Ammar S Bafi, MD| Thoracic Surgery, Valvular Disease Cardiology | MedStar Health
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
- Abnormal Heart Valve
- 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 Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arrhythmia
- Arterial Embolism
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Benign Neoplasm Of Intrathoracic Organs
- 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
- 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
- Congenital Malformations Of Trachea And Bronchus
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Duodenitis
- Ebstein's Anomaly
- 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
- Internal Iliac Artery Disease
- 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 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 Catheterization
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Pacemaker Measurement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- 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
- Cardiomyoplasty
- 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
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Frontal Sinusotomy
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Heart Valve Reconstruction
- 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
- Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Repair
- MRA With Contrast
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Treatment
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Reconstruction
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Robotic Hiatal Hernia Repair
- Spinal Pump Removal
- Thoracic Aorta Fluoroscopy
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction
- 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
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- HighMark
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna VA Exchange
- TRICARE East Select
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open POS II
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- POS OA
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Medicare Direct
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Navigate
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Student Resources
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open HMO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
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
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Dr. Bafi successfully removed a damaged valve from the heart of the husband of Dr. Sandra Swain. He was part of a team that helped save Steven Jones' life.