Vascular Surgery Fellowship

Why did you choose Northwestern?

I chose Northwestern because it is known for providing excellent comprehensive care to patients with complex issues.  The program provides a broad exposure to all aspects of vascular surgery including open and endovascular techniques.

What is your vascular area of interest?

I am still determining my key interest but I particularly enjoy both open and endovascular cases involving peripheral arterial disease.

What is the best part of your training program?

Knowing that I will be clinically and technically well-trained at the end of my fellowship.  The program exposes you to the most complex disease processes. Therefore, I know that in my future practice even when I encounter something I have not seen before, I will have the skills to tackle the toughest patient issues.

Define the atmosphere of the program and resident life?

The program emphasizes collegiality and professionalism.  It also emphasizes connectedness amongst the trainees and faculty. In fact, one of my first weekends here, Dr. Rodriguez invited us over to his house for paella to celebrate the new academic year!

Why did you choose Northwestern? 

 I was looking for fellowship with exceptional training and mentorship.

What is your vascular area of interest? 

 Access and venous disease.

What is the best part of your training program? 

 Co-residents and fellows, complexity of cases

Define the atmosphere of the program and resident life.

 Collegial, encouraging, engaged.

What is the vascular area of interest? 

I enjoy the entire spectrum of vascular surgery - from venous disease to complex aortic pathology. I also enjoy having the know-how to assist other surgeons including; surgical oncologists, orthopedics, trauma, and plastics.

What is the best part of your training program? 

The people! The attendings are incredible. I love working with my co-fellows and co-residents as well as the nurse practitioners, and all the ancillary staff are beyond helpful.

Define the atmosphere of the program and resident life.

There's no doubt about it - the program is busy, but in the best way! We get exposure to the whole gamut of vascular surgery, not just the bread and butter cases like claudication. We patients with complex pathology that come from all over the state seeking the most advanced vascular care. At the same time, the attendings are supportive and provide the perfect combination of autonomy and oversight. People in general, enjoy coming to work everyday. Even as a native of Philly, who can beat living in this city! Chicago has so much to offer - great food, lots to do, and is a central hub to easily fly anywhere in the country

Why did you choose Northwestern? 

I chose Northwestern for its clinically rigorous program at a tertiary center with exposure to a wide breadth of vascular surgery including complex endovascular and strong open surgical experiences. 

The opportunity to treat the entire spectrum of vascular disease is the most interesting.

The people which encompass our faculty, staff, and patients.

Define the atmosphere of the program and resident life.

High volume and excellent clinical care made possible by team effort. 

Why did you choose Northwestern? 

I was looking for a program that would not only teach me the basics of vascular surgery, but provide a broad case mix and complex cases. I also was looking for a program that had a strong complex aortic program. Lastly, I wanted attending staff that was dedicated to the teaching of fellows and were driven to produce high quality graduates that they would be confident in pursuing their future vascular practices. I felt Northwestern had these qualities and what helped me gravitate toward this fellowship.

What is your vascular area of interest? 

I enjoy complex aortic problems and working through their endovascular treatment options.

The best part of the training program is the amount of thought and preparation that go into each case. While sometimes feeling overwhelming at the beginning of training, the amount of time and effort put in to prepare for and discuss each case with attending staff has taught me a great deal on how to prepare and think through complex vascular problems so that many of those principles make tacking very complex problems much more routine.

Fellowship is’t easy, but I never expected it to be a cake walk. The fellows work hard but everyone gets along well and there is great camaraderie amongst the fellows and the integrated residents at all levels. There are some formal times the whole program gets together, but there are many informal activities amongst all the different trainees. The division gets along very well with the other surgical residencies and we are well respected by the other services.

How did the program prepare and develop you for independent practice?

Through all of our teaching conferences, case planning conferences, and graduated autonomy in the operating room, I feel the program prepared me well to start and develop my future practice. There are always times that experience of my partners will be beneficial, but I feel confident that my training has prepared me well.

What is the best part of your training program?

The best part of the training program is the vascular team itself. The attendings, fellows, residents, nurse practitioners, OR nurses, coordinators, and administrative staff all get along with each other very well. This camaraderie within the department creates a comfortable environment for learning and training, and it allows us to care for our patients to the best of our abilities.

Define the atmosphere of the program and resident life.

The program focuses on the value of education and training in the delivery of patient care, yet it also promotes a very safe and healthy lifestyle for residents. The whole team is vigilant about resident work hours, and we help each other make sure no one is going over hours. The department regularly hosts events a few times a year to get the residents/fellows together along with the rest of the vascular team in order to promote team building and camaraderie. The attendings, fellows, and residents work closely with each other on a daily basis, thereby establishing a strong working relationship with each other.