At Rowan Medicine, one surgeon is leading the way to the future of vascular medicine
Alissa Brotman, DO Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon-Chair of Surgery Rowan-Virtua SOM Associate Professor of Surgery
As a student and surgical resident over 2 decades ago, Alissa Brotman, DO, was captivated by the rapid technological advances in vascular surgery.
When she arrived at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine last year, it was to realize a long-held vision: establishing a leading vascular program that not only delivers top-notch patient care and trains future leaders, but also shapes the future of vascular medicine.
“This has been an incredible opportunity,” says Dr. Brotman, a South Jersey native and magna cum laude graduate from Harvard University. “Everything here at the venous center is cutting edge and now fully operational. We can perform 99 percent of treatments in the office – while creating more opportunities for teaching and implementing clinical trials.”
Vein disease is often mistakenly thought to be just a cosmetic issue, but there is much more complexity involved, Dr. Brotman explains. Venous insufficiency, a condition where veins struggle to send blood from the legs back to the heart, can lead to a multitude of symptoms and complications. These include restless legs, leg discomfort and cramps, swelling, and soreness after exercise. While these conditions can significantly disrupt daily life, successful treatments offer substantial relief and improve overall quality of life.
“Having this center connected with Rowan-Virtua SOM allows us to use state-of-the-art techniques and also to push our resources to potentially develop new procedures to improve venous care,” says Dr. Brotman. “It’s a great environment for teaching, achieving clinical success, and performing research.”
“Everything here at the venous center is cutting edge and now fully operational. We can perform 99 percent of treatments in the office – while creating more opportunities for teaching and implementing clinical trials.”
During her training, including her years as a fellow in vascular surgery at Mt. Sinai-Englewood, the rise of the internet and technology led to a push for minimally invasive techniques, offering Dr. Brotman opportunities to continuously adapt and improve vein treatment procedures. Today, she treats both simple and complex vein disease conditions, including pelvic congestion syndrome and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
The specialty, she says, combines the best of all worlds. It requires both a deep understanding of medical science and the ability to relate to patients on a personal level.
“In venous disease, it’s crucial to determine the source of the problem, such as identifying where a varicose vein is causing trouble,” Dr. Brotman says. “When treating a patient, it’s important to build a strong rapport to discuss treatment options effectively.”
Surgery itself requires an artistic touch, she adds. “It’s essential to respect and carefully manage both the disease process and its cosmetic aspects.”
As a pioneer in her field, particularly as a woman, Dr. Brotman reflects on the progress in leadership within vascular surgery.
“We’ve come a long way from when there were only 6% females in my training to now, where it’s about 30-40%. However, in leadership positions, we’re still lacking,” she says. “It’s important to have that space and be able to lead. I was very fortunate to be elected president of the New Jersey Society of Vascular Surgery, where there was only one other female president in its 43-year history.”
Actively involved in the Society, she helped start a women’s steering committee in 2022. “We just presented a trauma series,” she notes. “I also serve on the video committee within the society. Looking forward, having more women in leadership within vascular surgery is the next step, and I’m trying to pave the way for future generations.”
