Jonathan A Higgins, MD, MHCM, RPVI, FACS

Hi, my name is Jonathan Higgins, MD, MHCM, RPVI, FACS, and I am a board-certified vascular surgeon at UF Health Central Florida Campus – Leesburg and The Villages. I earned my medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, and went on to complete a general surgery residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio, followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.

I was inspired to become a doctor because I enjoyed science as a child and meeting people. Medicine allowed me to do both. I chose vascular surgery because my grandmother was a diabetic who lost her leg and I wanted to help prevent others from losing their legs. I want patients to know that when I see them, I am thinking not only about the surgical task at hand, but how to help them become a better version of themselves by embracing lifestyle modifications to help limit and prevent future health-related issues.

I am a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Society of Preventive Cardiologists and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. I believe in a whole patient approach to the management of peripheral vascular disease which encompasses lifestyle modification, endovascular procedures, minimally invasive treatments and operative interventions when necessary. I have given numerous presentations on peripheral vascular disease and have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

My research interests include working on streamlining the process of dialysis access creation for those in need of dialysis within our community. Diseases and treatment options I have expertise in include angiogram and interventions (balloons and stents) for peripheral arterial disease; aortic aneurysm repair, open and endovascular (stent graft); arteriovenous fistula/graft creation, revision and maintenance; carotid endarterectomy; peritoneal dialysis access placement; venous insufficiency treatments (vein stripping and endovenous ablation).

I have a wife and five kids who are the center of my world. When I’m not at work taking care of patients, I’m at home spending time with my family. I have done volunteer surgical missions in my home country of the Bahamas and helped out with the hurricane relief efforts after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. I am a tri-athlete, which includes endurance athlete swim, bike and run. I would like to live to 100 years old and be healthy and functioning at a high level.