Yale Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program

The Yale Vascular Surgery fellowship is a 2-year program aimed at outstanding graduates of ACGME-accredited general surgery programs who wish to specialize in the field of vascular surgery. Anticipated completion of a general surgery residency and ABS eligibility is a prerequisite. We accept one fellow per year into our program

Fellows will rotate exclusively on vascular surgery rotations and act in a supervisory role for the team of residents, students and APPs. Yale Vascular Surgery also has an Integrated Residency Program into which we match one applicant per year. Importantly, rotations are structured such that there is no rotational overlap between the vascular fellow and the senior vascular surgery resident, which allows each trainee to perform in a leadership role.

Fellows will be expected to oversee consultations, diagnose and manage vascular diseases, and interpret imaging studies. The vascular fellow will master standard endovascular procedures (e.g. angiograms, venograms, and fistulograms) and standard open vascular cases (e.g. arterial exposures, anastomoses, dialysis access, venous procedures). In addition, they will learn more complex procedures such as aortic aneurysm repair (open and endovascular), physician-modified and branched endografts, thoracoabdominal and thoracic aneurysm repair, carotid surgery (endarterectomy and TCAR), lower extremity bypass, peripheral vascular interventions, mesenteric artery intervention, and thoracic outlet decompression. By the completion of their training, the vascular fellow will be adept at clinical decision-making, operative planning and performance, and the longitudinal care of patients with vascular disease. Surgical education is based in progressive autonomy, such that on graduation the fellow is performing the bulk of procedures in an independent fashion.

The Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Yale has rich opportunities for fellows to participate in and lead research projects alongside faculty mentors. While not a requirement for graduation, fellows anticipating academic appointments are strongly encouraged to engage in research, publication, and podium presentation. Fellows will be asked to submit a professional development plan and will have periodic formal meetings with program leadership to assure their progress.

The Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) is one of the largest medical centers in the country and is consistently ranked as one of the top hospital systems in the U.S. YNHH York Campus is a level 1 trauma center, cardiac and transplant center, pediatric hospital and a major regional referral center. YNHH St. Raphael’s is a busy hospital with a large volume of arterial and venous work, dialysis, as well as spine exposure. The Veterans’ Affairs Connecticut Healthcare (VA) serves our veterans across the breadth of vascular disease.

Vascular fellows will learn to perform and interpret vascular laboratory studies throughout their training. In addition, residents will spend a dedicated one-month rotation in vascular ultrasound. Specifically, residents will become adept at interpreting carotid duplex, aortic aneurysm ultrasound, mesenteric and renal duplex, ABI/PVR studies, lower extremity arterial and venous studies. Fellows will qualify for and complete the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) examination.

The Yale Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy has a high volume of both open and endovascular surgery. Our program emphasizes decision-making and progressive autonomy such that as a fellow progress through our program they will learn how to operate independently. Yale New Haven Hospital is a quaternary care facility and receives transferred patients from around the state of Connecticut and adjacent states. We work collaboratively with oncology, transplant, urology, ENT, colorectal and cardiothoracic surgery for complex vascular problems and reconstructions.

• Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, including PMEG
• Thoracic aneurysm and dissection repair
• Catheter based thrombolysis and thrombectomy (arterial and venous)
• Lower extremity interventions (angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy)
• Embolization procedures
• Mesenteric and renal interventions
• Transcarotid arterial revascularization (TCAR)
• Deep venous stenting and reconstruction
• Superficial venous procedures
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Dialysis fistula procedures
• IVC Filter Placement and Retrievals

• Suprainguinal and Infrainguinal Lower Extremity Bypass
• Open aortic aneurysm repair
• Thoraco-abdominal aneurysm repair
• Aortic reconstruction for occlusive disease
• Mesenteric bypass
• Dialysis access placement
• Varicose vein procedures
• Thoracic outlet decompression
• Femoral endarterectomy
• Thrombectomy & Embolectomy
• Vascular trauma reconstruction
• Major venous reconstruction (portal vein, IVC)
• Carotid body tumor resection
• Lower Extremity Amputations
• Upper extremity bypass
• Spine exposure
• Oncovascular surgical reconstructions

We have several conferences through the week:

• Quality and Indications (Wednesday): case based review of patients and analysis of improvement opportunities. We also discuss challenging cases with faculty and trainee interaction
• Didactic (Friday): VSCORE modules with lecture or case based discussion led by faculty
• Complex Aortic (Tuesday, alternating): Multidisciplinary discussion on patients with complex thoraco-abdominal and thoracic pathology
• Journal Club (quarterly): Discussion of pertinent vascular literature

All applications must be made through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and applicants must register with National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). We currently offer 1 training position per year, in a 2-year fellowship training program.