Learn More About Me
Keki Balsara, MBA MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Cardiac Surgery, General Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Thoracic Surgery
Languages: English
About me
Keki R. Balsara, MD, MBA, FACS, FACC, is Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, the highest volume ventricular-assist device program in the Mid Atlantic, and Professor of Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Balsara joins us from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief Quality and Safety Officer in the Department of Cardiac Surgery. Moreover, he was the Vice Chair of Network Surgical Strategy and Development for the Section of Surgical Sciences. He had an additional appointment at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. He was previously Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgical Director for the Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes Jewish Hospital.
As a board-certified cardiac surgeon and intensivist with nearly 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Balsara sees patients across the entire spectrum of cardiac disease. This includes coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, aortic pathology, and complex re-operative surgery. He has a particular interest in end-stage heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He brings with him a wealth of experience in expanding both the donor and recipient pools for transplantation, including the use of hepatitis-C and DCD-donors, as well as broad utilization of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System platform and normothermic regional perfusion.
Additional clinical interests include cardiac critical care and end-of-life care. Dr. Balsara has a particular interest in quality improvement and standardization of care to improve outcomes, reduce waste, and increase access to care. In particular, he is passionate about leveraging the scale of health systems to offer a variety of cutting-edge therapies to patients from varied geographic and economic backgrounds who have previously been denied access.
His research interests have focused on expanding ways to increase the number of organs available, including the use of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System, identifying DCD (donor after cardiac death) donors, and the use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) for DCD donor organs. More recently, his research has looked at maximizing hospital-wide efficiencies, focusing on cost-containment in the operating room, an interest that goes hand-in-hand with his MBA focus on management and strategy.
Dr. Balsara received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an internship and residency in general surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition, he completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in end-stage heart and lung failure and a fellowship in surgical critical care at Duke. He did his cardiothoracic surgical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Balsara is widely published and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, and has been an invited lecturer, discussant, and/or moderator for numerous national and international meetings. He is also committed to teaching medical students and residents, cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders.
He is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dr. Balsara is an Ad Hoc reviewer for multiple publications, including Allergy – The European Journal of Allergy and Immunology, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Heart Attack
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Surgical Device Explantation
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- External Heart Assist System Insertion
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Assist System Insertion
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pericardiotomy
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Assist Device
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
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- POS OA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- UHC Passport
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- Navigate
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- OA Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Choice POS
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Medicare FFS
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Basic
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- HighMark
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2014)
Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center (2011)
Residency: Duke University Medical Center (2010)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2003)