table Test
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Vo2 Measurement
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
110 Irving Street Northwest MHVI-1st Floor North Addition Washington, DC, 20010
202-877-7777Fax 202-877-6891
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
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- CFBCBS EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Tricare Prime
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- FIRST HEALTH
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship Program: Mount Sinai Hospital (2016)
Residency Program: 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
Peer Reviewed Original Contributions
Garg VP, Isath A, Argulian E, Lerakis S, Narula J. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Role of Cardiac Sonographers, J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2020.
Argulian E, Sud K, Bohra C, Vogel B, Garg V, Talebi S, Lerakis S, Narula J. Safety of ultrasound enhancing agents in patients with COVID-19. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2020 Jul;33(7):906-908.
Sud K, Vogel B, Bohra C, Garg V, Talebi S, Lerakis S, Narula J, Argulian E. Echocardiographic findings in patients with COVID-19 with significant myocardial injury. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2020 June 5;33(8):1054-5.
Argulian E, Sud K, Vogel B, Bohra C, Garg VP, Talebi S, Lerakis S, Narula J. Right ventricular dilation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2020 May 15.
Garg VP, Vedanthan R, Islami F, Pourshams A, Poutschi H, Khademi H, Naeimi M, Fazel-Tabar Malekshah A, Jafari E, Salahi R, Kamangar F, Etemadi A, Pharoah PD, Abnet CC, Brennan P, Dawsey SM, Fuster V, Boffetta P, Malekzadeh R. Heart Disease is associated with Anthropometric Indices and Change in Body Size Perception over the Life Course: The Golestan Cohort Study. Global Heart. 2015 Dec 10(4):245-254.
Silbiger JJ, Garg V, Moss N, Singh T, Savino J, Edebohls B, Kamran M. Protruding Fat from the Posterior Atrioventricular Groove: A Novel Echocardiographic Finding Useful in Distinguishing Pericardial Effusions from Left Pleural Effusions. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2015 Jan 28(1):116-7.
Islami F, Pourshams A, Vedanthan R, Poustchi H, Kamangar F, Golozar A, Etemadi A, Khademi H, Freedma ND, Merat S, Garg V, Fuster V, Dawsey S, Pharoah P, Brennan P, Abnet CC, Malekzadeh
R, Boffetta P. Smoking water-pipe, chewing nass, and prevalence of ischemic heart disease: A cross- sectional analysis of baseline data from the Golestan Cohort Study, Iran. Heart. 2013 Feb; 99(4): 272-8.
Garg V, Timen N, Hildenbrand P, Silverman M, Catalano PJ. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the skull base. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 2010 Jan; 142(1): 129-31.
Garg V, Zhang W, Gidwani P, Kim M, Kolb EA. Preclinical Analysis of Tasidotin HCl in Ewing’s Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Synovial Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2007 Sep15; 13(18): 5446-54.
Book Chapters
Garg VP, Halperin JL. Novel antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents in the cardiac care unit. In: Gidwani UK, Sharma SK, Kini A. Cardiovascular Intensive Care. Elsevier; Cardiol Clin; 2013 Nov 6.
Invited Contributions
Argulian E, Weinsaft JW, Hendel RC, Garg VP, Kim J, Phillips LM, Mieres JH, Abidov A, Blankstein R, Shaw LJ, Narula J. Life Interrupted: On the front lines with COVID-19. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Vol. 13, No. 8, 2020: 1834-7.
Other Peer Reviewed Publications
Catalano PJ, Thong M, Garg V. The MicroFlow Spacer: A drug-eluting stent for the ethmoid sinus. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Jun. 20, 2009; (2): 108-113.
Abstracts
Isath A, Perembeti S, Correa A, Rao S, Chahal A, Padmanabhan D, Contreras J, Garg V. Does Cardiac Transplant Protect against Broken Hearts? European Society of Cardiology Congress Conference: August 2020 (virtual).
Isath A, Perembeti S, Rao S, Sherif A, Correa A, Chahal A, Padmanabhan D, Garg V, Contreras J, Mehta D. A Nationwide 6-year Analysis of Trends and Impact of Arrhythmias in Transplant Recipients. European Society of Cardiology Congress Conference: August 2020 (virtual).
Isath A, Perembeti S, Correa A, Chahal A, Padmanabhan D, Rao S, Garg V, Contreras J. A Nationwide Analysis of 6-year Trends in Cardiac Transplantation for Cardiac Sarcoidosis. European Society of Cardiology Congress Conference: August 2020 (virtual).
Isath A, Palazzo A, Garg V. Utility of Electrocardiogram among sub-specialties after Internal Medicine training. Mount Sinai Education Research Day: May 2020 (virtual).
Hanif S, Balaram S, Jadhav P, Bella JN, Garg VP. Vascular maladaptation in chronic thromboembolism complicating aortic root aneurysm: a therapeutic conundrum. American College of Cardiology Conference: March 2020 (virtual).
Anand R, Garg VP. Clot in transit. American Society of Echocardiography Conference. Portland, Oregon: Poster presentation June 2019.
Yadav M, Rafiq A, Gomceli U, Kamalakkannan G, Marin N, Garg VP. Transcatheter aortic valve endocarditis with embolic stroke. American Society of Echocardiography Conference. Portland, Oregon: Poster presentation June 2019.
Yadav M, Bhandari M, Bella JN, Garg VP, Tamis-Holland J, Vittorio TJ. Fever with wall motion abnormalities on echocardiogram. American Society of Echocardiography Conference. Portland, Oregon: Poster presentation June 2019.
Garg V, Vedanthan R, Islami F, Pourshams A, Poutschi H, Naemi M, Fazel-Tabar Malekshah A, Jafari E, Salahi R, Kamangar F, Etemadi A, Pharoah PD, Abnet CC, Brennan P, Dawsey SM, Fuster V, Boffetta P, Malekzadeh R. Associations between anthropometric indices and prevalence of heart disease in Iran: The Golestan Cohort Study. American Heart Association-Epidemiology Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana: Poster presentation March 2013.
Vedanthan R, Garg V, Sartori S, Iyengar R, Lewis M, Hunn M, Boden-Albala B, Woodward M, Farkouh M, Fuster V. Factors influencing fruit and vegetable intake and associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors: The Grenada Heart Project. American Heart Association- Epidemiology Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana: Poster presentation March 2013.
Garg V, Vedanthan R, Sartori S, Bansilal S, Iyengar R, Woodward M, Charney A, Graves C, Lewis M, Hunn M, Farkouh M, Fuster V. Sedentary behavior and cardiovascular disease risk in a middle- income country: The Grenada Heart Project. American Heart Association-Epidemiology Conference. San Diego, California: Poster presentation March 2012.
Vedanthan R, Garg V, Sartori S, Bansilal S, Iyengar R, Lewis M, Hunn M, Woodward M, Farkouh M, Fuster V. Environmental and psychosocial barriers to physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in a middle-income country: The Grenada Heart Project. World Congress of Cardiology. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Oral presentation April 2012.