Thorsten Martin Leucker, MD, PhD
Cardiology
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Young Adult 18-25
- Adult 26-64
- Older Adult 65+
Languages
- German
- English
In-Network Plans
View All Accepted Plans (12)Gender
MaleJohns Hopkins Affiliations:
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Thorsten Martin Leucker
Professional Titles
- Director, Cardiology Fellowship Program
- Director of Basic and Translational Vascular Biology Research within the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease
Primary Academic Title
Associate Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Physician
Background
Dr. Thorsten M. Leucker is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of Basic and Translational Vascular Biology Research within the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease.
His clinical work focuses on cardiac critical care and Dr. Leucker attends regularly in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Johns Hopkins Hospital. While attending in the CCU, Dr. Leucker manages the care of cardiac patients with critical heart disease and teaches and mentors residents and fellows in the treatment of these patients as well as the mechanisms responsible for cardiac disease and strategies to decrease the likelihood of future events. In addition, Dr. Leucker is a core faculty member with the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, attends in the Advanced Lipid Disorders Clinic and he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology.
Dr. Leucker earned M.D. and Ph.D. degrees awarded summa cum laude from the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University in Bonn, Germany. He trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and received Cardiology training at Johns Hopkins. He was chosen to serve as the Henry R. Kravis & Marie-Josée Chief Cardiology Fellow during his final year of fellowship and was awarded the Howard S. Silverman Research Award for originality and creativity in medical research and the Stanley L. Blumenthal, M.D. Cardiology Research Award in Clinical Research. Additionally, he was recognized with numerous Young Investigator awards by several chapters of the American College of Cardiology, and by the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
Dr. Leucker is a physician-scientist and runs a basic vascular laboratory at Johns Hopkins as well as several translational clinical trials to better understand the impact of vascular inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome. In his basic laboratory, he investigates the impact of pro-inflammatory mediators on basic endothelial cell function. In addition, Dr. Leucker is the principal investigator on several intra- and extra-mural research grants investigating underlying mechanisms of pro-inflammatory disease states, such as diabetes, HIV infection and aging, on vascular and myocardial dysfunction. To test endothelial cell function and assess vascular inflammation in patients, he uses imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Dr. Leucker has published more than 50 articles and book chapters and has been a referee for numerous journals including Circulation, Circulation Research, Hypertension, and American Journal of Physiology- Heart and Circulatory Physiology. He is a review editorial board member for Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, Striated Muscle Physiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology.
Dr. Leucker is a professional member of the National Lipid Association (NLA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), and American Heart Association (AHA), and Member of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB).
Centers and Institutes
Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Clinical Trial Keywords
Acute coronary syndrome
Clinical Trials Summary
Evolocumab in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.
Find a Clinical Trial
View all trials by this principal investigator.
Videos
Research Interests
Acute coronary syndrome, Diabetes associated cardiovascular disease, Endothelial cell function, HIV associated cardiovascular disease, Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, Vascular function in the elderly, Vascular inflammation
PubMed - Publications
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/thorsten.leucker.1/bibliography/public/
Selected Publications
Leucker TM, Blaha MJ, Jones SR, Vavuranakis MA, Williams MS, Lai H, Schindler TH, Latina J, Schulman SP, Gerstenblith G. Effect of Evolocumab on Atherogenic Lipoproteins During the Peri- and Early Postinfarction Period: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial. Circulation. 2020 Jul 28;142(4):419-421. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.046320. Epub 2020 Jul 27. PMID: 32718248.
Leucker TM, Gerstenblith G, Schär M, Brown TT, Jones SR, Afework Y, Weiss RG, Hays AG. Evolocumab, a PCSK9-Monoclonal Antibody, Rapidly Reverses Coronary Artery Endothelial Dysfunction in People Living With HIV and People With Dyslipidemia. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Jul 21;9(14):e016263. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.016263. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32674634.
Leucker TM, Weiss RG, Schär M, Bonanno G, Mathews L, Jones SR, Brown TT, Moore R, Afework Y, Gerstenblith G, Hays AG. Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction Is Associated With Elevated Serum PCSK9 Levels in People With HIV Independent of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Oct 2;7(19):e009996. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.118.009996. PMID: 30371326; PMCID: PMC6404863.
