About me
Christian Shults, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is the regional director of cardiac aortic surgery, surgical ablation, and innovation, as well as the fellowship director for the complex aortic structural heart program. He is also an assistant professor of surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Shults is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Shults specializes in the treatment of complex aortic disease, structural heart disease, valvular disease and redo valves, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation through the use of open, endovascular, minimally invasive, and transcatheter treatment therapies. In particular, he treats patients with aneurysms of the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta, in addition to anomalous coronaries, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, endocarditis.
As a national proctor for the Convergent Procedure for minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation, Dr. Shults has performed one of the highest volumes in the country and gives lectures nationwide to other physicians about the procedure.
Dr. Shults is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Shults recently served as interim chair of Cardiac Surgery between 2019 and 2021.
After receiving his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Shults completed a residency in general surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital-Washington Hospital Center. During this time, he spent a year at Harvard Medical School for a research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he focused on developing novel strategies to treat patients in hemorrhagic shock. He then returned to MedStar Washington Hospital Center as chief resident of general surgery. After this, Dr. Shults continued his specialty training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University, where he completed a three-year specialized fellowship focusing on revascularization, complex aortic disease, valvular and transcatheter valvular therapies, as well as all other aspects of cardiac surgery. Next, he traveled to Leipzig, Germany for a visiting fellowship in minimally invasive/transcatheter aortic valve repair at the University of Leipzig Heart Hospital. He returned to the U.S. for an aortic surgery mini-fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston Memorial Hermann Hospital and an endovascular mini-fellowship at the Arizona Heart Hospital Department of Heart & Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Shults takes interest in healthcare reform, healthcare economics, and innovations for minimally invasive or transcatheter therapies. His research efforts include treatment outcomes for complex aortic disease, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease. Dr. Shults is currently enrolling patients in several unique clinical trials, including the use of GORE® TAG® TBE, thoracic endoprosthesis in the treatment of lesions of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta; GORE® TAMBE, thoracoabdominal branch endoprosthesis for the treatment of thoracoabdominal and pararenal aortic aneurysms; NeoChord artificial chordae delivery system, a mitral valve repair technique for patients with severe mitral regurgitation; a new stent for the endovascular treatment of arch aneurysms; Allergan/Botox® study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Botox for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; as well as several trials involving the latest in transcatheter valve technology. Additionally, he is principal investigator for the Bolton Medical acute complicated type B thoracic aortic dissection clinical trial.
Philosophy of Care
“My goal is to deliver the best solution possible to my pat
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Heart Transplant
- Mitral Valve Repair
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Amyloidosis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- 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
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Disease
- Heart Transplant Complications
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Infectious Endocarditis
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Pericardium Diseases
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Rheumatic Fever With Heart Involvement
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Stenosis Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Defects
- Cardiac Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery For Heart Transplantation
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Transplant
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Microvascular Transplant Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Mitral Valve Reconstruction
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Pulmonary Valve Reconstruction
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
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
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- OA Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Classic 3500
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- First Health PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-POS Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Navigate
- POS OA
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Basic
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Network OA
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UHC Passport
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- HighMark
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Administrators
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine (2013)
Residency: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (2004)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025