TAKE 5 with Jacek Paszkowiak, MD, FACS, a WakeMed Vascular Surgeon

Jacek Paszkowiak, MD, FACS, is a vascular surgeon practicing in Cary who is passionate about helping patients overcome vascular disease through early intervention and advanced treatment

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Poland 51 years ago and have lived in the United States for 25 years now. I met my wife, Barbara, on my first day of medical school where she was also studying to be an internal medicine doctor. We have two children — my son is enrolled in medical school back in Poland where I graduated, and my daughter is a junior at Cardinal Gibbons who is also considering a career in medicine. I enjoy skiing, long-distance mountain hiking and going sailing with my kids.

Q: When did you know you wanted to become a doctor, and why were you drawn specifically to vascular medicine?

My older brother is a family medicine doctor in rural Oklahoma, and I decided to follow in his footsteps back when I was in high school. My sister is also a vascular surgeon in South Carolina. I was drawn to vascular surgery because it is both challenging and rewarding at the same time. As a vascular surgeon, I get to work with patients for many years of their lives, which gives me the chance to create very personal bonds. At the same time, many of our patients suffer from multiple health problems — which can make the care we deliver incredibly complex. As such, we have the benefit of collaborating with both patients and an extended team to ensure we’re delivering the best care.

Q: What do you want people to know about vascular disease? 

Vascular disease is a systemic disease that can affect every single vessel (e.g., veins and arteries) in a patient’s body, and there are approximately 60,000 miles of vessels in the human body. Because there’s not as much awareness around vascular disease as there is around heart disease. Educating patients about what it is and its signs and symptoms is important. We know that early detection and treatment can help patients live longer, healthier lives and prevent serious problems such as amputation, aneurysm, stroke, etc.

Q: How has treatment for vascular disease evolved? 

Vascular disease is caused by multiple risk factors — so it’s critical to treat the underlying disease. Even though I’m a surgeon, my goal is to prevent the need for procedures by first slowing down or stopping the progression of the disease. At WakeMed, our treatment model for patients with vascular disease has evolved significantly over the years. Today, we’re working more collaboratively with other specialists involved in a patient’s care to provide a comprehensive approach that can prevent the worsening of the disease and its related symptoms. On the procedural side, we have a wide range of minimally-invasive options and open surgical techniques to provide patients with better quality of life and optimal health.

This blog is adapted from the summer 2024 edition of Heart to Heart Magazine. Subscribe today.