About me
Syed Waqas Haider, MD, MPH, FACC is a board-certified cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where he serves as Director of the Pericardial Disease Program. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of complex pericardial syndromes, recurrent pericarditis, and inflammatory cardiac conditions, with additional clinical expertise in multimodality imaging and general cardiology.
Dr. Haider is certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology. His academic work focuses on advanced imaging applications for inflammatory heart disease and clinical trials in recurrent pericarditis. He is actively involved as site investigator for the RESONANCE registry and co-primary investigator for the MAvERIC-Pilot trial, a multi-center study investigating cannabidiol therapy in recurrent pericarditis. He previously contributed to NIH-sponsored COVID-19 trials during the pandemic’s early phase.
He has published in high-impact journals including JACC Case Reports, Frontiers in Medicine, and BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, and served as a guest editor for JACC Case Reports. In addition to his clinical and research leadership, Dr. Haider is a committed educator and received the 2023 Educator of the Year award from the MedStar Georgetown/Washington Hospital Center Cardiovascular Fellowship. He holds an MPH from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Philosophy of Care
Many of my patients call me an “old-school doctor”—a term I wear with pride. I believe in personalized, attentive care and take the time to listen beyond just cardiac symptoms. In doing so, I often uncover important clinical details that shape better diagnoses and treatment. Cardiovascular disease is one of the few major killers we can often prevent or control. My goal is to translate complex guidelines and therapies into clear, actionable steps for each patient—making care not just evidence-based, but practical.
Clinical Trials
2023–present: Co-Primary Investigator- MAvERIC-Pilot Trial. Phase II trial of cannabidiol (CardiolRx™) in recurrent pericarditis.
2023–present: Site Investigator-RESONANCE Registry for recurrent pericarditis registry (Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals).
2020- Secondary Investigator-NIH COVID-19 Therapeutic Trial. Remdesivir safety and efficacy in moderate COVID-19. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04292730.
2023: Co-primary investigator- Cardiol 100-004 Study (MAvERIC-Pilot). Cardiol 100-004 is a Phase 2 multi-center, open-label, pilot study assessing the impact of CardiolRx™ (cannabidiol) oral solution, on recurrent pericarditis. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05494788).
2020: Secondary investigator- Study to Evaluate the Safety and Antiviral Activity of Remdesivir (GS-5734™) in Participants With Moderate Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Compared to Standard of Care Treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04292730).
Clinical areas of focus
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG) Analysis
- Atrial Flutter
- Cardioversion
- Chest Pain
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Hypertension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Lymphedema
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope Treatment
- Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Body Structure Imaging
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Function Study Results
- 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 (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amphetamine Addiction
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arterial Embolism
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bleeding Disorders
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular Disorders Of Newborn
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cellulitis
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Circulatory System Complications
- Circulatory System Disorders
- Clotting Disorders
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Cough
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Duodenitis
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Family History Of Malignant Neoplasm
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Blockage
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Immunodeficiencies
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Intrathoracic Organ Injury
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Liver Enzyme Abnormalities
- Liver Injury
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphedema
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocarditis
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Obesity
- Pain In Throat And Chest
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Poisoning
- Precerebral Artery Occlusion
- Premature Atrial Contraction
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- Problems Related To Lifestyle
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Respiratory Conditions Due To External Agents
- Respiratory Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Sleep Disorders
- Subcortical Infarction
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Systemic Connective Tissue Involvement
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thyrotoxic Crisis
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Transplanted Organ And Tissue Status
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Turner Syndrome
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- Venous Thromboembolism
- Ventricular Aneurysm
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Procedures I perform
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Lymphedema
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Palpitation Treatment
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Syncope Treatment
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
- Ventricular Restoration
- 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
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- First Health PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-Open HMO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-POS
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-EPO Plus
- United Student Resources
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- IH-PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- OA Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Network OA
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Open POS II
- HighMark
- Sentara Health
- Medicare FFS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare Direct
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna HMO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- POS OA
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center-Roosevelt Division (2021)
Residency: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center-Roosevelt Division (2017)
Medical School: Ziauddin University (2012)
Awards
- 2023: Educator of the year award- MedStar Georgetown University/ Washington Hospital Center.
- 2020: “Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) Academic Program Scholarship” - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- 2017: “Merit Excellent Student Achievement Scholarship”- Milken Institute of Public Health
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Media Appearances
FOX 5 DC – Heart Health Month: Pericarditis (February 2024)
WTOP – Commentary on “One Chip Challenge”–related cardiac implications (May 2024)
Syed Haider, MD, Cardiology, spoke with the Associated Press and WBAL-TV (Baltimore) about the effects of a chili pepper extract known as capsaicin on the heart. Recent autopsy reports from a teen who participated in a tortilla chip challenge died of cardiac arrest from ingesting large doses of capsaicin. Read the AP story here. Watch the WBAL story here.
Fairfax Times – Interview on cardiac risk and snow shoveling (January 2024)
Publications
Dr. Haider’s peer-reviewed work spans pericardial disease, cardiac imaging, and cardiovascular complications of systemic illness, and includes publications in JACC Case Reports, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, and Frontiers in Medicine.
Ronderos Botero D.M., Omar A.M.S., Pengo MF, Haider S.W., Latif H, Parati G, Pengo V, Cañas Arboleda A., Díaz M., Villaquirán-Torres C., Contreras J. and Chilimuri S. D-dimer trends elaborate the heterogeneity of risk in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a multi-national case series from different waves. Front. Med. 2023. 10:1205719.
Walter, D.J., Bigham G.E., Lahti, S., and Haider, S.W. Shifting perspectives in Coronary Involvement of Polyarteritis Nodosa: Case of 3-vessel Occlusion Treated with 4-vessel CABG and Review of Literature. [Accepted] BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.
Haider S.W., Patel A, Argulian E, Kwan TW. Successful Transcatheter Closure of a Rare Malaligned Atrial Septal Defect With a Membranous Chord. JACC Case Rep. 2021 Aug 19;3(10):1327-1331.
Isath, A., Padmanabhan, D., Haider, S.W., Siroky, G., Perimbeti, S., Correa, A., Chahal, A.A., Shenthar, J., Asirvatham, S., Mehta, D. Does the use of Intracardiac Echocardiography during Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation improve outcomes and cost? A Nationwide 14-year analysis from 2001 to 2014. A nationwide 14-year analysis from 2001 to 2014. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2021 Sep;61(3):461-468.
Correa, A., Haider, S.W., Aronow, W.S. Precision medicine in cardiac electrophysiology: where we are and where we need to go. Expert Review of Precision Medicine and Drug Development. 2020, 5:3, 165-180.
Cohen, R., Bavishi, C., Haider. S, Thankachen, J., Rozanski, A. The American Journal of Cardiology. Meta-Analysis of Relation of Vital Exhaustion to Cardiovascular Disease Events. 2017, Apr; 19 (8):1211-1216.
Kamani, L., Hamid, S.S., Ismail, F.W., Haider, S.W., Awan, S., Ahmed, A., Jafri, W. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. Morbidity and Mortality Assessment In Acute Hepatitis-E. 2015, Jan; 27(1): 64-69.
Lassi, Z.S., Das, J.K., Haider, S.W., Salam R.A., Qazi S.A., Bhutta Z.A. Archives of Disease in Childhood, British Medical Journal. Systematic review on antibiotic therapy for pneumonia in children between 2 and 59 months of age. 2015, Jan; 99(7): 687-93.