Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program

Temple University Hospital offers a two-year, ACGME-accredited independent fellowship program in Vascular Surgery. The program provides trainees with a strong, broad-based clinical and academic experience in vascular and endovascular surgery and the confidence to practice in the environment of their choice upon graduation. At Temple, fellows acquire detailed knowledge of all aspects of the field, including carotid endarterectomy and stenting, open and endovascular aortic interventions including TEVAR, ZFEN, CERAB, and open repair of TAAA and AAA, aortic and arterial bypass grafting and percutaneous arterial interventions, interventions for TOS, AV access creation for hemodialysis, and venous interventions for varicose veins, IVC filter, and DVT.

Description

Educational objectives for the Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program are as follows:

1. Identify and name the parts of the aorta and its first order branches.
2. Explain the basic physiology of the circulation, including the relation of pressure, flow and resistance, and the factors that affect regional blood flow.
3. Describe the basic histology of the arterial wall.
4. Explain the fundamental differences between arterial and venous physiology in regard to pressure, flow, and capacitance.
5. Explain basic concepts of atherosclerosis, including pathology, pathogenesis and risk factors.
6. Describe the basic gross pathology of arterial aneurysms.
7. Explain the basic concepts of the doppler effect and how it can be applied to the study of blood flow. Be able to define the term “duplex ultrasound”.
8. Understand basic theory and practice of vascular imaging, especially ultrasound and contrast-angiography.
9. Broadly describe the surgical exposures for carotid endarterectomy, abdominal aortic surgery, and lower extremity bypass.
10. Describe common postoperative complications in the vascular patient, including factors that predispose to these events.
11. Describe the management of these common complications.
12. Describe the presenting signs and symptoms and initial management of ruptured aortic aneurysm, acute limb ischemia, and major vascular trauma.
13. Describe the fundamental principles of lower limb amputation surgery, including basic anatomy, indications, amputation levels, postoperative care, and outcome.
14. Understand and be able to describe the basic clinical features of the diseases listed below. These features include the basic pathophysiology, common symptoms and signs, useful diagnostic tests, broadly-stated treatment options, and prognosis with and without treatment.

• Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Carotid artery disease
• Arteriosclerosis of the extremity arteries with claudication, rest pain or tissue necrosis
• Diabetic foot disease
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Mesenteric ischemia, acute and chronic
• Acute arterial occlusion
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Venous insufficiency of the legs including varicose and spider veins

For more information about Temple’s Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program, contact Tiffany Copeland-Hughes, Program Manager, at Tiffany.Copeland@tuhs.temple.edu or 215-707-7032.

Clinical Training

During their two years, Temple Vascular Surgery fellows rotate 6-3-3 month intervals between a university-based Temple University Hospital and a community-based Jeanes Hospital and Holy Redeemer Hospital. Through these rotations in urban and suburban environments, fellows will receive a broad and diverse experience that emphasizes not so much a collection of procedures as a set of techniques and a way of thinking that will prepare them for every scenario.

Fellows enjoy a fair amount of autonomy from the onset of the fellowship with graduated responsibility as they progress through the 2 years. On each rotation, fellows will be responsible for running their services independently. At Temple, there is a fourth-year general surgery resident also responsible for the service. Call schedule is once every third weeknights and once every third weekends shared between the 2 fellows and a fourth year general surgery resident.

carotid endarterectomy and stenting, open and endovascular aortic interventions including TEVAR, ZFEN, CERAB, and open repair of TAAA and AAA, aortic and arterial bypass grafting and, interventions for TOS, AV access creation for hemodialysis, and venous interventions for varicose veins, IVC filter, and DVT. 

 

Procedures Performed

Temple Vascular Surgery fellows see a wide range of procedures during their two-year program. These include:

• Carotid endarterectomy and stenting
• Open repair of TAAA and AAA
• Endovascular aortic interventions including TEVAR, ZFEN, and CERAB
• Aorto-bifemoral, axillo-bifemoral and femoral to femoral bypass grafting
• Percutaneous arterial interventions including, balloon angioplasty, stent placement, atherectomy, and thrombolytic treatments
• AV access surgery for hemodialysis – routine and advanced reconstructive
• Venous interventions for varicose veins, IVC filter, and DVT

Vascular Surgery fellows also work closely with other Temple surgical specialty teams, including podiatry, cardiology, plastic surgery, ENT, neurosurgery, urology, and surgical oncology.

 

Scholarly Activity

The Temple Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program offers many opportunities for scholarly pursuits. During monthly research meetings, residents are encouraged to initiate new projects. These projects are conducted in partnership with department faculty members, other residents, medical students, and a wide range of Temple specialists.

A protected, weekly two-hour didactic conference provides a structured in-service exam review and oral board preparation.

Residents have opportunities to attend local and national professional conferences. In addition, the department hosts visiting professors and workshops each year. 

 

An Outstanding Faculty

Temple’s six Vascular and Endovascular Surgery faculty members are excellent clinicians and dedicated educators who foster an environment of inquiry and scholarship. The department prides itself on its collegiality, team-based approach to care, and close-working relationships between faculty and residents. This helps trainees lay the foundation for a successful career as clinicians while also fostering academic growth through exploration of research and educational opportunities.

Faculty members include:

• Frank Schmieder, MD
• Lawrence Oresanya, MD
• Samuel Han, MD
• Andrea Lubitz, MD
• Kenny Oh, MD
• Amanda Phillips, MD

 

Application Process

One position is available each year in Temple’s Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program. Interested physicians must apply through the ERAS. To apply, visit https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residency/applying-residencies-eras/.

Interviews for Temple Vascular Surgery Fellowship are held twice annually, in February and March. Invitations, interview confirmations, and other correspondence will be sent via email.

 

Stipend Scale and Benefits

View information on the stipend scale and benefits for residents and fellows.

 

Current Fellows

First Year

• John Anagnostakos, MD

Second Year

• Alison Messina, MD

 

Recent Graduates

2023

• Ryan Meyer, MD- Attending Vascular Surgeon, Ocean Vascular Institute, Toms River, NJ

2022

• Andrea Lubitz, MD- Assistant Professor of Surgery, Temple University Hospital – Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

2021

• Olubunmi Esan, MD- Practice, Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH

2020

• Henry Hirsch, MD – Private Practice, Main Line Healthcare Vascular Specialists, Wynnewood, PA

2019

• Anoushiravan Amini Hadjibashi, MD – Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center– Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY

2018

• Samuel Han, MD – Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, St. John’s Medical Center – Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH

2017

• Lawrence Oresanya, MD – Assistant Professor of Surgery, Temple University Hospital – Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

2016

• Javier Tellagorry, MD – Private Practice, River to River Heart Group, Marion. IL

2015

• Sharee Wright, MD – Private Practice, Surgical Associates of Richmond, Richmond, VA

2014

• John Affuso, MD – Private Practice, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA

2013

• Janneth Momiy, MD – Private Practice, California Vein and Vascular Center, Los Altos, CA

2012

• Tolulope Akinyemi, MD - Private Practice, Shore Medical Center, Somers Point, NJ

2011

• Daniel Spivack, MD - Private Practice, Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

 

Contact Us

Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Temple University Hospital
Parkinson Pavilion -4PP
3401 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA  19140
Phone: 215-707-7032
Fax: 215-707-2990

Program Director
Frank Schmieder, MD, FACS

Associate Program Director
Andrea Lubitz, MD, MPH

Program Manager      
Tiffany Copeland-Hughes
Tiffany.Copeland@tuhs.temple.edu