With conditions like diabetes and hypertension prevalent among UTMB’s patient population, the expansion of vascular surgery services over the past few years is meeting an important need in the region.
The newest addition to the vascular faculty, Channa Blakely, DO, is proud to be a part of this growth. Having seen the effects of these conditions on family members all her life, she pursued a medical career in hopes of making a difference for others like them.
“Because of my family’s medical history, I knew I wanted to work with patients who were diabetic or had hypertension. It was like I had been speaking about a specialty I just didn’t know the name of,” she says.
As a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Blakely had her eye on surgery. She was not familiar with vascular surgery when she entered medical school, but when she met an integrated vascular resident during her first year, it opened the door to a specialty that felt like a perfect fit.
Although there were no vascular surgeons at her institution or its affiliated hospitals, she sought out connections elsewhere in Pennsylvania. After graduating with her medical degree, she arrived at UTMB to begin her vascular surgery residency.
“The last five years of residency showed me this is exactly where I belong,” Dr. Blakely says.
The experience of working alongside faculty members with diverse backgrounds, interests, and expertise was key in Dr. Blakely’s training. It cemented her decision to pursue vascular, and it made her eager to remain at UTMB following her residency. She joined the department as an Assistant Professor this fall.
Dr. Blakely notes that vascular is a dynamic specialty that treats a wide variety of pathologies, utilizing both open and endovascular techniques. She is excited to have a blended practice, with cases that could include varicose vein treatments, aortic procedures, dialysis access, and much more.
She also feels strongly about bringing high-quality medical care to underserved communities and appreciates UTMB’s widespread presence in the region, noting that she hopes to be part of the forthcoming growth in Angleton. She currently sees patients in all areas of UTMB’s service region, with clinics in Galveston, League City, Clear Lake, and Lake Jackson.
Because vascular conditions often lend themselves to ongoing care, there is ample opportunity to nurture long-term patient-physician relationships – something else Dr. Blakely looks forward to experiencing in her practice.
“The connections that you have with your patients and their families – the longevity of it all in itself is amazing to me,” she says.
Channa Blakely, DO, sees patients at the UTMB Vascular Surgery Clinics at the UHC in Galveston, League City Campus, Clear Lake Campus, and Lake Jackson. Learn more about Vascular Surgery at UTMB Health. |