Hi, my name is Benjamin Jacobs, MD, and I am an assistant professor in the University of Florida Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. I am board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery and am a member of the American Venous Forum, the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery and the Society for Vascular Surgery.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in religious studies from Eastern Michigan University, and my master’s degree in biomedical sciences and medical degree from the University of Toledo. I completed my internship and general surgery residency at the University of Michigan Health System, followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. During my training, I received multiple honors and awards, including the Bryant-Arnold Teaching Award from the Frederick A. Coller Surgical Society and the Greenfield Research Award. While completing my general surgery residency, I spent two years of academic development time in a basic science lab studying deep vein thrombosis.

My interest in a career in vascular surgery began in medical school. I felt a connection to vascular patients and a call to care for patients from diverse backgrounds dealing with such a complex and difficult disease. The challenge of treating a disease with such a detrimental effect on quality of life and happiness is what drives me every day.

I treat the full spectrum of vascular disease, including aneurysm, cerebrovascular disease (open and minimally invasive techniques), peripheral arterial and venous disease. However, I think of myself primarily as a limb salvage surgeon – I treat wounds on the legs due to arterial or venous pathology. Conditions I treat include peripheral vascular disease, critical limb ischemia, diabetic foot wounds, venous stasis ulcers and post-thrombotic syndrome.

I specialize in complex “minimally invasive” (endovascular) therapies for arterial and venous peripheral disease. I have a unique practice in the reopening of occluded venous stents that may have been unable to be reopened elsewhere. I am the lead physician for our vein practice, treating varicose veins, lower extremity swelling and pain, and venous insuffiency and venous stasis with the latest technology, including radiofrequency ablation. I have an entire clinic dedicated to venous disease and vein patients once a week.

My clinical and research interests include venous thromboembolic disease, acute deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, pathophysiology of varicose veins and nanoparticle-directed venous therapy. I am the site PI for Promise II and Promise III Clinical Trials for Deep Vein Arterialization for Limb Salvage and “no-option” Critical Limb Ischemia. This trial may offer hope to patients with peripheral vascular disease facing amputation who may have been told nothing could be done to revascularize the limb.

I want my current and future patients to know I try to be as clear, understandable and human as possible. I remember very well what it was like to not know anything about vascular disease and to hear words like “stent” and “endovascular” and think, “what the heck is this guy talking about?” While these diseases and operations may be commonplace to providers, it’s the first time it’s happening to our patients and it’s important for us to remember that.

I was born in the state of Michigan and am a second-generation vascular surgeon. When I’m not practicing medicine, I enjoy reading science fiction novels.