Sharee Wright, MD, is a vascular surgeon who specializes in diabetic limb salvage, aortoiliac disease, aortic aneurysms and carotid disease. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of medical professionals and providing vascular care for the patient population in Charleston and the surrounding areas.
Sharee Wright, MD, has a medical journey marked with triumph over adversity, dedication to community service and a genuine commitment to addressing health problems. As a pioneer in vascular surgery, she continues to inspire the next generation while advocating for equitable access to quality care. Wright completed her surgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2013, followed by a Vascular and Endovascular Surgery fellowship at Temple University in Philadelphia, Penn. in June 2015.
Wright was raised in Bonneau, S.C., and had an unconventional path into vascular surgery. Her interest was sparked during a high school research project on spinal cord injury at MUSC, leading to a fascination with neurosurgery and vascular surgery. After graduating from North Carolina State University, she found her way through the MUSC Post-Baccalaureate Reapplication Education Program (PREP), highlighting her determination to overcome obstacles.
Wright was the only first black female graduate of the general surgery training program. She trained under the mentorship of Jay Robison, MD, Bruce Elliott, MD and Thomas Brothers, MD, during her vascular surgery rotations, creating an environment of support and camaraderie.
For her, Black History Month is a lived experience and a time to highlight the contributions of all who have impacted Black history, regardless of their notoriety.
“I think back to being in school and spending the whole month of February learning different facts about certain people and what they contributed and thinking, ‘how am I going to be somebody that also contributes?’ Maybe not to the point where I have my page in a calendar, but to where someone younger than me or someone 20 years from now can look and say, she did that,” said Wright.
Patient education and advocacy form the cornerstone of Wright's career. Recognizing the disproportion in vascular disease among African Americans, she emphasizes the need for increased representation in the field.
“I tell everybody all our different lived experiences help shape how we go forth every single day. This is a belief that I carry with me every day, and I make sure to impart it to my residents and trainees. By doing so, I hope to equip them with the tools to effectively engage with different patients from various walks of life," she said.
Wright urges Society for Vascular Surgery members to recognize the discrepancy and the disparities between the ethnicities regarding vascular care and to fund the future of vascular health through donations to the SVS Foundation.
“The dollars raised by the SVS Foundation go to support grassroots, feet-on-the-ground efforts to get the care to the people that need it the most. Funding the Foundation also provides resources to those already doing a lot of the work to ensure we keep moving the needle forward,” said Wright.
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.