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