Austin, TX - March 4th, 2009 

Dr. Scott A. Seidel, M.D. F.A.C.S., a Vascular Surgeon with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons, P.A. (CTVS), recently volunteered to fill a slot in the surgery rotation of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany where soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan are treated.

Dr. Seidel volunteered January 31 - February 14, 2009. He joins 51 other members of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) who have relieved the limited number of military vascular surgeons in military hospitals in the United States and internationally.

 “It was an honor to be part of the outstanding multispecialty surgical team at LRMC,” said Dr. Seidel.  “The dedication and innovation our military medical colleagues have shown during these two wars is truly remarkable.

“Their persistence with continuously refining and improving the care of wounded soldiers will have a lasting impact not just on military medicine, but on the civilian trauma care as well. This experience is one I will never forget.”

Dr. Seidel learned of the volunteer opportunity when he received a request from the Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS), of which he is a member. Knowing the impact he could have on the lives of civilian and military casualty victims, he responded.

“Our members understand how important expert surgeons are to the military in saving the lives and limbs of these young heroes,” said K. Wayne Johnston, SVS past president.

“We were contacted by SVS member (retired) Col. David Gillespie, who, at the time, was the vascular surgery consultant, Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General and a professor of surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center, and our members quickly responded. I am proud to be part of a specialty that unselfishly contributes where they are needed.”

Following in his colleague’s footsteps, Dr. Phillip J. Church, M.D. F.A.C.S, also a vascular surgeon with CTVS, will travel to Germany to volunteer at LRMC from June 6 – June 21, 2009.