Rene J. Alvarez, M.D. Cardiology, Heart Failure & Transplant in Bluffton, SC
New patient visits
MUSC Health Heart and Vascular
700 Buckwalter Towne Boulevard, Bluffton Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone
843-792-1952Fax
843-792-6614
Dr. Alvarez is an accomplished clinician, researcher, and educator who joined MUSC in June of 2026. His previous role was at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. There he served as the director of the Division of Cardiology and the Jefferson Heart Institute. Dr. Alvarez also served as the executive physician lead for cardiovascular care across Jefferson Health.
An expert on heart failure/cardiac transplantation, Dr. Alvarez's clinical interest allowed him to treat patients with cardiomyopathies, heart failure, cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac transplant patients, patient with temporary and durable mechanical hearts, as well as others with a myriad of cardiovascular problems for more than three decades. His research interests include sudden death in athletes, gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on mechanical support, hyponatremia in acutely decompensated patients, and sleep disorders in chronic heart failure patients. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, has been recognized in "Who's Who of Cardiology," and is regularly named in Philadelphia magazine's "Top Doctors." He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. He remains active as a clinical researcher seeking innovative ways to help patients.
Dr. Alvarez's experience also includes Temple University Hospital, where he directed the Cardiac ICU, Heart Failure/Transplantation, and the fellowship program for advanced heart failure, while serving as assistant dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Previously, he served on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Ohio State University School of Medicine.
He received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital. He completed his general cardiology fellowship and his heart failure /cardiac transplant/mechanical circulatory support fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Heart Failure program at MUSC.
An expert on heart failure/cardiac transplantation, Dr. Alvarez's clinical interest allowed him to treat patients with cardiomyopathies, heart failure, cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac transplant patients, patient with temporary and durable mechanical hearts, as well as others with a myriad of cardiovascular problems for more than three decades. His research interests include sudden death in athletes, gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on mechanical support, hyponatremia in acutely decompensated patients, and sleep disorders in chronic heart failure patients. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, has been recognized in "Who's Who of Cardiology," and is regularly named in Philadelphia magazine's "Top Doctors." He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. He remains active as a clinical researcher seeking innovative ways to help patients.
Dr. Alvarez's experience also includes Temple University Hospital, where he directed the Cardiac ICU, Heart Failure/Transplantation, and the fellowship program for advanced heart failure, while serving as assistant dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Previously, he served on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Ohio State University School of Medicine.
He received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital. He completed his general cardiology fellowship and his heart failure /cardiac transplant/mechanical circulatory support fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Heart Failure program at MUSC.
Provider Information
Languages
English
Insurance Coverage
Insurance plans vary by individual. Please contact your insurance provider to check your coverage.
- Absolute Total Care (NEIC)
- Absolute Total Care Healthy Connections Prime Dual Medicare/Medicaid Plan
- Aetna (Exclusive Choice)
- Aetna (Managed Choice)
- Aetna (Open Choice)
- Aetna (Preferred Provider Organization)
- Aetna Medicare
- AllWell by Absolute Total Care
- Ambetter from Absolute Total Care (Marketplace)
- BCBS Blue Essentials (Marketplace)
- Blue Choice Blue Option (Marketplace)
- Blue Choice Medicaid
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Choice HealthCare (Group Health Plan)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal (FEP)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Planned Administrators
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Preferred Blue (PPC)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield State Health Plan for South Carolina
- Cigna
- Cigna Medicare
- Clover Health
- Coventry
- Employers Health Network (EHN)
- First Choice Next
- First Choice VIP Care Plus Healthy Connections Prime Dual Medicare/Medicaid Plan
- First Choice/Select Health (NEIC)
- First Health
- Great West Healthcare (Part of Cigna now)
- Healthy Blue Medicaid by Blue Choice
- Humana ChoiceCare PPO (Group Health Plan) (through March 31, 2025)
- Humana Healthy Horizons (through March 31, 2025)
- Humana Medicare (through March 31, 2025)
- Medcost
- Medicare A & B (Traditional Medicare)
- Molina Healthcare
- Molina Healthy Connections Prime Dual Medicare/Medicaid Plan
- Tricare
- United HealthCare
- Veterans' Affairs Community Care Network (CCN)
- WellCare
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Map & Directions
MUSC Health Heart and Vascular
700 Buckwalter Towne Boulevard, Bluffton Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone
843-792-1952Fax
843-792-6614
