Learn More About Me
Specialties: Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology
Languages: English
410-554-6534
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 Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Gastric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Spinal Pump Removal
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- 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
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- 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
- Spinal Pump Removal
- 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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna Basic
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- OA Plus
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-POS
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- POS OA
- TRICARE for Life East
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- First Health PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Administrators
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-HMO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- IH-POS Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UHC Passport
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna HMO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Choice POS
- Choice POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Navigate
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice Fund PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Employee Health Plan
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
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)
Awards
- Baltimore Magazine, Top Doc, 2025
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.