About me
Rachel Harrison, MD, is a cardiac surgeon at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. She is board certified in general and thoracic surgery.
Dr. Harrison treats ischemic cardiac disease, structural heart conditions, valvular disease, and rhythm disorders, often through minimally invasive approaches. She is uniquely skilled in complex lead extraction and management, related to pacemakers and defibrillators, which may be necessary due to infections, device recalls, and other complications.
As a result of Dr. Harrison’s advanced surgical training, she offers her patients high levels of confidence in her technical expertise. She’s also had significant experience caring for very sick patients––prior to joining MedStar Health, she managed advanced heart failure, providing mechanical support, such as LVADs, and heart transplantation. She has served as an educator in the fields of lead management and heart failure, sharing her knowledge with other clinicians.
Dr. Harrison’s current research interests focus on structural heart and valvular protocols, including minimally invasive methods for replacing and repairing the tricuspid and mitral valves.
Philosophy of Care
“Every patient of mine is number one––in the clinic and in the operating room. I ensure the whole care team is united in our goals for surgery, always prioritizing what’s best for the patient. I treat each person as if they were a member of my own family and help guide them through decisions with a measured approach. I am conservative when recommending surgery and will only do so if it is truly in the best interest of the patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Gastric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction (HEART ATTACK)
- Pleural Disease
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aortic Dissection Repair
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Sampling And Pressure Measurement
- Cardiac Surgical Device Explantation
- Cerebral Embolic Filtration
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Cystitis Treatment
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Failure Surgery
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Left Ventricular Reconstruction
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Median Sternotomy
- Mediastinotomy
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pancreas Allograft Preparation
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Removal Of Pacemaker Electrode
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tumor Resection And Reconstruction
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
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 Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Administrators
- Choice POS II
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Network OA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Navigate
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- OA Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- UHC Passport
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CIGNA PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Prime
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Choice POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- HighMark
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 3500
- POS OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst EPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2016)
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2014)
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2009)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Gangadharamurth D, Furqan MM, Klein AL, Malhotra S, Harrison R, Jaikumar L, Pidikiti, Richards, LeBaron, Patel, Jagtap, Prather J. Timely Recognition and Successful Clinical Outcome of an Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection. Circulation;142:A13504, 12 Nov 2020.
Shi J, Tricot GJ, Malaviarachchi PA, Szmania SM, Kellum RE, Storrie B, Mulder A, Shaughnessy JD, Barlogie B, van Rhee F. Bortezomib Down-Regulates The Cell-Surface Expression Of HLA Class I And Enhances Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Lysis Of Myeloma. Blood. 2008 Feb; 111(3): 1309-1317.