About me
Susan O'Donoghue, MD, is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She previously served as Associate Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Director of the Combined Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is presently Director of Cardiogenetic Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a new program for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited cardiac disorders, which she developed. Dr. O'Donoghue has been providing care for more than 25 years.
Dr. O'Donoghue is a member of the Washington Electrophysiologic Society, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). She has authored numerous textbook chapters and journal articles.
Dr. O'Donoghue specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders through the use of electrophysiologic studies, catheter ablation procedures and devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). She is currently conducting research measuring the energy present on the skin surface when an internal defibrillator fires.
Dr. O'Donoghue completed her undergraduate studies in the Honors program at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated summa cum laude and received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency training in internal medicine at Emory University, and her Cardiology Fellowship at Emory University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. O'Donoghue also completed a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Philosophy of Care
"From a young age, I began volunteering at a nursing home. I volunteered until I was hired as a nurse's aide at the age of 16 and continued this work while completing my undergraduate degree. I still remember many of my patients to this day. Together with my love of science, that early experience helped me come to the decision to become a physician
It is an honor to participate in an individual's care. Each person I meet receives my full attention and a unique approach to their diagnosis and treatment plan. I strive to be a patient and empathetic listener, especially when it comes to the concerns of my patients. I feel fulfilled when my patients tell me that they're glad they came to see me and that they would recommend their loved ones to me.
Referring physicians should know that I will communicate clearly back to them and maintain a dialogue. I will take excellent care of their patients."
Clinical areas of focus
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Palpitations
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradycardia
- Brugada Syndrome
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Conduction Disorders
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Malfunction
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Electric Shock Injuries To The Heart
- Heart Block
- Heart Racing
- Implantable Cardioverter
- Implantable Defibrillator Maintenance
- Long Qt Syndrome
- Pacemaker Implantation
- Palpitations
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Short Qt Syndrome
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation
- Cardiac Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cardiac Defibrillator Threshold Testing
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardioversion
- Electrophysiology Study
- Electrophysiology Study For Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Endometrial Extraction
- Event Monitoring
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Rhythm Monitoring
- Holter Monitoring
- Implantable Loop Recorder
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Pacemaker Lead Replacement
- Pacemaker Placement
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Temporary Transcutaneous Pacing
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
- Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome 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
- Network OA
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- First Health PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Choice POS
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- POS OA
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Beech Street PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-POS
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- United Student Resources
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna HMO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- HighMark
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CIGNA EPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- First Health PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-Open POS II
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UHC Passport
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Sentara Health
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Medicare Direct
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Employee Health Plan
- Navigate
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Fellowship: Medstar-Washington Hospital Center (1988)
Residency: Emory University Hospital-GME (1984)
Internship: Emory University Hospital-GME (1982)
Medical School: Georgetown University (1981)
Medical School: University Of Connecticut (1977)