A career in medicine can be extremely rewarding as well as financially lucrative. If you're considering the medical field, there are a number of different specialties you can practice in, including vascular surgery. Vascular surgery involves treatment of illnesses or conditions related to the arteries and veins.
Education
Vascular surgeons require extensive education that typically takes around 8 years to complete. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgeons are required to complete a four-year undergraduate degree followed by four years of medical school. Students at the undergraduate level typically complete coursework in physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, English and the social sciences. Medical school curriculum generally includes coursework in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, medical ethics and laws related to medical practice.
Residency and Licensure
Medical students are then expected to complete a surgical residency followed by a fellowship program specializing in vascular surgery. The American Board of Surgery (ABS) typically requires surgical residents to complete a minimum two years of core surgical training and three years of specialized vascular surgery training. They are also required to serve as chief resident for at least twelve months of their residency. Students are also required to successfully complete a vascular surgery qualifying examination administered by the ABS after they obtain their medical licenses.
Required Skills
A career in surgery can be mentally and physically exhausting and there are certain skills required to be a successful vascular surgeon. Students who are considering a career in surgery should have a desire to serve and care for patients, a good bedside manner and an ability to think and act quickly in critical situations. Vascular surgeons must be able to work well under pressure, communicate effectively with others and give direction when necessary.
Primary Job Duties
Vascular surgeons are primarily responsible for operating on arteries and veins. Unlike cardiac surgeons, they do not operate directly on the heart. According to Melbourne Internal Medicine Associates, vascular surgeons may treat patients for various blood vessel-related illnesses or conditions such as peripheral artery disease, abnormal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, venous disease or varicose veins. Vascular surgeons may perform operations to remove plaque from arteries, bypass arterial obstructions or perform other endovascular procedures.
Additional Job Functions
Aside from performing surgeries, vascular surgeons are also responsible for recording a patient's medical history, developing a pre- and postoperative plan of care, directing the activities of assisting surgeons, nurses or other hospital staff, provide consultations to other physicians or surgeons when necessary, creating and organizing information relevant to a patient's chart, counseling patients on diet, hygiene or personal care or conducting scientific research related to the development of new and better surgical techniques.
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