Dr. Cynthia Shortell will lead the effort to establish an integrated Center of Excellence in vascular medicine and will further enhance Duke Surgery's clinical and educational programs.

In addition to Dr. Shortell's expertise in treating varicose veins, she is known for performing both open and minimally invasive surgery of the aorta and the lower extremities, as well as carotid endarterectomies, in which surgeons open blocked arteries that supply the brain with blood.

She also has research interests in the use of clot-busting and blood-thinning drugs for the treatment of blocked blood vessels and for the prevention of stroke.

Recently, she sat down with us for a brief Q&A.

Where did you go to med school? Undergraduate school?
I went to Cornell University Medical College. My undergraduate degree is from Dartmouth College.

How long have you been a Duke physician?
I’ve been at Duke since 2005.

Where did you work prior to coming to Duke?
I previously worked at the University of Rochester.

Have you received any awards or honors? Do you sit on any boards or journals?
I have received honors as Distinguished Member of the Society for Vascular Surgery Reviewer for the Journal of Vascular Surgery, and Vascular. I am a member of the Committee on Women’s Issues for the Society for Vascular Surgery.

What led you into the practice of aesthetic surgery?
The technical and intellectual challenges of working with blood vessels, and the fact that we take care of our patients on a long term basis.

What are your areas of specialty and how have things changed since you entered the field?
I specialize in all aspects of vascular disease, but particularly enjoy endovascular therapies and treating patients with venous disease. The major change in vascular surgery since I entered the field is the introduction of minimally invasive therapies for vascular disease. This has changed things so dramatically.

Are you involved with any clinical trials or research studies?
I am involved in a large number of research projects. The subjects include the treatment of varicose veins, treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, use of stents to treat aortic aneurysms, outcomes research in aortic aneurysm repair, and trends in surgical training.

How will your research contribute to the field of medicine?
As with any research, I hope that my work will help patients receive the best treatment possible for their disease, as well as to improve the way we educate our future surgeons.

What are some things you have discovered during the course of your research?
I have determined that the newer ways of treating varicose veins are safe and effective, and that a "team approach" improves outcomes.

What do you love about your work?
I love the challenge of vascular surgery, both from a technical and intellectual standpoint. Also, with the new technologies that are becoming available, I am always expanding my horizons. I also love the patients; from the sickest patients with severe problems of the arterial system to the patients with spider veins, I feel like I have the opportunity to make someone’s life a little better every day.

Do you have any special stories to tell about your experience as a physician?
Once when I was performing surgery on a woman’s carotid artery (which supplies blood to half the brain), she began to talk about how much she hated woman doctors. She was sedated, and didn’t remember it later, but we all got a good laugh about it. Before and after that, she was always very polite and respectful to me, and I don’t think she ever knew what she had said during her surgery! She recovered very nicely, too.

What do you think sets Duke Aesthetic Center apart from the other aesthetic practices in the area?
I am relatively new to the area, so it’s hard for me to talk about specifics. But in general I think that having practitioners from Duke, who all share a commitment to excellence in patient care, research, and teaching, has got to be an incredible asset over other centers.

What are your personal hobbies or interests?
My main interest is my family; I have three children, so when I am not working, I try to be with them and my husband. As a family, we enjoy horseback riding, soccer, hiking, and movies.