Vaught AJ, Boyer T, Ziogos E, Amat-Codina N, Minhas A, Darwin K, Debrosse A, Fedarko N, Burd I, Baschat A, Sharma G, Hays AG, Zakaria S, Leucker TM. The role of proprotein convertase subtillisin/kexin type 9 in placental salvage and lipid metabolism in women with preeclampsia. Placenta. 2023 Feb;132:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.12.008. Epub 2022 Dec 24. PMID: 36603351
Ziogos E, Vavuranakis MA, Harb T, Foran PL, Blaha MJ, Jones SR, Lai S, Gerstenblith G, Leucker TM. Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in acute myocardial infarction patients are not indicative of levels at six month follow-up. Eur Heart J Open. 2023 Apr 5;3(2):oead035. doi: 10.1093/ehjopen/oead035. PMID: 37095769; PMCID: PMC10122422
Honors
- Fellow of the American Heart Association
- Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
- 1st Place Northwestern Cardiovascular Young Investigator's Forum- Junior Faculty Category, Basic Science, 10/20/18
- Howard S. Silverman Award, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, 5/10/16
Additional Training
Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Lipidology
Locations
- Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Suite 7200, Baltimore, MD 21287
- Get Directions
- phone: 443-997-0270
- fax: 410-614-1168
Expertise
Education
- Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, 2018
- Residency: University of Louisville Health, Internal Medicine, 2014
- Graduate School: Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, PhD, 2011
- Medical Education: Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, MD, 2008
Board Certifications
- Cardiovascular Disease: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2017
Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
5 out of 5
75 ratings, 36 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/10/2026
Exceptional expertise, very professional, polite and showed concern of my problem. Explained status of future drugs which may help my condition
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/10/2026
Dr. Leucker is super smart and thoughtful, caring and concerned, an excellent communicator, and humble. The BEST of the very best Cardiologists. You can tell that he loves his work and his patients. Incredible!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/10/2026
Dr.Thorsten Leucker is one of the finest Cardiologists! He is outstanding in every way. I am lucky and genuinely thankful to be under his care.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/10/2026
Dr. Leucker is great in all regards. He is patient,Informed on latest trends, communicates clearly, allows for questions, and provides recommendations as needed. The best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/3/2026
As was the case most of the time, this was a TeleMedicine visit with Dr Leucker. I live over an hour away and this works for me because he handles just my high cardiac calcium count/high cholesterol scores. He has found a combination of medications that I do not have allergic symptoms and my cholesterol is down significantly.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/24/2026
I am very happy that Dr. Leucker is my cardiologist.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/10/2026
Dr Leucker Is outstanding. He continued to ask if I had questions, he was very thorough in his explanations. I felt like he cared about me as a person. He explained what the treatment plan would be and why. I was comfortable with his care. There was a resident Dr assisting, [staff]. He was also excellent.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/3/2026
Dr Leucker is the most amazing doctor I have ever had.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/20/2026
Dr. Leucker is a very caring and compassionate physician. He actually cares about his patients. Not only that, he listens, takes what I say seriously and is an excellent educator. He takes the time to explain everything in a way I can completely understand.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/20/2026
Doctor took plenty of time and explained the situation regarding a possible new drug I might use. He was fully aware of my medical history.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/13/2026
Dr. Leucker is a fantastic, brilliant, friendly and excellent physician. In my opinion, he is the very best cardiologist on the Johns Hopkins faculty and one of the very best lipid cardiologists in the world.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/13/2026
Dr.Leucker is absolutely top tier. He was prepared, clear, listened and addressed all topics on my health issue thoroughly. In fact, you should name a building after himhe's that good.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/2/2025
Dr Thorsten was excellent - very knowledgeable, current and prepared
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/18/2025
Dr. Leucker was exceptional. Thoroughly and thoughtfully fully looked at all of my medical history. Listened to and answered my many questions. Taught me much about my medical condition. Gave a solid plan on how to proceed. His understanding and expertise is well beyond what I had anticipated (and I had high expectations). Bedside manner is excellent.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/11/2025
Dr Leucker answered all of my questions, addressed all my concerns and provided guidance for me and my children.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/28/2025
Dr Thorsten Leucker is one of the best doctors I have ever had. I recommend him without reservation.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/21/2025
Dr.Leucker was very knowledgeable and patient in answering all my questions about concerns with inherited lipoprotein A issues.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/9/2025
Excellent provider
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/12/2025
Dr. Leucker is extremely knowledgeable and able to share share this knowledge with me in a way that is easy to understand and easy to act on. He ranks in the top three physicians I have ever seen!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/5/2025
Excellent doctor; communicates so you understand.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
Dr Leucker is amazing-smart, compassionate, thorough.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
Dr Leucker is super articulate and explains every facet of test results in a way that is perfectly clear leading to a forward plan of action
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
Dr. Leucker Is very thorough and explains things very well
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
VERY PROFFESIONAL AND CARING
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
Dr. Leucker is a pleasure to work with. He explains things thoroughly and always asks if I have any more questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/8/2025
He is one of the nicest physicians I've ever met. He is very down to earth. There is no arrogance whatsoever with him! I am happy that he is younger than I, so he will probably be my doctor for life. I pray that he chooses to stay in a Maryland practice.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/1/2025
Knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/1/2025
Fabulous: extremely intelligent, compassionate, kind, professional, prepared, diligent.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/24/2025
Excellent. Has dramatically improved my vascular condition. Very caring. I trust him completely. Always able to technically explain my condition and answer questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/10/2025
Extremely thorough, respectful, and knowledgeable. Deeply appreciate his willingness to help me PROACTIVELY manage elevated LPa before it causes problems. 5 stars.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/20/2025
Dr. Leucker is knowledgeable, very attentive, very helpful in terms of listening to our questions and replying at length in informative ways. I consider myself very fortunate to have his expertise.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/13/2025
Excellent knowledge and guidance for maintaining a healthy Heart
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/13/2025
Dr. Leucker is an exceptional medical doctor. He is attentive, courteous and thoughtful. He is also proactive and careful to give pros and cons of every step.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/13/2025
Outstanding
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/29/2025
He's an excellent resource, very knowledgeable and helpful coordinating my care with my pcp
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/29/2025
I was a few minutes late arriving to the video appointment. Dr. Leucker was very gracious despite my tardiness. I am very lucky to have him among my team of doctors. He has definitely changed my life for the better!