OverviewConference ScheduleRecent Graduate Caseload

 Overview

The Emory Residency in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy is a two-year ACGME-approved program that encompasses advanced postgraduate training in surgical and endovascular treatment for vascular disease. Since being founded in 1969 as one of the first programs of its type in the United States, the program has graduated 64 residents.

Residents rotate through the vascular services at both Emory University Hospital and the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The service at both hospitals consists of seven clinical faculty, five physician assistants/nurse practitioners, four vascular surgery fellows, as well as two PGY-4, two PGY-2, and one PGY-1 general surgery residents. Expertise in non-invasive vascular diagnostics is obtained through the Emory Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory.

Standard components of the endovascular training program include diagnostic peripheral arterial and venous angiography; experience in angioplasty, stenting, and atherectomy devices; and endovascular grafts to treat aneurysmal disease of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. All residents receive extensive endovascular training in the diagnosis and treatment of extracranial cerebrovascular disease. Finally, training is also provided in minimally invasive venous surgery, including thrombolytic therapy, angioplasty, and the use of mechanical thrombectomy devices for treatment of acute and chronic venous disease, as well as endovenous laser therapy for management of varicose veins.

In the area of open vascular surgery, the resident will gain expertise in techniques used to treat thoracoabdominal and infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, aortoiliac occlusive disease, carotid disease, and thoracic outlet syndrome as well as learning how to perform mesenteric, renal, and lower extremity revascularization.

The wide spectrum of faculty research interests allows residents to participate in either basic science or clinical research endeavors at Emory. Residents are encouraged to present their investigations at regional and national meetings and publish their studies in peer-reviewed journals.

Due to the presence of a well-established Distinguished Visiting Professor Program that includes the Robert B. Smith, III, Visiting Professorship and the J. C. Thoroughman Visiting Professorship, residents are given the opportunity to interact with some of the current leaders in the field of vascular surgery. Visiting professors usually speak at Surgical Grand Rounds, which are held on Thursday mornings at 7:00 a.m. in the Emory University Hospital Auditorium. In addition, residents routinely attend quarterly meetings of the Atlanta Vascular Society, which provides another venue for visiting guest lecturers in vascular surgery and endovascular therapy.

The number of major operations performed over a two year period by each of the residents who have graduated during the last three years, as percentiled against all vascular surgery residents in the United States, are summarized as follows: YR 2007: (723) 90%, (766) 95%, YR 2006: (665) 80%, YR 2005: (737) 95%. Fortified with broad experience in both minimally invasive and traditional vascular procedures, graduating residents have accepted positions in private practice and leading academic centers — over the past 15 years, 40% of the program's fellows have pursued academic careers and many are now division heads and program directors.

Inquiries regarding the vascular residency should be directed to Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD, or Valerie Panditaratne, administrative assistant for the residency program, at 404.727.8413. Applications are only accepted through the ERAS system.

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 Vascular Surgery Conference Schedule

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 Recent Graduate Caseload

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