Vascular Surgeon Brings Experience and Passion to Local Community

When it came time to select a medical specialty, Washington Township Medical Foundation (WTMF) vascular surgeon, Dr. Rakesh Safaya, decided to specialize in vascular surgery because of its application across many diseases.

“I developed a passion for vascular surgery during my surgical residency at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York, because I saw that with its broad application to the wide variety of diseases, it makes a difference in the lives of many patients,” he says.

“Vascular surgeons are trained in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting all parts of the vascular system (except the heart) from head to foot,” Dr. Safaya notes. He continues, “With vascular surgery, you can help diabetes patients, those with end-stage kidney disease, diseases of the aorta including aneurysms—really all types of vascular disease involving arteries, veins or lymphatic vessels.”

Dr. Safaya began his medical studies at the University of Kashmir in India, followed by a surgical residency. He then moved to the U.S. and started his general surgical residency at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center in New York. From there, he completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

“I was very fortunate to be a Fellow at Baylor College of Medicine to further my vascular surgery training under the distinguished cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey, who led the faculty at Baylor for several decades,” Dr. Safaya adds.

Seeking a better climate, Dr. Safaya moved to the Bay Area in 2007, and established a private practice in Fremont, and in the San Jose area where he also worked with trauma patients. “After several years, I decided I liked working with a group of doctors better than being on my own, so I joined WTMF,” he says.

Dr. Safaya also has taught medical students at various times during his career. While at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, he was the recipient of the Best Teaching Resident Award in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. “Washington Hospital is a good fit for my interests and experience,” he notes. “The Hospital has an excellent record in treating aneurysms and strokes and will soon be a level II adult trauma center.”

Dr. Safaya enjoys challenging himself with long-distance swimming and once equaled a world record by riding a Vespa scooter over the Khardung Pass (nearly 18,000 feet high), the gateway to the Nubra Valley, India.

To learn more about vascular services through Washington Hospital Healthcare System, visit whhs.com/vascular. To learn more about Dr. Safaya, visit the Find a Doctor section at www.mywtmf.com