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
- Cardioversion
- Electrocardiogram
- Heart Murmur Treatment
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Stress Echocardiography
- Supraventricular Tachycardia Management
- Syncope Treatment
- Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breathing
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
- Acute Endocarditis
- Acute Ischemic Heart Diseases
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Amyloidosis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris
- Aorta Disorders
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Artery Disorders
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis Of Aorta
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrioventricular Block
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bradycardia
- Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiac Valve Tumors
- Cardiometabolic Disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Chest Pain
- Cholesterol Disorders
- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Cocaine Related Disorders
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Malformations Of Cardiac Chambers And Connections
- Congenital Malformations Of Great Arteries
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Pulmonary And Tricuspid Valves
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Disorders Of Autonomic Nervous System
- Disorders Of Lipoprotein Metabolism And Lipidemias
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Electrical Conduction Disorders
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Heart Attack
- Heart Blockage
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Valve Disorders
- Hypertension
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypotension
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Long Term Drug Therapy
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Myocardial Infarction Complications
- Myocarditis
- Nonrheumatic Mitral Valve Disease
- Palpitations
- Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Patent Foramen Ovale
- Pericardium Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Diseases
- Premature Atrial Contractions
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACS)
- Premature Ventricular Contractions
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Heart Disease
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Single Ventricle Heart Defects
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Swelling In Legs
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Transient Cerebral Ischemic Attacks
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Embolism
- 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 Ultrasound
- Cardiovascular Stress Testing
- Cardioversion
- Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
- 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
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
- Pacemaker Interrogation
- Palpitation Treatment
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- 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 Tachycardia Ablation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
110 Irving St NW
MHVI-1st Floor North Addition
Washington, DC, 20010
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
PHC Bldg 5th Fl
Washington, DC, 20007
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
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice Fund PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- IH-Open POS Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-HMO
- IH-POS Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Administrators
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Medicare FFS
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-Open HMO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- OA Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA EPO
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Sentara Health
- IH-PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-POS
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- Navigate
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- HighMark
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Network OA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Core Essential (HMO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- United Student Resources
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Choice POS II
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- UHC Passport
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
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.