For individuals battling a wide range of heart and blood flow issues, vascular and endovascular surgeons are critical partners for health – especially since these conditions may be chronic, requiring lifelong attention.
UTMB’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery has expanded considerably to help meet these needs for more area patients. Its most recent addition, Eric Whittington, MD, joined in late 2022 to increase patient access and augment the skillset already present within the team.
“With the sort of skillset that I bring, along with (my colleagues), we're able to do more complex procedures,” he says.
Dr. Whittington, a native of Austin, earned his medical degree at Texas A&M University College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville and vascular surgery fellowship training at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison.
His fellowship training focused on complex lower extremity bypass work, mesenteric renal bypass, and open aortic work. At UTMB he treats the broad field of vascular disease with special interest in both open and endovascular surgical repair of complex aortic pathology, renal and mesenteric ischemia, carotid disease, dialysis access, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
“We can also continue to progress our aortic stenting program, doing modified grafts knowing that if we need to convert to an open repair, we can do that in our hospital system. We don't have to transfer up to the Medical Center in Houston,” he says.
Since arriving at UTMB, Dr. Whittington has observed a high incidence of patients who need dialysis access, as well as individuals with PAD, among UTMB’s patient population. All members of the vascular team are skilled in a wide range of procedures and work collaboratively with other divisions and departments to ensure patients receive the best care.
The vascular team performs its most complex procedures in Galveston, but as the division has grown and has begun taking care of more patients, they have begun to maximize their time there. They are now working to enhance capabilities at Clear Lake Campus to match what is available on the island.
Dr. Whittington is excited to help drive growth at that location and plans to have a consistent presence at Clear Lake as the program grows.
He also wants to help raise awareness of the division’s current capabilities, especially since the team has expanded, and referring providers may not be aware of what services and access are available.
He notes that the team is doing some PAD and dialysis access work at the League City Campus, where the division’s vein and lymphedema clinic (led by Dr. Christine Shokrzadeh and Dr. Ruth Bush) is located. Dr. Shariq Zaidi and Dr. Mitch Cox, the division chief, are also seeing patients in Angleton and Lake Jackson to expand access in that portion of UTMB’s service area.
“Long term, we are trying to have a consistent presence across the board,” Dr. Whittington says.
As he builds his practice at UTMB, Dr. Whittington welcomes a variety of different case types, including endovascular PAD cases and routine dialysis work, while working to grow business for more complex cases. He says he is happy to consult with primary care providers to answer questions and make recommendations for patients with vascular concerns.
 | Eric Whittington, MD, sees patients at the UTMB Health Vascular Surgery Clinics at the UHC in Galveston and in Clear Lake. Learn more about vascular surgery services at UTMB. |