Reed M. Shnider, MD

Dr. Reed M. Shnider, MD, is a Senior Administrative Partner and Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Services at the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. He treats hypertension, valvular heart disease, dyslipidemia, heart rhythm disturbance including atrial fibrillation, autonomic dysfunction, and adult and adolescent congenital heart disease, as well as evaluating chest pain.

Taking an integrative approach to treatment, Dr. Shnider offers a holistic perspective. In this approach, he weaves conventional and alternative medicine are into a cardiovascular wellness program that includes diet, exercise, stress management, lipid management, and blood pressure control. His goal is to help each patient optimize lifestyle to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Dr. Shnider's clinical interests focus on wellness coaching and nutrition for cardiovascular patients. Collaborating with a dietitian and an exercise physiologist, he has helped implement group nutritional and exercise …programs for cardiovascular patients, offering lifestyle modification in a group environment. Dr. Shnider also enjoys learning about naturopathic medicine.

In yearly trips to Africa, Dr. Shnider volunteers with a health center in Tanzania. There, he treats patients with HIV-related heart disease, congestive heart failure, infections, trauma, and other conditions. He also trains the clinic's doctors on how to perform echocardiograms and other diagnostic tests.

Dr. Shnider received his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in cardiology. He is a fellow at the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Shnider speaks English and Hebrew, and is learning Swahili. Outside of his work as a cardiologist, Dr. Shnider wrote a children's book about Rusty, the red panda, who escaped from the DC zoo.

Philosophy of Care

"I try to help people come to grips with, and to be accepting of, the uncertainty of life. What changes can patients make to lead healthier lives while also enjoying their lives more? I want to help the patient to accept what they can change, and not let their fear interfere with their enjoyment of life. I try to tailor lifestyle changes to each individual so their own values and beliefs aren't compromised."