Learn More About Me
Specialties: Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, General Surgery
Languages: English
202-877-3503
About me
Thomas MacGillivray, MD, is Physician Executive Director of Cardiac Surgery at MedStar Health and Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. MacGillivray served as the Jimmy F. Howell, MD, Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery, Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Transplant Surgery, and Associate Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Houston Methodist Hospital.
As a board-certified surgeon and thoracic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. MacGillivray is highly-skilled in both traditional open and minimally-invasive methods. While he performs conventional coronary artery bypass operations, valve repairs, and valve replacements, Dr. MacGillivray’s expertise stretches into more specialized procedures, including thoracic aortic repair and replacement, maze procedures, septal myectomies, and cardiac tumor procedures. He also has extensive experience in treating adult congenital heart disease.
Dr. MacGillivray is passionate about performing surgery — his dedication to clinical outcomes and seeing his patients through the entire care journey is evident in his love of caring for patients in the ICU and in the nursing units.
Dr. MacGillivray’s clinical interests include diseases of the aorta, including the aortic root, aortic arch, and thoracoabdominal aorta. He is a nationally recognized leader in the surgical treatment of patients with adult congenital heart disease, heart failure, and pulmonary embolism.
In addition to direct patient care, he also has a specific interest in quality improvement processes in cardiac disease, which involves database and outcome research. Dr. MacGillivray has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on aortic diseases, adult congenital heart disease, mechanical circulatory support, and cardiac tumors.
Dr. MacGillivray earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine before completing a general surgery internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a two-year research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco before returning to Massachusetts General Hospital for a specialty fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. MacGillivray did additional training in congenital heart surgery as the Chief Resident at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Before joining MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, Dr. MacGillivray spent 19 years as a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, followed by five and a half years at Houston Methodist Hospital as the Jimmy F. Howell, M.D. Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery.
Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. MacGillivray was the 59th President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He is former President of the Northeast Cardiothoracic Surgery Society, is currently a member of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation Board of Directors, and holds a seat on the Editorial Board of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He has been involved in writing a number of clinical practice guidelines. He was the Writing Committee Chairman for the STS/AATS Clinical Practice Guidelines on Type B Aortic Dissection, and served on the writing group for the American Heart Association guidelines for the surgical treatment for pulmonary embolism. Some of his many acknowledgments have included multiple Partners in Excellence Team Awards by Massachusetts General Hospital and recognitions by Marquis Who’s Who In America and Best Doctors.
Dr. MacGillivray is excited to offer his expertise in various cardiac surgical subspecialties (complex aortic surgery) to the adept team at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute and is honored to get to work in this nationally recognized heart program.
Philosophy of care
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Aneurysm Of Ascending Aorta
- Aneurysm Of Descending Aorta
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Arch Aneurysm
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Complications Of Cardiac Surgery
- Complications Of Procedures
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Aortic Valve Supplement
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Bilateral Cardiac Sampling And Pressure
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
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.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna HMO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- TRICARE East Prime
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-HMO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Navigate
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Choice POS II
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst Administrators
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Choice POS
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- POS OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Basic
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- IH-Open HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst NASCO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- United Healthcare Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Network OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1997)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (1995)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (1988)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025