Understanding what's
happening in your body
Before you can choose a surgeon, you need to understand your condition. Each section below explains what it is, what it feels like, and which specialists treat it best.
Peripheral Artery Disease
When blood can't reach your legs
PAD happens when fatty deposits narrow the arteries that carry blood to your legs and feet. The most common sign is pain or cramping when you walk — pain that stops when you rest. About 8 million Americans have it, but most go undiagnosed for years. The good news: caught early, PAD is very treatable.
Dr. Margaret Holloway
MD, FACS, RPVI
Brigham and Women's Hospital
"Every patient with PAD has a story in their legs. I'm here to read it carefully before I act."
Dr. James Okafor
MD, PhD, FSVS
Houston Methodist Hospital
"The goal isn't just to open the artery — it's to restore the life the patient had before."
Dr. Linda Chen
MD, FACS
UCSF Medical Center
"I explain every option until the patient feels like they made the decision, not me."
See all specialists for Peripheral Artery
Browse directory →Aortic Aneurysm
A bulge in the body's main artery
Your aorta is the largest artery in your body — it carries blood from your heart to the rest of you. An aneurysm is a section that has ballooned outward, weakening the wall. Most aortic aneurysms cause no symptoms until they rupture, which is why screening matters. Men over 65 who have ever smoked should be screened once.
Dr. Robert Vasquez
MD, FACS, FEVS
Cleveland Clinic
"Surveillance is treatment too. I don't rush to the OR — I time it precisely."
Dr. Priya Nair
MD, MPH, FSVS
Mayo Clinic
"Risk stratification isn't paperwork. It's the most important conversation I have."
Dr. Samuel Abramowitz
MD, FACS
NYU Langone Health
"A good outcome starts with a patient who understands why we're waiting — or why we're not."
See all specialists for Aortic Aneurysm
Browse directory →Varicose Veins & Venous Disease
More than a cosmetic concern
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that sit just under the skin — usually in the legs. They form when the valves inside veins weaken and blood pools instead of flowing back toward the heart. Beyond the appearance, they can cause aching, heaviness, and in serious cases, skin ulcers or blood clots. Treatment is outpatient and usually covered by insurance when symptoms are present.
Dr. Anita Morales
MD, RVT, FACS
Emory University Hospital
"Venous disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated. I see patients who've been told to 'just live with it' for a decade."
Dr. Thomas Eriksen
MD, FSVS, RPVI
Northwestern Memorial
"The procedure takes an hour. The planning — understanding the whole venous map — takes much longer."
See all specialists for Varicose Veins
Browse directory →What the surgeon
will actually do
Knowing the name of a procedure helps you ask better questions. Here's plain-language guidance on the three most common vascular interventions.
Endovascular Repair (EVAR / TEVAR)
Instead of opening your chest or abdomen, the surgeon threads a thin tube through a small cut in your groin. A stent-graft — a fabric tube supported by a metal frame — is guided to the aneurysm and expanded to reinforce the weakened wall from the inside. Most patients go home in one to two days.
What to Expect
General or spinal anesthesia, 1–2 hour procedure, 1–2 night hospital stay
Recovery
2–4 weeks
Success Rate
98.5% technical success
Specialists in Endovascular Repair
Dr. Daniel Park
MD, FACS, FEVS
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Dr. Catherine Walsh
MD, FSVS
Stanford Medical Center
Dr. Marcus Webb
MD, PhD, FACS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Specialists within
fifty miles of you
Vascular surgery is a relationship, not just a procedure. Finding someone close means easier follow-up visits, faster responses to complications, and a surgeon who knows your local hospital system.
Northeast
NY · MA · CT · PA · NJ · MD
Dr. Samuel Abramowitz
New York, NY · MD, FACS
Dr. Margaret Holloway
Boston, MA · MD, FACS, RPVI
Dr. Kevin Huang
Philadelphia, PA · MD, FSVS
Southeast
FL · GA · NC · SC · TN · VA
Dr. Anita Morales
Atlanta, GA · MD, RVT, FACS
Dr. William Osei
Durham, NC · MD, MPH, FACS
Midwest
IL · OH · MI · MN · WI · MO
Dr. Robert Vasquez
Cleveland, OH · MD, FACS, FEVS
Dr. Thomas Eriksen
Chicago, IL · MD, FSVS, RPVI
Dr. Priya Nair
Rochester, MN · MD, MPH, FSVS
West
CA · WA · OR · AZ · CO · NV
Dr. Linda Chen
San Francisco, CA · MD, FACS
Dr. Catherine Walsh
Palo Alto, CA · MD, FSVS
Dr. Nathan Cho
Portland, OR · MD, FSVS
Read before you
make the call
Informed patients ask better questions and make more confident decisions. These guides are written at a ninth-grade reading level, reviewed by practicing vascular surgeons.
Questions to Ask Before Your First Vascular Surgery Consultation
Most patients leave their first consultation with more questions than answers. These twelve questions — written with a vascular surgeon — will help you arrive ready.
What an ABI Test Can Tell You About Your Arteries
Understanding Your Ultrasound Report: A Plain-Language Guide
When to Seek a Second Opinion for Vascular Disease
Tell us where to start
Three questions. No wall of inputs. We'll surface the right specialists for your exact situation.
Step 1 of 3
What brings you here?
Select the condition or symptom that best describes your situation.