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 patient satisfaction, as well as achieving lower-than-average mortality outcomes. 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 Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Flutter
- Cardiomyopathy
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Heart Transplant
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Angina
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arrhythmia
- Arterial Embolism
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cellulitis
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Clotting Disorders
- Coarctation Of The Aorta
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Duodenitis
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Gestational Edema
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Infectious Endocarditis
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Personal History Of Diseases And Conditions
- Pleural Effusion
- Postprocedural States
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Respiratory Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Subcortical Infarction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Thromboembolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Bilateral Cardiac Sampling And Pressure
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Cerebral Embolic Filtration
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Lymphedema
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Median Sternotomy
- Mediastinotomy
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Repair
- MRA With Contrast
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Spinal Pump Removal
- Thoracic Aorta Fluoroscopy
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Vestibuloplasty
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
- CIGNA PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- First Health PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Medicare FFS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Choice POS II
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Sentara Health
- HighMark
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BlueChoice Open Access
- UHC Passport
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-HMO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Choice POS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- OA Plus
- United Student Resources
- Navigate
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-POS
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Network OA
- IH-Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- POS OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Choice Fund PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
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)