Dr. Gale L. Tang’s path towards medical school allowed her to meet many role models and mentors that solidified her passion for academic vascular surgery. She attended the University of Michigan, enrolling in the combined Undergraduate Medical School program, where her life took an unexpected turn during her third-year rotation in vascular surgery.
“I fell in love with vascular surgery based on that rotation and had to switch all of my plans,” Dr. Tang said.
After her time at Michigan, Dr. Tang continued her training at the University of California, San Francisco, where she honed her skills in general surgery. It was here that she encountered influential figures in vascular surgery, such as program director Dr. Linda Reilly, her research mentor Dr Louis Messina, and her primary mentor, Dr. Joseph Rapp, a Veterans Affairs (VA) vascular surgeon. These interactions deepened her commitment to the field and inspired her to pursue a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Northwestern University, where she trained under mentors including Drs. Bill Pearce, Mark Eskandari, Melina Kibbe and Jon Matsumura.
For the past 16 years, Dr. Tang has held a position at the Seattle Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center while also serving as an affiliate faculty member at the University of Washington.
“I don’t have any plans of moving anytime soon because I love the Pacific Northwest,” said Dr. Tang.
Throughout her career, Dr. Tang has witnessed changes in the field, particularly regarding gender representation. Initially, she noted only two women present in her cohort at a training symposium, including herself. However, she has since observed a significant increase in female trainees in vascular surgery. When she returned years later to the same forum to give a physiology lecture; she was happy to see that about one-third of the room were women and expressed hope that the growth of women in senior leadership roles within the specialty continues.
“Having a more diverse surgeon workforce that reflects patient populations is crucial,” she said.
Vascular surgery requires building long-term relationships with patients, often leading to profound trust as they navigate life-changing procedures.
“Vascular Surgery is different because vascular patients are often your patients for life,” Dr. Tang said. This relationship is vital for Dr. Tang, especially when it comes to urgent or emergent procedures that demand quick explanations and strong patient bonds.
In her advocacy work, Dr. Tang is most interested in addressing access inequities. She supports initiatives funded by the SVS Foundation aimed at improving access to vascular care in underserved rural areas. She’s aware of how difficult it is for patients in rural areas to get appropriate vascular care, underscoring her commitment to outreach programs that strive to bridge this gap.
“As a VA vascular surgeon-scientist, I’m used to wearing a lot of hats; I’m especially proud of volunteering for the SVS to help grow and develop the specialty to meet the ever-evolving needs of vascular patients,” Dr. Tang said.
Her journey is a testament to her dedication to the field of vascular surgery, her patients and the ongoing mission to foster a diverse and inclusive environment within the medical community.
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