What does a Vascular Surgeon do?

A vascular surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the vascular system. This includes the arteries and veins of the body. Vascular surgeons may also be referred to as cardiovascular surgeons or peripheral vascular surgeons.

Vascular Surgeon job duties include:

• Examines patients to determine the best surgical procedure to correct vascular problems
• Performs surgeries to correct vascular problems, such as removing blockages from arteries or veins
• Repairs damaged blood vessels
• Replaces diseased or damaged blood vessels
• Closes incisions with stitches or staples
• Monitors patients’ vital signs during surgery
• Administers local, regional, or general anesthesia
• Counsels patients on lifestyle changes to improve their vascular health
• Collaborates with other physicians to plan and coordinate treatment

Vascular Surgeon Job Requirements

A Vascular Surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the vascular system, which includes the arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Vascular Surgeons may also be referred to as Peripheral Vascular Surgeons.

Education: A Vascular Surgeon must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree, followed by 4 years of medical school. After completing medical school, a Vascular Surgeon must complete a 5-year residency program in General Surgery. Following their residency, a Vascular Surgeon must complete an additional 2-3 years of fellowship training in Vascular Surgery.

Certification: In order to practice medicine in the United States, all physicians must be licensed by the state in which they practice. In addition, Vascular Surgeons must be board certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Experience: After completing their training, most Vascular Surgeons will spend several years working as an Associate or Assistant Professor at a university medical center before going into private practice. Some Vascular Surgeons may also choose to work for the military or government.

Vascular Surgeon Skills

• Surgical skills
• Diagnostic skills
• Critical care skills
• Endovascular surgery skills
• Vascular access skills
• Peripheral vascular surgery skills
• Aortic surgery skills
• Carotid surgery skills
• Venous surgery skills
• Limb salvage surgery skills
• Dialysis access surgery skills
• Hybrid operating room surgical skills

Related: Top Vascular Surgeon Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Vascular Surgeon

A vascular surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the veins and arteries. Vascular surgeons are also known as cardiothoracic surgeons or thoracic surgeons. They may also be referred to as general surgeons, depending on their training and practice.

Vascular surgeons typically complete four years of college, four years of medical school, and five to six years of residency training in general surgery. They must then pass a rigorous examination process in order to become certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

The first step in becoming a vascular surgeon is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Pre-med students should focus on taking courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. During the last two years of undergraduate study, students should take additional coursework in the sciences to prepare for medical school admission tests.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, the next step is to attend medical school for four years. During medical school, students take classes and participate in clinical rotations in various medical specialties. Students interested in becoming vascular surgeons should consider completing a surgical rotation during their fourth year of medical school.

After graduating from medical school, newly minted doctors must complete a five-year residency program in general surgery before they can specialize in vascular surgery. During residency training, surgeons-in-training gain experience caring for patients with all types of surgical problems. They also learn how to perform various types of operations.

The final step in becoming a vascular surgeon is to pass examinations administered by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. These exams test a surgeon’s knowledge of anatomy, physiology, surgical techniques, and patient care. Surgeons who pass these exams are considered board certified and can practice vascular surgery anywhere in the United States.

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