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Mikel Sadek, MD

Director, NYU Langone Vein Center
New York University Langone Health
New York City, New York, United States

I was always fascinated with the human body, having grown up in a household of physicians. It was more than intellectual fascination—I knew that as a doctor I’d be able to lead a life of service. Moreover, I felt that if I could save one life in the course of my career, I would feel fulfilled.

During medical school, I realized that surgeons are frequently the last line of defense between life and death. My lifelong profession was decided. I began my surgical training at NYU Langone Health, in 2004.

My interests drove me to specialize in vascular surgery, treating people with peripheral arterial and venous disease, a condition affecting blood vessels. Part of the appeal was NYU Langone’s increasing use of minimally invasive endovascular techniques to repair blood vessels.

I saw that the use of these minimally invasive treatments enabled people who had aortic aneurysms—bulging, weakened areas in the aorta—to go home the next day. Patients who had more invasive, traditional surgeries typically would have to stay in the hospital for a week and often experienced complications.

The use of minimally invasive techniques inspired me initially to research aortic aneurysms and develop a more thorough understanding of vascular surgery. Since then, I’ve developed a particular interest in chronic venous insufficiency—weakened vein walls and valves—and in studying treatments that improve patients’ quality of life and advance the field of vascular surgery.

As a clinician, I want to create an environment in which I can have an open and clear dialogue with my patients. Treatment is often more successful when patients can participate in their own care and are educated by their physicians. Overall, I strive to provide the most effective and advanced combination of medical, endovascular, and open surgical techniques, and the AVF has brought me close to that goal.

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