Vascular Doctor Spotlight: Mina Tawfik, MD

Q: Why did you decide to become a vascular doctor?

A: The thing that intrigued me the most about vascular surgery was the relationship between technology and innovation. We’ve seen quite a bit of innovation in this field—even in the last 10-20 years. We went from being one of the most maximally invasive fields to doing similar procedures with really good outcomes in a minimally invasive fashion. In some cases, we can fix the same problem for the patient with two needle sticks. That was very eye opening for me. That makes the field exciting—what’s around the corner; what’s the latest and greatest ways of doing things. There are so many tools at your disposal to solve a problem. The creativity and innovation within the field of vascular surgery mirror no other field in medicine. It’s an exciting time to be a vascular surgeon.

Q: What are the conditions/treatments of your primary focus?

A: The biggest thing we do is treat arteries and veins in the legs: things like peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, varicose veins, etc. But we are growing that as a practice and treating patients with carotid disease, aortic aneurisms, patients who need bypasses that can’t be done minimally invasively, and dialysis access patients. It’s pretty much anything that has to do with blood vessels in the body. That’s what we treat. And it’s also about treating a patient based on what makes the most sense for them and their situation. If a patient is younger, a more durable option could be a more invasive option. But if I’m looking at that same patient 20 years down the line, less may be more.

Q: How do you develop strong and trusting relationships with patients?

A: I think the most important part is listening to them. You can’t get to the root of the problem without listening. The patient may be telling you, “Hey, Doc. I walk and my leg goes to sleep. Other providers have told me that I’ve got sciatica or a bad hip or knee.” You must ascertain what they’re saying, dive in, and really try to figure out what the root cause is. On top of that, I’ve always been a straight shooter with my patients—the good, bad, and ugly. It doesn’t bother me saying, “Where you’re at right now, you need to lose weight. I’m looking at you as a whole, and your weight and smoking history are a problem. I’d like for you to be on this earth longer.” It’s a situation where I’m trying to solve problems in real time, but I’m also looking at longevity for that patient. It’s also never a one-and-done thing. Once you meet a vascular patient, they are your patient for life. They need to be watched once or twice a year to make sure everything is stable. I want to show them that I do want to take care of them. It’s my responsibility. 

Q: What most excites you about your job and contributions?

A: I love seeing people get better from whatever symptoms they are having. For example, we deal with a lot of venous and arterial wounds. To do intervention and see the wounds and swelling go down—that’s exciting. I love seeing the wounds heal or having a patient tell me, “I can walk further now. I used to not be able to walk to the mailbox, and now I’m doing laps around the neighborhood.”

Q: What about StrideCare sets you and your team apart?

A: It’s the way everything is structured. You can take care of patients in a timely fashion. It’s a large enough company with enough providers where we can, for lack of a better term, just make it happen for the patient. The ability to have resources and support that make doing your job easier is important. You can focus on what you need to focus on, which is taking care of the patient.

Q: As a vascular doctor, what are you most passionate about professionally?

A: One of the main goals for me is the patient’s longevity and quality of life. I find that very rewarding—to change their outcome and actually see the process of change. The things people wish upon one another are health and a happy life. Health and time are arguably the most valuable commodities we have, and it is an honor to get to help people improve their health and have more time with the people they love.

Q: Would you share a favorite patient success story?

A: I had a patient at a previous job. She was younger and had gone through a series of unfortunate events. She just had COVID, delivered a baby, etc. So, she had all these reasons to have clots in her veins, and it was very difficult to take care of her because it was right in the middle of the pandemic. But I built a great relationship with her and got her the help she needed. And when it was all said and done, she happened to text me one day and said, “I just finished running a 5K.” She ended up sending me a picture of her crossing the finish line. That was a great feeling.

Q: How does your past work experience contribute to your work as a vascular doctor?

A: Coming out of training and standing on your own two feet are completely different things. You get trained to treat conditions—this is the problem, and this is the solution. But being in practice, you’re seeing the whole picture. You’re seeing avenues you haven’t seen before—what it takes to get someone on the table to get the procedure they need to feel better. That’s the clinical side that most people develop at a very fast rate outside of training. It’s a big part of the job.

Q: What are your passions, interests, and hobbies outside of helping patients? 

A: I’m very much a traveler; I love to travel whenever possible. I also love going to concerts and various music events. I love going to the gym, and I enjoy cars and technology. I’m also big into fine dining—I love a good meal.