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INFORMATION FOR

    Britt Tonnessen, MD

    Associate Professor of Surgery (Vascular)
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    Additional Titles

    Associate Program Director, Vascular Residency, Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy

    Associate Professor, Surgery

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    About

    Titles

    Associate Professor of Surgery (Vascular)

    Associate Program Director, Vascular Residency, Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy; Associate Professor, Surgery

    Biography

    Dr. Tonnessen graduated from Brown University with honors in Neuroscience in 1994. She subsequently received her medical degree at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She completed a residency in general surgery and fellowship in vascular surgery at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, and has been a practicing vascular surgeon since 2006. Dr. Tonnessen is board certified in general and vascular surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

    Dr. Tonnessen has expertise in both open surgery and minimally invasive "endovascular" procedures for treating vascular disease. Dr. Tonnessen is also the co-author of the 5th and 6th editions of The Handbook of Patient Care Vascular Diseases, a popular "pocket" book for students and residents.

    Last Updated on April 07, 2025.

    Appointments

    • Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy

      Associate Professor on Term
      Primary

    Other Departments & Organizations

    • Surgery
    • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Program
    • Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy
    • Yale Medicine
    • Yale New Haven Health System

    Education & Training

    Fellow
    Ochsner Clinic (2006)
    Resident
    Ochsner Clinic (2004)
    MD
    Mayo Clinic (1999)
    BSc (Hon)
    Brown University, Neuroscience (1994)

    Research

    Research at a Glance

    Yale Co-Authors

    Frequent collaborators of Britt Tonnessen's published research.

    Publications

    2026

    See All Publications

    Clinical Trials

    Current Trials

    Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

    Honors

    • honor

      Top Doctor 2020

      10/15/2020Other AwardConnecticut Magazine

    Clinical Care

    Overview

    Britt H. Tonnessen, MD, FACS is a vascular surgeon who treats patients with a variety of conditions that affect the arteries and veins, including carotid disease, peripheral vascular disease, venous disease, and thoracic outlet syndrome. As a vascular expert, she cares for older patients with hardening of the arteries, as well as younger patients who may develop different types of problems, such as varicose veins or chronic wounds on the legs.

    Dr. Tonnessen says the decision to become a doctor came naturally to her. “I wanted to help people. It's as simple as that.” She was inspired by excellent mentorship and early exposure to vascular surgery as a medical student at the Mayo Clinic in the 1990s.

    She ultimately became a vascular surgeon for three reasons. “One, you have continuity of patient care over time—these are patients you follow for many years. Two, the science behind the work I do is logical and interesting. Three, minimally invasive “endovascular” techniques have really revolutionized the field," she says. "When I was an intern, all of the patients had large incisions on their abdomens. Traditional surgery is still appropriate for some, but now we can do many procedures through a small puncture in the groin or even in the foot.”

    Vascular surgery can be demanding, but there are many rewards, Dr. Tonnessen says. “It's so gratifying for me to get a cold foot back to a warm foot (because circulation has improved), to relieve pain for someone whose leg has been swollen for years, or to repair someone's potentially life-threatening aneurysm through a couple of small groin punctures," she says. "In medicine, we're never looking for a thank you, but the satisfaction from patients whose lives were transformed has made it all worthwhile.”

    Clinical Specialties

    Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

    Fact Sheets

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    Board Certifications

    • Vascular Surgery

      Certification Organization
      AB of Surgery
      Original Certification Date
      2008

    Yale Medicine News

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    Get In Touch

    Contacts

    Email
    Academic Office Number
    Appointment Number
    Office Fax Number
    Clinic Fax Number
    Mailing Address

    Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy

    330 Cedar Street, Boardman 204

    New Haven, CT 06510

    United States

    Administrative Support

    Locations

    • Patient Care Locations

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