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
- Aorta Disorders
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Arterial Embolism
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Benign Neoplasm Of Intrathoracic Organs
- 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
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of The Puerperium
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Congenital Malformation Syndromes Affecting Multiple Systems
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Congenital Malformations Of Trachea And Bronchus
- 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
- Heart Valve Disorders
- 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
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- 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
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- 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
- Abnormal Electrocardiogram (EKG) Analysis
- Absolute Quantitation Of Myocardial Blood Flow
- Angioplasty
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Catheterization Interpretation
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Carotid Artery Aneurysm Repair
- Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- External Electrocardiographic Recording
- Heart Disease Treatment
- Heart Failure Treatment
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- High Cholesterol Management
- Holter Monitoring
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
- Intravascular Ultrasound
- Kinesiology Analysis
- Lymphedema
- Mesenteric Angiography
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Repair
- Stress Echocardiography
- Stress Test
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope Treatment
- Tilt Table Test
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram With Strain Imaging
- 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
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst EPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- First Health PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- OA Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare FFS
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-HMO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Network OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Medicare Direct
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- IH-EPO Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- POS OA
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- UHC Passport
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Beech Street PPO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- IH-Indemnity
- First Health PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Choice POS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Navigate
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- HighMark
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
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
- Educator of the Year – MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center Fellowship (2023)
- Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) Academic Program Scholarship” - National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2020)
- “Merit Excellent Student Achievement Scholarship”- Milken Institute of Public- George Washington University (2017)
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.