Message from the Program Director
It is a very exciting time for us here at the UT Health San Antonio Vascular Fellowship. UT Health has joined with our sister undergraduate institution to become The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio). As a merged institution, UT San Antonio now ranks as the third-largest public research university in Texas. Our division continues to flourish under the leadership of Dr. Matthew Sideman. He is nationally known for his work with the SVS coding committee and his numerous hours with the AMA RUC fighting for more value for vascular surgery procedure RVU’s. The diversity of our faculty continues to grow with Dr. James Anderson from Loma Linda University, and Dr. Bowen Xie from the University of Pittsburgh. We have also welcomed back alumni Dr. Zack Nash who completed his fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital. I continue to be very proud to serve as Program Director for this fellowship and greatly enjoy witnessing our outstanding trainees grow from their general surgery foundations into graduating fellows with the skill set of master vascular surgeons. Much as a proud parent can reflect on the accomplishments of their children, I too, feel very proud of our evolving and maturing fellowship that is a world-class training opportunity for those dedicating their life to the mastery of care for patients with vascular disorders.
I have always known that the decision to do vascular surgery is a special calling to rise to the challenge to provide care for some of the most complex and sickest patients possible. UT Health San Antonio fellows have the opportunity to gain the skill sets needed such as performing advanced percutaneous interventions, standard conventional surgeries or understanding when best medical therapy might benefit a patient.
The program continues to maintain a high surgical volume (over 1,200 cases last year) and offers a diverse case mix across UT Health Multispecialty and Research Hospital, the VA, University Hospital, and several private practice sites. The VA offers classic vascular disease such as aneurysmal, extra-cranial carotid disease and general PAD. The high acuity University Hospital also offers a unique training opportunity with a large diabetic population with complex distal tibial disease– especially in a younger group of people with limited access to health care. Advanced limb salvage is a major part of this practice. Also, with an extremely busy trauma service there is a good opportunity to gain that skill set and to work with our cardiothoracic service to treat acute aortic injuries. Dr. Sideman’s practice offers complex aortic work, spine exposures and large referral base for Thoracic Outlet. Working with Dr. Toursarkissian in an extremely busy private practice setting is a gold mine of experience for any trainee and not commonly found in academic fellowships.
Paired with the case volume is a sound didactic schedule based on the VSCORE curriculum as well as pre-op/indications and limb salvage conferences. Research is encouraged, but it is not mandatory for graduation, with many graduates participating in local, regional and national forums. A quality improvement project along with participation in risk management sessions are required to understand that important aspect of professionalism. The goal is to produce a rounded surgeon leader that is qualified to enter any type of practice they would like to upon graduation, academics, private or a hybrid.
The UT Health San Antonio Vascular Fellowship will provide you with a sound foundation for treating vascular surgery patients on every level expected of a modern vascular specialist. I look forward to training the next groups of exuberant learners!
Lori Pounds, MD, RVT, RPVI, DFAVF
Program Director
Vascular Surgery Fellowship