Dr. Ravi Rajani, who grew up in Southeast Michigan, charted his path to becoming a surgeon early in his career by attending medical school at the University of Michigan.
“I wanted to be a doctor first and foremost, and it was important to me that all aspects of medical care, not just surgery, were included in my practice,” said Rajani.
Rajani completed his general surgery training at the Cleveland Clinic. He then pursued a surgical critical care residency and a trauma fellowship at Emory University, followed by a vascular and endovascular surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.
His residency program allowed him to learn from mentors who significantly influenced his decision-making. Although he initially considered specializing in trauma surgery, during his final year of residency, he had a remarkable vascular rotation with Dr. Matthew Eagleton, the current president of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). Rajani credits this experience as a significant factor in his decision to become a vascular surgeon.
One of the reasons he shifted his focus to vascular care was his appreciation for the continuity of care provided in the field. He realized he valued the long-term relationships he could build with patients, allowing him to care for them throughout their lives.
In 2011, he established the vascular surgery program for Emory University at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta's only level-one trauma center.
He recognized the need for a vascular program within the institution early on, as many of his initial surgeries involved arteriovenous grafts in patients who already had catheters or amputations, with no other options available. Additionally, there was a significant number of patients with occluded carotid arteries who had never received care from a vascular specialist.
Over time, Rajani assumed leadership roles at the Heart Vascular Center at Grady and later became the Executive Associate Dean for Grady at the Emory University School of Medicine. He is currently the president of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society (VESS).
“In that capacity, I have a lot of oversight about how we as physicians intersect with the health care system that provides care to disadvantaged populations at a very high level of quality, and that’s been very rewarding,” said Rajani.
Regarding vascular surgery, Rajani would like to acknowledge the SVS Foundation's important role in shaping the specialty's future for its members.
"The commitment to representation and diversity is at the forefront of the SVS Foundation. I hope the initiatives they have introduced recently and will continue to pursue in the future reflect this commitment," said Rajani. He emphasized the need to find ways to represent vascular surgeons from academic institutions and private practices, as well as those from urban and rural areas. He believes this effort begins with ensuring that surgeons from all backgrounds are represented equally.
“I'm proud to be a member of the SVS – an important voice that conveys our consistent commitment to our patients and each other as surgeons. The Society's longstanding commitment to health equity is noble and timeless. Let's continue to stride forward together,” said Rajani.
When you donate to the SVS Foundation, you support Voices of Vascular's important work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more and make your gift today.