Department of Surgery - Division of Vascular Surgery
Professor and Head
William R. Flinn, MD
Undergraduate Medical Program
Third Year
Vascular surgery is one of the core components of general surgery, and third-year medical students rotate on the Vascular Surgery Service for periods of two-to-four weeks. Students are specifically instructed on the performance of a thorough vascular examination, including the detection of carotid artery disease, aneurysm disease, and extremity arterial occlusive disease. They are instructed in the application of non-invasive vascular testing, including the bedside Doppler examination, as well as more sophisticated duplex ultrasound scan diagnosis. During their operating room experience, students assist in performing of major vascular reconstructive surgical procedures.
Fourth Year
Fourth-year medical students may elect a one-month rotation on the Vascular Surgery Service. During this time they are given responsibility for initial patient evaluation and assist in the planning of diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management. Students are given advanced instruction in the performance and interpretation of noninvasive vascular testing, as well as evaluation of diagnostic arteriograms. Senior students have increasing responsibility in the operating room to help develop their technical skills. Students are also encouraged to participate in ongoing clinical research.
Graduate Studies
The Division of Vascular Surgery offers a fully accredited two-year residency position in General Vascular Surgery. The first year of this program includes experience in the Vascular Research Laboratory participating in ongoing primary research. The first year of the program also includes dedicated experience in the Non-invasive Vascular Laboratory, where the trainee will acquire skills in the performance and interpretation of all forms of non-invasive diagnostic testing. This preliminary year also includes experience in performing endovascular therapies. The second year of training is the clinical year, which is shared between the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center. The trainee serves as the supervisory resident on the Vascular Surgery Service, and is involved in the diagnostic evaluation, therapeutic decision making, and performance of vascular surgical procedures.