About me
Robert Lager, MD, is a clinical cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He serves as Physician Lead of MedStar Cardiology Associates, a 43-physician cardiology group at MedStar Health. He is Director of MedStar Ambulatory Services for the Southern region of the MedStar Health system, which includes the District of Columbia and Southern Maryland. Dr. Lager worked as an interventional cardiologist for 20 years and has performed over 10,000 cardiac catheterizations. He has served as a national proctor for Abbott and Medtronic, training physicians from around the nation how to perform the transradial wrist approach for catheterization. In addition, he has trained many cardiology fellows in the interventional cardiology fellowship program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center,and contributed as a clinical investigator in multiple interventional cardiology research studies involving new devices and interventional techniques
Dr. Lager specializes in conditions related to coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and structural heart disease. He also sees patients for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and cholesterol disorders, with a strong interest in preventive cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Lager received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania before completing his internship training and residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital. He then completed a general cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as a fellowship in vascular medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of Boston. Throughout his fellowship training, Dr. Lager served as Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lager appreciates referrals from physicians and hospital centers for patients with all types of cardiac problems, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and cholesterol disorders. When not practicing cardiology, Dr. Lager enjoys regular exercise with his family and pursues his passion for travel.
Philosophy of Care
“I live by the golden rule that I treat patients like I would treat my family members or treat myself. I have found that this simple rule has guided me along my journey to develop an empathetic and patient-centered practice.
“Patients have better outcomes when they are informed and educated. For this reason, I’m very much about communication and transparency. An educated patient is generally a healthy patient. I also ask patients to take ownership of their care and urge them to live a healthy lifestyle.
“Empathy and taking the time to listen are a big part of my practice. The history and the story that one gets by listening to the patient are as valuable as any objective testing that we do. Above all, I want each of my patients to feel that they are my only patient.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Angiogram
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Electrocardiogram
- Holter Monitoring
- Stress Test
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Carotid Artery Occlusion
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Chest Pain
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Veins
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Dyspnea On Exertion
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease In Women
- Heart Murmur
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol Management
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myopathies
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Vessel Disease
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Heart Diseases
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Secondary Hypertension
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Absolute Quantitation Of Myocardial Blood Flow
- Angiogram
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Coronary Artery Stenting
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiologic Study
- Electrophysiology Study
- Event Monitoring
- Extended Ecg Analysis
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Biopsy
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Holter Monitoring
- Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Pacemaker Insertion
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Subcutaneous Cardiac Rhythm Monitor System Evaluation
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
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
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA Indemnity
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Network OA
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- OA Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- POS OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- TRICARE East Prime
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HighMark
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-POS
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CIGNA EPO
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CIGNA PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Student Resources
- MultiPlan, Inc
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Beech Street PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Medicare Direct
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Navigate
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- UHC Passport
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Sentara Health
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Optimum Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2001)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1998)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (1995)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Heart Healthy Month: Living with heart disease
- 8 Warning Signs of a 'Silent' Heart Attack That Are Easy to Overlook
- Heart Disease in COVID-19 Survivors - MedStar Health Blog
- Dr. Lager is one of seven physicians that helped save the life of Steven Jones, the husband of Dr. Sandra Swain.
- Risk factors for heart attacks can begin accumulating during teenage years- WTOP Radio
- Heart risks begin in teenage years - FOX News
- Cardiovascular Physician Fall 2015: MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute First in Area to Offer the WATCHMAN Device
- Cardiovascular Physician Spring 2016:Transradial Caths Gain Traction With Interventional Cardiologists