About me
Rania Kaoukis, MD, is an attending advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant cardiologist affiliated with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Kaoukis is board certified in heart failure and transplant cardiology, cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine. She specializes in the treatment and management of patients with congestive heart failure, end-stage heart failure, and ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies.
Dr. Kaoukis provides guideline-directed medical therapy as the cornerstone of treatment for heart failure. She also provides mechanical circulatory support and manages patients before, during, and after heart transplantation.
Her research interests have focused on the use of echocardiography to monitor changes in cardiac anatomy and function in patients on guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure.
Dr. Kaoukis is passionate about using her experience to provide advanced heart failure treatments to rural communities; those who historically have had less access to the care that is provided at large academic medical centers located in metropolis areas.
Dr. Kaoukis received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
She completed an internal medicine residency at Loyola University Medical Center and a three-year cardiovascular fellowship at Temple University Hospital. She then completed advanced fellowship training in heart failure and transplantation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.
When not dedicating her time to providing heart failure treatment to her community, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog. She loves to travel and enjoys cooking and preparing Greek pastries.
Philosophy of care
“I’m dedicated to a philosophy of continuous learning. My promise to my patients is that I will continue to be as up-to-date as possible when it comes to the field of heart failure medicine so that I can offer my patients the most vanguard treatments and appropriate care for their diagnosis and health history.
“I approach each patient with the intention of treating them as a whole. I believe it’s essential to understand both the medical needs as well as the psychosocial needs of each of my patients in order to recommend and deliver the most appropriate care. I take the time to ask the right questions, and actively listen to my patients’ concerns and treatment goals.
“As a heart failure specialist who has been trained within the MedStar Health system, I look forward to collaborating with providers, surgeons, and team members to provide thorough, high-quality, and multidisciplinary care.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Circulatory Assist Device Management
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertension Treatment
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Maternal Cardiac Arrest Management
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Device Complications
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiac Transplant Rejection
- Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Implantable Defibrillators
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Cor Pulmonale
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Myocarditis
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Venous Embolism
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Closure
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Enzyme Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Monitoring
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiac Tamponade Treatment
- Cardioversion
- Circulatory Assist Device Management
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Device Implantation For Cardiac Conditions
- Device Implantation For Heart Failure
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Endomyocardial Biopsy
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Heart-Lung Transplant
- Hyperlipidemia Treatment
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Management
- Inotropic Therapy
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Management
- Left Ventricular Reconstruction
- Maternal Cardiac Arrest Management
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support
- Orthotopic Heart Transplant
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pacemaker Upgrade
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Pulmonary Artery Stenting
- Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Renal Artery Denervation
- Right Ventricular Reconstruction
- Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection Treatment
- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm 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
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst NASCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Blue Choice Advantage
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- HighMark
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Sentara Health
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- First Health PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS II
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-Indemnity
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- OA Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Network OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- TRICARE for Life East
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open POS II
- Navigate
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- POS OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- UHC Passport
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
Videos
Education
Board Certification: ,
Fellowship: Medstar Washington Hospital Center (2021)
Fellowship: Temple University Hospital (2020)
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center (2017)
Medical School: Indiana Univ/Purdue University-Indianapolis (2014)