Stephen E. Epstein

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Columbia College, Dr. Epstein completed his medical training at Cornell University Medical College and interned at New York Hospital, New York, NY. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Epstein served for over 30 years as Chief of the Cardiology Branch of the NHLBI at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Epstein oversees translational research conducted within the MedStar Heart Institute. With more than 500 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, Dr. Epstein is a recognized international authority on angiogenesis and on the application of stem cell strategies for cardiovascular therapeutics, including the use of nanoparticle technology as a drug delivery platform for targeting the delivery of stem cell-derived factors and other molecules to relevant cardiovascular tissues. He has also studied possible genetic polymorphisms and circulating biomarkers as indicators that a given patient is at risk of plaque rupture. He and his team have explored how aging leads to collateral dysfunction.

These research accomplishments led to Dr. Epstein serving on two important National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) committees: Vice-Chairman of the Data Safety Management Board (DSMB) for Programs of Excellence in Gene and Cell Therapy for the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and Chairman of the DSMB for Specialized Centers for Clinically Oriented Research in Cardiac Dysfunction and Disease.