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
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Gastric Surgery
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- 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
- Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Myxoma Excision
- Cardiac Output Assistance
- Cardiac Ultrasound
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Destruction Of Conduction Mechanism
- Destruction Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Echocardiography
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- Excision Of Pericardium
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Fluoroscopy Bilateral Common Carotid Arteries
- Gastric Surgery
- Heart Therapeutic Injection
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Heart Ultrasonography
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty
- MRA With Contrast
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Pacemaker Pulse Generator Insertion
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Treatment
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Repair Perineum Muscle
- Repair Tricuspid Valve
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Thoracic Aneurysm Repair
- Thoracic Aorta Restriction
- Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Pneumonectomy
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Tumor Resection And Reconstruction
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Restoration
- Ventriculomyotomy
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
- IH-Open POS Plus
- United Student Resources
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA EPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice Fund PPO
- Medicare FFS
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- CareFirst NASCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- POS OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Choice POS II
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HighMark
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UHC Passport
- Aetna HMO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Choice POS
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Employee Health Plan
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- First Health PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Basic
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Navigate
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Network OA
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- OA Plus
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open POS II
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Indemnity
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Beech Street PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- HealthyBlue PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-POS Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- TRICARE for Life East
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- TRICARE East Prime
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CIGNA PPO
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