Learn More About Me
Specialties: Cardiac Surgery
Languages: English
202-877-3503
About me
Ammar S. Bafi, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board certified in thoracic surgery.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Bafi treats all adult cardiac disease, such as valvular and coronary artery disease, through the use of advanced surgical techniques. He specializes in mitral valve repair, as well as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
With more than 25 years of experience, he has performed more than 10,000 heart operations with superb results, exceeding the national average in outcomes and patient satisfaction. In his high-volume clinical practice, he performs approximately 400 heart surgeries each year.
Dr. Bafi serves on the Cardiovascular Surgery Program Quality Improvement Committee at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. He is also a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Dr. Bafi received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine before completing a general surgery internship at Cornell University Medical Center/North Shore University Hospital. He then returned to the George Washington University Hospital to complete a six-year general surgery residency, which included one year of research. Finally, he completed a two-year specialty residency in cardiothoracic surgery at GWU, and one year as a clinical associate in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Bafi’s clinical research includes serving as principal or co-investigator in multiple transcatheter aortic and mitral valve studies, including the CoreValve®, PARTNER, COAPT, and NeoChord™ trials. He continues to participate in many cardiac surgery and cardiology clinical trials, particularly as they relate to percutaneous valvular therapies. He works with a team of skilled interventional cardiologists to continue bringing novel treatments to his patients. Dr. Bafi’s research is widely published in medical journals.
Philosophy of Care
“Growing up as a child of diplomats, I lived in different countries. As a part of this experience, I learned to develop and appreciate a wide perspective on many people, religions, and cultures. I believe this contributes to my ability to connect and empathize with my patients and colleagues. I am driven by the knowledge that every day I’m working to improve the quality of life for my patients. I feel it is my privilege and honor to have a positive impact on my patients’ health and their lives.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Heart Transplant
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Amyloidosis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Angina
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Coarctation Of The Aorta
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Cardiac Surgery
- Complications Of Heart Transplant
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Ebstein's Anomaly
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Infectious Endocarditis
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Arch Reconstruction
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Bilateral Cardiac Sampling And Pressure
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Surgery
- Cardiac Bypass Surgery
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Surgery For Cardiac Tumors
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Defects
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Block
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Cardioversion
- Cerebral Embolic Filtration
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Valve Reconstruction
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Reconstruction
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
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
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- POS OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Navigate
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Choice POS
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice POS II
- First Health PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Indemnity
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-Network Only Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Beech Street PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UHC Passport
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HighMark
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna VA Exchange
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-POS
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open HMO
- OA Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Network OA
- TRICARE for Life East
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic (1996)
Fellowship: George Washington University School of Medicine (1995)
Residency: George Washington University Hospital (1993)
Medical School: George Washington University (1989)
Internship: North Shore University Hospital (1988)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025