The purpose of the training program in Vascular Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center is four-fold:

1. To produce vascular surgeons of the highest caliber, familiar with and facile in all aspects of current clinical vascular practice, including diagnosis, noninvasive testing, arteriography, medical management, open surgical procedures and endovascular therapy.
2. To develop in trainees an appreciation for system based practices, an interdisciplinary approach to care of the patient with vascular disease, and an understanding of the cost effectiveness and efficacy of clinical treatment options.
3. To encourage and develop an inquisitive mind, capable of disciplined analysis of clinical studies and the applicable scientific literature and the ability to appropriately apply that knowledge in the care of the patient with vascular disease.
4. To instill a sense of professionalism, a commitment to excellence and an ethical framework that will serve as a foundation for providing compassionate and high quality care to patients with vascular disease and their families.

To achieve these goals, the faculty and staff of the Carolinas Heart and Vascular Institute (CHVI), will ensure that residents are exposed to a wide range of clinical problems including the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, aneurysmal disease, visceral occlusive disease, cerebrovascular disease and venous and lymphatic conditions. Residents will participate in all aspects of patient care, including pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care and will perform diagnostic arteriography, endovascular interventions and intravascular ultrasound in sufficient numbers to meet the 1992 American Heart Association consensus statement.

The CHVI is a multidisciplinary clinic staffed by vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists. Through participation in weekly interdisciplinary clinical conferences, residents will be exposed to a wide variety of thought and perspectives regarding the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Monthly conferences are also held in conjunction with General Surgery and special joint conferences are conducted with other departments including Radiology, Orthopedics and Trauma. In addition to the acute and chronic management of patients with vascular disease, residents will be familiar with the implications of public health issues, such as tobacco use, obesity, motor vehicle trauma and gun violence, as they relate to vascular surgery.

The vascular residency faculty will conduct lectures, provide clinical correlations and assist the residents in self-study of the current literature. In conjunction with the presentation of clinical cases, residents will demonstrate their mastery of the current material by relating the disease processes to relevant citations from both textbooks and peer-reviewed journals. The resident in vascular surgery will present topics for discussion at Vascular Grand Rounds, interdisciplinary conferences and at local and national society meetings. Participation in a clinical research project is highly encouraged. It is the expectation that the resident will author at least one paper for presentation and/or submission.

The faculty will teach by example, demonstrating at all times the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, dedication to service and compassion toward those entrusted to their care.