Curriculum

The UTHSC Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Fellowship offers a comprehensive, high-volume training experience with exceptional depth and breadth of clinical material. Our program prepares fellows to function as fully independent, practice-ready vascular surgeons with mastery of open surgical techniques, endovascular intervention, hybrid approaches, longitudinal patient management, research literacy, and high-level imaging interpretation. While we embrace rapid advancements in endovascular therapy, the open surgical experience remains robust, setting our fellows apart nationally. Graduates routinely exceed case minimums across all major categories, including aortic reconstruction, limb salvage, dialysis access, cerebrovascular surgery, venous intervention, and trauma-related vascular repair.

A critical component of our educational philosophy is continuity of care. Fellows participate in weekly outpatient clinics where they evaluate new patients, interpret imaging, manage surveillance studies, prepare operative plans, and participate in long-term postoperative follow-up. This clinic model ensures a deep understanding of outpatient vascular disease, risk stratification, and long-term management—skills essential for independent practice. 

In addition to clinical training, fellows complete a structured RPVI/Vascular Laboratory Curriculum designed to prepare them for the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation exam.

This curriculum includes:

• Comprehensive ultrasound didactics, duplex interpretation, and vascular imaging principles
• Hands-on interpretation of more than 500 vascular studies
• Structured exposure to cerebrovascular, peripheral arterial, venous, abdominal, mesenteric, and dialysis access ultrasonography
• VESAP question bank completion and Pegasus mock exam preparation
• Participation in real-time vascular lab interpretations under faculty supervision