Learn More About Me
Specialties: Cardiac Surgery
Languages: English
410-554-6534
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 Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- 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
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Dilation
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventricular Septum Supplement With Zooplastic Tissue
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Network OA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- OA Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst EPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TRICARE East Prime
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Basic
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- First Health PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- Sentara Health
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Medicare FFS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- TRICARE East Select
- HighMark
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Navigate
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- TRICARE for Life East
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Core Essential (HMO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
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
- Newsweek ranked “2025 America’s Leading Doctors-Cardiothoracic Surgery”