Learn More About Me
Specialties: Transplant Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, General Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic Surgery
Languages: English
About me
Keki R. Balsara, MD, MBA, FACS, FACC, is Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, the highest volume ventricular-assist device program in the Mid Atlantic, and Professor of Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Balsara joins us from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief Quality and Safety Officer in the Department of Cardiac Surgery. Moreover, he was the Vice Chair of Network Surgical Strategy and Development for the Section of Surgical Sciences. He had an additional appointment at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. He was previously Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgical Director for the Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes Jewish Hospital.
As a board-certified cardiac surgeon and intensivist with nearly 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Balsara sees patients across the entire spectrum of cardiac disease. This includes coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, aortic pathology, and complex re-operative surgery. He has a particular interest in end-stage heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He brings with him a wealth of experience in expanding both the donor and recipient pools for transplantation, including the use of hepatitis-C and DCD-donors, as well as broad utilization of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System platform and normothermic regional perfusion.
Additional clinical interests include cardiac critical care and end-of-life care. Dr. Balsara has a particular interest in quality improvement and standardization of care to improve outcomes, reduce waste, and increase access to care. In particular, he is passionate about leveraging the scale of health systems to offer a variety of cutting-edge therapies to patients from varied geographic and economic backgrounds who have previously been denied access.
His research interests have focused on expanding ways to increase the number of organs available, including the use of the TransMedics® OCS™ Heart System, identifying DCD (donor after cardiac death) donors, and the use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) for DCD donor organs. More recently, his research has looked at maximizing hospital-wide efficiencies, focusing on cost-containment in the operating room, an interest that goes hand-in-hand with his MBA focus on management and strategy.
Dr. Balsara received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an internship and residency in general surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition, he completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in end-stage heart and lung failure and a fellowship in surgical critical care at Duke. He did his cardiothoracic surgical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Balsara is widely published and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters, and has been an invited lecturer, discussant, and/or moderator for numerous national and international meetings. He is also committed to teaching medical students and residents, cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders.
He is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dr. Balsara is an Ad Hoc reviewer for multiple publications, including Allergy – The European Journal of Allergy and Immunology, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals
Clinical areas of focus
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- 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 Disease
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital Heart Valve Defects
- Coronary Artery Blockage
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Heart Attack
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Right Ventricular Aneurysm
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm
- Transposition Of The Great Arteries
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
Procedures I perform
- Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation
- Aortic Root Replacement
- Aortic Rupture Treatment
- Aortic Valve Repair
- Atrial Septal Defect Repair
- Atrial Septum Supplement
- Cardiac Surgical Device Explantation
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Endoscopy With Vein Harvest
- Excision Of Left Atrium
- External Heart Assist System Insertion
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Heart Assist System Insertion
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Transplantation
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Placement
- Maze Procedure For Atrial Fibrillation
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Occlusion Of Left Atrial Appendage
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Repair
- Pericardial Cavity Drainage
- Pericardial Window Creation
- Pericardiotomy
- Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- Reoperation, Coronary Artery Bypass
- Subclavian Artery Extirpation
- Tricuspid Valve Repair
- Tricuspid Valve Supplement With Synthetic Substitute
- Valvuloplasty
- Ventricular Assist Device
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
PHC Bldg 5th Fl
Washington, DC, 20007
110 Irving St NW
North Addition 1st Fl Ste 1243
Washington, DC, 20010
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
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst NASCO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- HighMark
- Choice POS
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Network OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- IH-Indemnity
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Choice POS II
- IH-POS
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- OA Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Choice Fund PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- POS OA
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Medicare FFS
- IH-PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- IH-HMO
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Employee Health Plan
- Optimum Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Navigate
- Beech Street PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst EPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- TRICARE for Life East
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2014)
Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center (2011)
Residency: Duke University Medical Center (2010)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2003)