Kelley Sullivan, MD in Baltimore: Interventional Cardiologist with Fellowship Training in Structural Heart
Kelley Sullivan, MD, is an interventional cardiologist based in Baltimore who specializes in structural heart procedures and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The practice operates within Baltimore's academic and private cardiology ecosystem, offering procedures that range from coronary angioplasty to transcatheter valve repair, serving both inpatient hospital-based cases and outpatient diagnostic work.
What Kelley Sullivan, MD actually is
Sullivan holds fellowship training in interventional cardiology and maintains board certification in cardiology. She trained in structural heart disease, a subspecialty focusing on catheter-based repair of heart defects and valve problems that might otherwise require open-heart surgery. Her scope centers on minimally invasive procedures: coronary stenting, balloon angioplasty, left atrial appendage closure, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) coordination. Unlike a general cardiologist who diagnoses and manages heart disease medically, an interventional cardiologist performs the procedures themselves.
In Baltimore's competitive cardiology landscape, Sullivan's structural heart focus distinguishes her from many interventional peers who emphasize coronary intervention alone. This subspecialization is relevant for patients with severe aortic stenosis or other valve disease who are not surgical candidates, or those seeking alternatives to traditional bypass surgery.
Services and typical referral patterns
Interventional cardiology services include:
Diagnostic and therapeutic catheterization: Coronary angiography (diagnosis) and percutaneous coronary intervention (treatment via stent or balloon). These are typically performed at a hospital catheterization lab, not an outpatient office.
Structural heart procedures: TAVR, mitral valve repair through catheter, and left atrial appendage closure. These procedures require hospital-based settings and often involve coordination with cardiac surgery, echocardiography, and anesthesia teams.
Outpatient consultation and follow-up: Office-based evaluation for potential candidacy for catheter-based intervention, pre-procedure risk assessment, and post-procedure management.
Pricing for interventional procedures is hospital-determined, not set by the cardiologist independently. Costs vary by facility and insurance; TAVR procedures, for example, may carry out-of-pocket costs ranging from $0 to several thousand dollars depending on insurance and deductible status. Always verify with the hospital billing department, as these figures shift annually and vary by payer.
Most patients see an interventional cardiologist by referral from a primary care physician or general cardiologist who has identified a condition requiring catheter-based treatment.
How Kelley Sullivan, MD compares to other Baltimore interventional cardiologists
Baltimore hosts multiple interventional cardiologists, many affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, MedStar Health, and Mercy Medical Center. The key distinction to make when choosing an interventionist is subspecialty focus.
If your condition is coronary artery disease requiring stent placement, most interventional cardiologists are equally equipped; the hospital and its catheterization lab capabilities matter more than the individual physician.
If your condition is structural heart disease (aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, left atrial appendage closure), a cardiologist with explicit structural heart fellowship training, like Sullivan, narrows your options and is typically a better fit than a general interventionist. Sullivan's training specifically positions her for complex cases that other generalist interventionalists might refer elsewhere.
For comparison, a general cardiologist with no fellowship training in intervention cannot perform catheter-based procedures at all; a non-structural interventionist can manage coronary and peripheral vascular disease but may recommend surgical consultation for valve disease rather than offering catheter-based alternatives.
Who Kelley Sullivan, MD suits and does not suit
Sullivan is appropriate for:
Patients with aortic stenosis who are at high surgical risk or who prefer a minimally invasive approach. Those with coronary artery disease requiring catheter-based intervention. Patients being evaluated for complex structural procedures who benefit from a physician with dedicated subspecialty training. Those in Baltimore seeking a local interventionist with academic-level procedural expertise.
Sullivan is not appropriate for:
Patients requiring only medical management of heart disease (they may see a general or preventive cardiologist instead). Those needing primary prevention counseling without a specific diagnosis; a primary care physician or preventive cardiologist is more suitable.
What the first visit typically involves
Initial consultation includes a detailed cardiac history, review of any prior imaging (echocardiograms, stress tests, catheterization reports), and physical examination. If the purpose is evaluation for a specific procedure, additional testing may be ordered: transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography, coronary angiography, CT angiography, or right heart catheterization.
Expect 30 to 60 minutes for a first appointment. Bring all prior cardiac imaging on CD or ensure records are transferred in advance, as review of these images guides decision-making. Insurance authorization for consultation should be confirmed beforehand to avoid surprise balance billing.
Hours, hospital affiliation, and logistics
Sullivan's office location and specific hours are not stated here because details change and should be confirmed directly. Contact the office to verify current availability, appointment wait times, and which hospitals are affiliated with her practice. Interventional procedures are performed at accredited cardiac catheterization labs; confirm which facility your procedure would take place at, as this affects parking, pre-admission processes, and post-procedure recovery logistics.
Most interventional cardiology offices maintain standard business hours with limited same-day availability. Urgent cases (acute coronary syndrome) bypass office scheduling and go through the emergency department.
Why Sullivan earns inclusion in Baltimore's cardiology landscape
Sullivan represents the subspecialized interventionist layer of Baltimore's heart care system. For patients with structural heart disease or those seeking a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, her fellowship training in structural heart disease offers a concrete advantage over a general interventionist and avoids unnecessary referral delays.
