About me
Brian Bethea, MD, is the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and the regional chief of outreach for the Baltimore region. He is board certified in thoracic surgery.
Dr. Bethea’s clinical interests involve minimally invasive approaches to valvular and structural heart disease. This includes procedures such as TAVR, transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement, transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement, and multi-arterial coronary revascularization.
Dr. Bethea is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Bethea completed his residency in general surgery, followed by a fellowship in cardiac surgery, at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dr. Bethea has participated in nearly all major U.S. clinical trials for TAVR and has been involved in early feasibility trials for transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement. Due to his reputation, excellent outcomes, and high surgical volumes, he was selected to participate in past trials for the mitral and tricuspid valves, including Tendyne™, MitraClip™, ENCIRCLE, and TRILUMINATE. He is the only surgeon in Maryland to offer patient the latter two options.
He is a physician educator and proctor, traveling throughout the world to teach valve repair and replacement techniques to other surgeons. He serves as selection chair for the Tendyne trial, overseeing all patient selection for the entire trial.
Dr. Bethea has presented his work internationally and is widely published in all the major cardiothoracic medical journals. He was among the first authors to be published on the topic of transcatheter mitral valve replacement–a rapidly evolving and expanding field.
Philosophy of Care
“I aim to provide personalized, tailored care to each of my patients. Whether it’s a minimally invasive procedure, an open procedure, or a hybrid approach, I find the method that will best fit the person, rather than the other way around. Since I have been involved in the development of so many new technologies, I can provide patients with all their options, so we can make an informed decision together. I wholeheartedly believe in a team approach to providing care, and view patients, their families, and their referring physicians as integral members of the care team.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiomyopathy
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Procedures
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Attack
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pleural Effusion
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Dilation
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Dilation Left Ventricle
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Laparoscopic Omentum Release
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Lobe Liver Repair
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Median Sternotomy
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- MRA With Contrast
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Perineum Muscle
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Right Internal Mammary Artery Excision
- Spinal Pump Removal
- Sternum Rigid Plate Internal Fixation
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Aorta Fluoroscopy
- Thoracic Aorta Restriction
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Tumor Resection And Reconstruction
- Upper Artery Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Septum Supplement With Zooplastic Tissue
- Ventriculomyotomy
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
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- TRICARE for Life East
- HighMark
- POS OA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- First Health PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst NASCO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Network OA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Choice POS
- TRICARE East Select
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- OA Plus
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS II
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Navigate
- United Student Resources
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Employee Health Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Sentara Health
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-PPO
- First Health PPO
- IH-POS
Videos
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2008)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2005)
Medical School: The University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (1999)
Awards
- Baltimore magazine, Top Doctor, 2021, 2025