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
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- 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 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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
8401 Connecticut Avenue
Penthouse Ste
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
106 Irving St NW
Ste 4800
Washington, DC, 20010
1133 21st Street Northwest
Suite 700
Washington, DC, 20036
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 Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- OA Plus
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- IH-POS Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- UHC Passport
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Optimum Choice
- Navigate
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna HMO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Medicare Direct
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- POS OA
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Network OA
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Student Resources
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- HighMark
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Tricare Reserve Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Choice POS
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- TRICARE East Prime
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-POS
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-EPO Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- First Health PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open POS II
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Advantage 5750
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002)
Fellowship: St. Elizabeth's 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