Shaping the future of surgery
Alissa Brotman, DO
“I became a surgeon, and I’m raising two daughters who through osmosis realize that it’s discipline, passion and patience that make dreams come to fruition. It is this same principle that I apply to the medical students aspiring to become surgeons.”
When Alissa Brotman, DO, treats vascular disease, she’s not just performing life-changing surgeries – she’s inspiring the next generation of surgeons. As an associate professor of surgery, Brotman leads the medical surgery clerkship in a program she helped establish at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. In her dual role as Chair of Surgery and Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, she’s also breaking barriers and demonstrating that women can thrive and lead in thishistorically male-dominated field.
“When I first entered vascular surgery, there were only 6% females, and now we’re up to about 30%,” says Dr. Brotman. “I became a surgeon, and I’m raising two daughters who through osmosis realize that it’s discipline, passion and patience that make dreams come to fruition. It is this same principle that I apply to the medical students aspiring to become surgeons.”
Dr. Brotman is a graduate of Harvard University and the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (then UMDNJ). She specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases related to the vascular system, which includes the arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels, performing a variety of procedures in her office.
The program at Rowan-Virtua SOM features a clinic where patients may get checked for arterial or venous disease, with 99 percent of treatments performed right in the office. The results can be life changing.
“I had a patient in her 20s who was trying to lose weight,” says Dr. Brotman. “She had a lot of varicose veins, one of the worst cases I have seen in someone her age. This was preventing her from exercising properly. Her legs felt heavy. By the time her treatment was done, she had lost 80 lbs. Her legs looked and felt great, and she could exercise. It was a tremendous boost to her confidence and overall quality of life.”
In another example, a patient asked for help after failed attempts by other clinicians. “She had a wound on her shin for years and had even gotten vein treatments, but it wasn’t resolving,” says Dr. Brotman. “We did an ultrasound that revealed a vein under the wound bed. Once we closed that vein, the wound was able to heal within months. She was able to go to work without worrying about her leg for the first time in four years.”
Dr. Brotman looks forward to exciting new developments in the field. “From a venus standpoint, there has been research on putting a valve into non-working veins. Right now, our only option is to shut veins down or remove them. If there’s a deep vein, we can stent or potentially bypass it. Being able to put in a valve that would correct the blood flow is game-changing.”
Dr. Brotman and her team offer advanced treatments at the clinic in Stratford. They will add an additional office at Rowan Medicine’s Mt. Laurel location this fall.
Signs of Vascular Disease You Shouldn’t Ignore
Bulging Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are often seen just beneath the skin, especially in the legs. These veins may appear dark purple or blue and can become swollen, twisted, itchy or even painful. When they swell, it indicates they’re not functioning properly.
Leg Pain
Cramping or pain in your legs while walking could signal vascular disease. If the discomfort eases when you stop moving, it may mean your arteries are narrowing, limiting blood flow to your legs.
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