Dr. Bernard Wagman, MD, is a Senior Attending Physician and Teaching Fellow at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute. Dr. Wagman treats many manifestations of heart disease and specializes in working in diagnostic cardiology and sports cardiology, where his primary focus is treating the results of untreated risk factors for coronary and cardiac diseases.
 
Dr. Wagman’s treatment approach emphasizes lifestyle changes, especially those that would complement medication, or that would eliminate the need for medication altogether. His patients most commonly suffer from uncontrolled hypertension, cholesterol abnormalities, and unavoidable genetic factors, all of which eventually contribute to cardiac disease. In addition, Dr. Wagman treats patients with palpitations, arrhythmias, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These conditions often result from life stresses rather than actual disease, and Dr. Wagman works with his patients to prevent disease progression. For patients already suffering from cardiac disease, his goal is to maximize their quality of life and minimize the progression of disease, as well as to reverse these processes when possible.
 
Dr. Wagman received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and a fellowship in cardiology at Pacific Medical Center.
 
Dr. Wagman is an avid lifelong runner, biker, outdoorsman, hiker, skier, and world traveler, and has experience at high altitudes in the Himalayas and other major mountain ranges. He can relate to the risks and joys of those experiences, and enjoys working with patients who seek to understand their limitations while continuing their active lifestyles.

Philosophy of Care

“Working a patient’s lifestyle and interests into whatever disease they have is an integral part of my practice. It’s not about telling patients, ‘You can’t do this anymore,’ it’s about looking at each patient’s situation and working with them to understand how they can still pursue the things they love to do. It’s about involving the patients in their care, and helping them take responsibility for their care.”