Clinical Services/Patient Care

The Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine is comprised of faculty members with vast expertise in vascular and endovascular surgery. (For a complete listing of the division's faculty members, please refer to the Faculty Section of this website.)

The division prides itself on accepting the most challenging cases from its vast referral base, which extends throughout North, Central, and South America. Over 40 percent of our patients are referred from other vascular surgical practices because they need the additional resources provided at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The busiest medical center in North America, UM/Jackson offers a large array of technologies and infrastructure not available to traditional vascular surgical practices. Many of the Vascular Surgery Division's patients already have undergone procedures near home and are referred for revisions. The vascular diseases treated include those caused by atherosclerosis, vasculitis, aneurysmal disease, venous disease, lymphatic disease, and thoracic outlet disease. The division routinely achieves successful outcomes with cerebrovascular, aortic, renal, visceral, and extremity arterial reconstructions. Operations performed include:

  • Carotid endarterectomy
  • Vertebral artery reconstruction
  • Subclavian, axillary, and brachial artery reconstruction
  • Arch aneurysm stent graft (endovascular) repair
  • Branch arch vessel reconstruction
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (surgery or stent graft)
  • Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair
  • Renal artery revascularization by surgery or stent
  • Visceral artery bypass
  • Suprarenal aortic aneurysm repair
  • Infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair (surgery or stent graft)
  • Iliac artery aneurysm repair (surgery or stent graft)
  • Iliac artery bypass or endovascular repair
  • Lower extremity revascularization
  • Balloon angioplasty of appropriate vessels
  • Thoracic outlet surgery
  • Lymphedema surgery
  • Sub-fascial endoscopic perforator surgery for venous insufficiency
  • Dialysis access surgery
  • Treatment of gangrene
  • Varicose vein procedures
  • Trauma surgery
  • Temporal artery bypass surgery
  • Arteriovenous malformation surgery

The division operates in a $1 million endovascular suite completed in 2001 that offers all the imaging capabilities necessary to perform high tech endovascular procedures. The division is composed of surgeons and interventionalists proficient in catheter technology. Since all modern modalities are available, there is no emphasis on any one technique over another solely because of lack of scope, expertise, or availability. As a result the patient is presented with all alternatives objectively.

The University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center's accredited vascular laboratory performs more studies annually than any hospital in South Florida (between 11,000 and 14,000). It is equipped with the newest Duplex Ultrasound Imagers (eight acquired in 2001).

To encourage efficiency, and the concept of "one stop" healthcare delivery, patients are asked to bring all appropriate studies and data with them on their first visit so a decision can be reached immediately and a plan developed.

If diagnostic angiography is necessary we are able to offer it at the same time as intervention, in most cases. This avoids delays and repeat visits to the hospital.
A large skilled intensive care unit team, and a talented anesthesia team support the division. After surgery, all rehabilitation options are available on site.

The Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery is a core member of the University of Miami Cardiovascular Center; expertise in cardiology, neurology, hematology, physical medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and other sub-specialties is readily available and made full use of in the team approach we give to our patients. Nearly all major cases are discussed in a four-hour weekly multidisciplinary conference, which also includes participants from our community partners. UM/Jackson has highlighted this conference in its promotional ads on television and radio.

The attending surgeon staff is supplemented by our physician's assistant, Erica Williams-Haye, P.A., who can be reached at 305-585-6213. This exceptional support supplements our office staff composed of four additional bilingual employees to assist in your care and to facilitate communication with your referring physician.

The division currently sees patients in a variety of clinic locations, including the outpatient clinic at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics, Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Miami Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Cedars Medical Center, and soon at Health South in Coral Gables.