Finding Purpose in Vascular Surgery Through Connection, Care and Mentorship

A Circuitous Path to Vascular Surgery — And Finding Home

Dr. Robyn Macsata was more than a gifted vascular surgeon—she was a teacher at heart, a devoted mentor and a steadfast advocate whose influence continues to shape the specialty she loved.

As the daughter of a cardiac surgeon and a drug and rehabilitation nurse, Dr. Kendal Endicott is well-acquainted with the hard work and determination required in the medical field.

Most people are uncertain about their future when considering what career they want to explore, as it was for Dr. Audra Duncan, who originally planned a career in pediatrics.

"The Adventures of a Middle-Aged Woman in Vascular Surgery" might sound like the title of a personal memoir, but Dr. Britt H. Tonnessen, FACS, uses it as her introduction on social media to succinctly summarize her life.

Edith Tzeng, MD, FACS, DFSVS, is a professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and the chief of vascular surgery at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Leigh Ann O’Banion, MD, RPVI, FACS, FSVS, is an associate professor of surgery at the University of California San Francisco-Fresno. She specializes in advanced limb salvage and superficial venous disease.

Jessica P. Simons is a vascular surgeon at UMass Memorial Healthcare. She received her medical degree from UMass Chan Medical School and has been in practice since 2013. 

Donna Mendes, MD, is a distinguished vascular surgeon with over 48 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1977.