Aubrey Jonathan Grant, MD

Aubrey J. Grant, MD, FACC, is a sports cardiologist practicing at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre.

Dr. Grant specializes in treating athletes, particularly in differentiating between exercise-induced adaptations of the heart versus true cardiovascular disease or pathology. He uses a variety of comprehensive tests and assessments to determine sports eligibility, give exercise prescriptions, and make recommendations on how to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease. In particular, Dr. Grant performs cardiopulmonary exercise tests (also known as VO2 tests), a specialized stress test that measures a patient's fitness level. With this evaluation, he can offer athletes specific and individualized advice on how to reach peak performance. Ultimately, his goal is to provide a detailed understanding of what athletes need in order to stay active for as long as possible, maintain good cardiovascular health, and achieve high-level athletic performance.

One …question that Dr. Grant often hears is, "What is an athlete? Who can or should see a sports cardiologist?" For Dr. Grant, an "athlete" is any individual who is interested in doing sports, including high school athletes, Olympians, master athletes, professional or semi-professional sports players, and even weekend warriors. If an individual is interested in improving their performance or maintaining high activity levels, Dr. Grant welcomes them into his consultation room.

Dr. Grant's clinical and research interests include how race and implicit bias affect healthcare in general and sports healthcare in particular. He is also passionate about learning more about how and why young, seemingly healthy athletes suffer sudden cardiac arrests. Concurrently, he is a passionate advocate for the widespread dissemination of emergency action plans, including CPR education and training, within the community, recognizing its potential to be a vital life-saving skill.

Dr. Grant received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College, where he graduated cum laude. He completed his residency at Emory University School of Medicine and his fellowship at Georgetown University/MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Grant then had the special distinction of being accepted into the only sports cardiology program at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. For one year, Dr. Grant worked closely with professional and collegiate-level athletes, including players from teams like The New England Patriots and the New England Revolution.

Dr. Grant is the recipient of many awards, including the National Medical Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leader in Healthcare, the 40 Under 40 Prince George's County Social Innovation Fund, the Meharrian Factor Award, and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism Honors Society. He is a member of the American Heart Association, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Association of Black Cardiologists, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Grant was born and raised in the greater Washington DC and Baltimore area and, in fact, was born in a MedStar hospital. As a young man, he volunteered in the same catheterization lab where he now practices medicine. He is incredibly proud and happy to be in his hometown, serving his community. He loves all things soccer, traveling, and food. He is especially proud of his Yelp Elite status.

Philosophy of Care

"As a former division one collegiate soccer player, I bring a deep knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a high-performing athlete to my practice. I always lead with empathy, understanding, and compassion. Shared decision-making is always at the forefront of my mind: the patient and I are a team who are working together towards achieving the same goal, which is maximal cardiovascular health.

"I also know what it is like to have a family member dealing with cardiovascular disease. My