I did a two year surgical residency and a year of research in cardiothoracic surgery, but gradually came to the realization that surgery wasn't quite the fulfilling occupation I had hoped. Originally, radiology was my second specialty of choice, and it turned out to be a very good match because the field of vascular and interventional radiology fit very well with my interests and previous training in surgery. It's a very innovative specialty and one that's constantly growing, which has allowed it to stay fresh. I also believe that radiology is and will continue to be vital in the modern practice of medicine and patient care. Most of our procedures are performed with catheters, needles, or other devices inserted through the skin without the patient having to undergo an open operation.
Vascular disease is one of the most important public health issues in the United States.
Interventional radiology has been a leader in pioneering minimally invasive techniques to open arteries throughout the body to allow more blood flow to vital organs and structures without the patient having to undergo a much more extensive operation. However, there were certain limitations to a radiologist's ability to treat people using these techniques because the blockage might be too hard to cross with standard catheters and guidewires. The concept of using laser energy to help open up these blockages in conjunction with established catheter techniques seemed very promising. Investigating these new techniques appealed to me because they were at the forefront of radiologic research. At the time, not much was understood about how lasers worked in the vascular system and what they could do.