A vascular surgeon is a specialist who diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the vascular system, also called the circulatory system, which consists of vessels that carry blood and lymph throughout the body. The arteries and veins in the body carry blood and supply oxygen and other nutrients to the body tissues. If this process is hindered due to dysfunction of the blood vessels, it may be necessary to consult a vascular surgeon. 

Educational background
In order to find the best vascular surgeon, it is important to check their educational background and ensure they have the degree and expertise to carry out their duties. Look out for the following when it comes to the educational background:

• One must have completed four years of medical school through a certified university or college.
• After obtaining the medical degree, one needs to undergo a residency program that provides five years of training in general surgery.
• Once the residency is done, the doctor will choose their area of specialization and enroll in a fellowship program that typically takes around two years to complete.

These are the necessary steps to complete the education in this field, so ensure that your surgeon has the necessary certificates and documents.

Check license and credentials
Every doctor and surgeon has to possess a license or certification to perform their duties in a particular state. The American Board of Surgery conducts a Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination annually for board certification in the medical field. Additionally, there is another exam that can certify the surgeon to be board-certified once completed. These exams have multiple-choice questions designed to understand the candidate’s cognitive knowledge of core surgery and specific knowledge about vascular surgery for which they have applied to certify.

These examinations are competitive, and only those with the right education, learning, and training can qualify. This ensures that the doctors who are board-certified have the needed skills and knowledge to treat illnesses related to the vascular system. 

Go through the work history
Any surgeon who is board certified has all their information available on the website, including their work history, past surgeries, any misconduct or other complaints from the past, and so on. Obtaining a summary of the surgeon’s work history will give you an insight into their work ethic and past issues. This information can prepare you for your initial consultation, allowing you to ask the necessary questions accordingly and build trust through transparency.

Ask questions
Another important part of choosing the right surgeon is to know the right questions to ask them during a consultation. Before going for a consultation with a vascular surgeon, prepare a set of questions that can help you get familiar with the doctor and learn about the different treatment options for the condition. Here are some of the questions to ask:

• Do you have any experience with my disease?
• Have you performed a similar surgery before, and if yes, were there any complications?
• What are the possible treatment options for my condition?
• Is there any preparation required before going in for the surgery?
• Are there any side effects of the treatment?
• What kind of recovery is needed in such a disease?
• What is the recovery period?
• How often should I schedule follow-up checkups?

It is important to remember that one can ask as many questions as possible without any inhibitions. This process allows you to build trust with your doctor before undergoing critical surgery. Having an open and honest conversation can also help establish a good rapport.

Associations and memberships
Another thing to note with the surgeon is to check if they are part of any of the official groups in the field of vascular system treatment and management. This ensures that the doctor is active in the community and is aware of any new challenges and treatment programs discussed. The doctor may even be part of some new studies or clinical trials where they are finding the right treatments for a particular disease. Being part of such groups ensures that the doctor is keen on learning and exploring different aspects of the field of vascular surgery, allowing them to constantly evolve with the changing times.

Staff and behavior
A vascular surgeon may operate their own clinic with a staff, or they may work at larger hospitals, which have many facilities. If you are looking to find a vascular surgeon in your area, it is crucial to check the staff’s attitude toward the patients before opting for one. Are they kind and patient? Are they able to respond to patients’ queries with empathy? It is important to ascertain if any sensitivity training is provided to facilitate and smoothen the overwhelming process of visiting a doctor. 

Popular names in vascular surgery

• Dr. Sadaf S.Ahanchi, MD
• Dr. Joseph Babrowicz, MD
• Dr. David C. Cassada, MD
• Dr. Kendal Endicott, MD
• Dr. Naren Gupta, MD
• Dr. Susan M. Hancock, MD
• Dr. Homayoun A.Hashemi, MD
• Dr. Hosam F. El-Sayed, MD
• Dr. Brian Chen, MD