Carlos Bechara, MD, DFSVS, was named chief of vascular surgery at Rush in January 2025. Dr. Bechara is a board-certified vascular surgeon who brings a wealth of experience in open and endovascular surgery. He was selected by the society of Vascular Surgery as Surgical Coach by his peers to help young surgeons. He completed his residency in general surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine and his fellowship in vascular surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
Q: What led you to choose vascular surgery as your specialty?
Bechara: What drew me to vascular surgery was the immediate, life-saving impact we have on patients. These are patients who come in with severe circulatory issues— sometimes on the brink of death — and we’re able to intervene quickly and completely change the trajectory of their condition. Whether it's restoring blood flow in a limb, preventing a stroke, or repairing a life-threatening aneurysm, the ability to make a real difference in such a short time is incredibly rewarding.
There’s something powerful about seeing a patient arrive in critical condition and leave the hospital well. I’ve had so many patients share their stories with me after the fact — stories about returning to their lives, their families, their work — all because of one procedure. That’s what keeps me going.
Q: Beyond providing excellent clinical care, what are your goals for vascular surgery at Rush?
Bechara: One of my major goals is to expand our involvement in clinical research. Since finishing my fellowship, I’ve been deeply involved in research, and I’d like to bring more clinical trials to Rush — especially those that help answer the tough questions we still debate in vascular surgery. These trials not only advance science, they also give our patients access to cutting-edge care.
Another top priority is improving quality and outcomes. That means not just saying patient care comes first but actually backing that up with data. I believe in closely reviewing our numbers — where we excel, where we can improve — and building systems that help us learn from both. That’s how we deliver better care year over year.
Q: Are there any specific procedures or innovations you’re excited to highlight?
Bechara: Yes, one recent case stands out. We were the first center in the Midwest to use thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) with CO² flushing to treat a thoracic aneurysm. It was designed to reduce the risk of stroke, and the patient we treated did extremely well.
TEVAR is a highly advanced procedure that’s best handled by experienced specialists at top-tier hospitals like Rush. I’ve treated many patients with serious conditions, such as aortic aneurysms and dissections. What matters most is making sure our patients have access to the latest technology that can lower the risk of serious complications, including stroke. This is just one example of how we’re pushing the field forward.
At the end of the day, it all comes back to the patient. Whether it’s through clinical care, research or education, I want everything I do to help improve outcomes and expand what’s possible in vascular surgery.
