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Esther Szu-Chia Shao

Esther Szu-Chia Shao, MD, PhD

Cardiology

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Adults
  • Geriatrics

Languages

  • Chinese - Mandarin
  • English

Gender

Female

About Esther Szu-Chia Shao

Dr. Shao completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard College then pursued her MD at University of California Irvine College of Medicine and her PhD in molecular biology at UCLA. She completed her cardiology and heart failure/transplant fellowships at UCLA prior to joining the staff at Northwestern University Medical Center. Dr. Shao then served as Medical Director of Advanced Heart Failure at Maine Medical Center from 2013 to 2023. Under Dr. Shao’s leadership the program markedly expanded while achieving excellent patient outcomes. She joined MGH in September of 2023 to continue her interest in learning, teaching, and caring for patients with advanced heart failure (heart transplant, ventricular assist devise, right heart failure, cardiomyopathy, cardiogenic shock). Dr. Shao’s area of research is in arteriovenous malformations and angiogenesis.

Locations

  1. Massachusetts General Heart Failure and Transplantation Program at the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
    • 32 Fruit Street, Yawkey Building, 5th Floor, Suite 5B, Boston, MA 02114
    • Get Directions

Expertise

Education

  • Fellowship: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Cardiology/STAR Program, 2009
  • Medical Education: UCLA, 2009
  • Residency: Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Internal Medicine, 2002
  • Medical Education: University of California - Irvine College of Medicine, 1999

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2012
  • Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2010

Insurance

Search plans
  • Aetna
  • Beech Street
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
  • Cigna
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance
  • Coventry
  • Fallon Health
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Humana
  • Maine Community Health Options
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
  • MassHealth
  • Medicaid ME
  • Medicaid VT
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan
  • Railroad Medicare
  • Senior Whole Health
  • TriCare
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • Tufts Medicare Preferred
  • United Health Care
  • Wellpoint
  • WellSense

Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5

82 ratings, 34 reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Search reviews
  • Reviewed on 3/26/2026

    Dr. Shao is the best physician I have ever been assigned to. I have multiple complex medical conditions and she takes the time, effort and expertise to cover all my medical needs. She answers all my questions with detail. I feel so lucky to have her as my cardiac doctor.

  • Reviewed on 3/25/2026

    She is a great doctor and I am very lucky I am in her care.

  • Reviewed on 3/16/2026

    Dr. Shao was brilliant, and took her time with me. She was not aggravated by my questions and worries. She was able to look at this health concern as it pertains to a potential liver transplant. I felt very confident in her plan.

  • Reviewed on 3/12/2026

    Dr Shao is always very thorough during my visits and explains things that are easy to understand for those that are not medically trained.

  • Reviewed on 3/9/2026

    Very good communication with nurses / doctors and everyone involved with my visit at Mass General .

  • Reviewed on 3/8/2026

    Very courteous,understanding of my needs and definitely knowledgeable!!!Look forward to my next visit.

  • Reviewed on 2/26/2026

    Thank you

  • Reviewed on 1/11/2026

    Dr. Shao is an excellent physician always taking the time to listen carefully and calmly explain any areas f concern. I feel extremely fortunate to be in her care.

  • Reviewed on 12/30/2025

    The best and most the therough doctor I have ever had in my [redacted] years.

  • Reviewed on 12/29/2025

    Valuable consult with all my questions answered carefully and in detail. Reviewed the treatment program with explanation for rational. Always a first rate experience with Dr. Shao.

  • Reviewed on 12/22/2025

    Yes, I'm very satisfied with the job. [redacted] I trust and believe in the doctor, and I just hope everything goes well. Thank you.

  • Reviewed on 12/19/2025

    Provided me with the information I need to know to do and how my medication is working.

  • Reviewed on 11/30/2025

    Dr Shao catches the small details of a patient history quickly and insightfully. She is clearly "on top of her game."

  • Reviewed on 11/16/2025

    So far, she is a great care provider. I have no complain. Thank you MGH, you the best. Keep going and many blessings.

  • Reviewed on 10/23/2025

    Very professional staff, efficient, and quite knowledgeable.

  • Reviewed on 10/24/2025

    Dr. Shao is a very knowledgeable profesional. And treat us with kindness and friendly ! We love Dr. Shao

  • Reviewed on 10/4/2025

    She was serious, focused, and a great job.

  • Reviewed on 9/20/2025

    Excellent physician and I'm very happy to be a patient of hers

  • Reviewed on 9/15/2025

    I find Dr. Shao very thoughtful and thorough - and I appreciate her frankness in responding to my questions.

  • Reviewed on 9/15/2025

    I thought she was supremely competent, very friendly, and gave us all the time we needed. I appreciated her help.

  • Reviewed on 9/12/2025

    The doctor was exceptional. She explained about the presentation that Dr. Shao did about live donor versus deceased donor and explained everything that that's a very real possibility because with a deceased donor you can get the liver and choose which liver to use and treat it and perfectly with a live donor, it's what you get. And I was very encouraged by the speech that she told us about. The only thing I wanted to ask is I left a comment message to the doctor explaining that I didn't understand what she meant by bone growth in arteries that could be the result of the CT scan. I haven't heard back explaining

  • Reviewed on 8/22/2025

    Whenever my husband goes to his office, the doctors and nurses, from the moment you arrive, provide excellent care, and I only have to thank you. The entire staff provides the best possible service. From the moment you walk in, as I repeat, you ask any employee or anyone... anything you don't know, and they treat you very attentively. Thank you for existing. And I have nothing more to thank. Thank you.

  • Reviewed on 8/21/2025

    In all my experiences with medical professionals, I have never been so pleased with the care I am recieving. I have felt I have been listened to, I feel the doctor truly understands my medical situation and clearly lays out a course of action. I could not be more pleased with the care I am recieving.

  • Reviewed on 8/20/2025

    He or she is the best providers. They are taking good care of me.

  • Reviewed on 8/20/2025

    Friendly , kind and informative from start to finish. So very grateful.

  • Reviewed on 8/17/2025

    Excellent

  • Reviewed on 8/2/2025

    I would just like to say thank you, given the opportunity to be lucky enough to be able to see and and talk to the Dr. It was an excellent opportunity which I for one want. Thankyou for meeting with me.

  • Reviewed on 7/30/2025

    Im so happy with my doctor. I have the utmost confidence in her. I know i am in good hands. Very very pleased.

  • Reviewed on 7/30/2025

    Very good experience.

  • Reviewed on 7/24/2025

    I had a very nice experience with this provider. I felt that they cared about my heart issue and tried to help.

  • Reviewed on 7/3/2025

    Dr Shao always take the time to answer all my questions.

  • Reviewed on 6/21/2025

    My Dr was so good I felt bad I took to much of her time and she was great. Awesome people and portal is best

  • Reviewed on 6/21/2025

    Outstanding care. Busy but very organized clinic.

  • Reviewed on 6/9/2025

    Great doctor