On this episode of The Patient Physician podcast, we explore the fantastic changes in vascular surgery over the past 30 years with Dr. Alan Dietzek. We also discuss artificial intelligence and how AI might affect medical training and the future of medicine. We explore the quantity-over-quality dynamic resulting from venture capital's involvement in healthcare practices and how that changes medicine for doctors and patients. Dr. Dietzek shares the importance of laughter and comedy in his daily practice and the idea of a Physician's Health Day so doctors can walk the walk and stay on top of their personal wellness.
On this episode of The Patient Physician podcast, we explore the fantastic changes in vascular surgery over the past 30 years with Dr. Alan Dietzek. We also discuss artificial intelligence and how AI might affect medical training and the future of medicine. We explore the quantity-over-quality dynamic resulting from venture capital's involvement in healthcare practices and how that changes medicine for doctors and patients. Dr. Dietzek shares the importance of laughter and comedy in his daily practice and the idea of a Physician's Health Day so doctors can walk the walk and stay on top of their personal wellness.
MEET OUR GUEST: Alan Dietzek, MD, FACS
Doctor Alan Dietzek has been in practice for 25 years, and has been the Section Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery since his arrival at Danbury Hospital (DH) in 2000. He is also the Medical Director of the DH Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory which under his direction has achieved national accreditation in all 6 areas of testing, one of less than 25 labs in the United States to do so. Prior to coming to DH, Dr Dietzek was at North Shore University Hospital for ten years.
Dr. Dietzek has contributed many peer reviewed articles and chapters to the literature and has spent his entire career teaching medical students, residents and fellows in vascular surgery. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including venous disease. In 2013 Dr Dietzek was promoted to the highest clinical academic rank of Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. For his many contributions to vascular surgery he was elected to the status of Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery, the preeminent vascular society in the world.
Doctor Dietzek has had a particular interest in venous disease and is one of the first physicians in the United States to use radiofrequency (RF) for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins. He is and has been the principle institutional investigator on several national trials including one on the use of RF for venous disease and another on interventions for DVT management.
A graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, Dr. Dietzek went on to receive a medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He did his surgical residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and went on to his vascular fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine under the tutelage of Frank J Veith.
Doctor Dietzek has held leadership positions in local, regional and national vascular societies. He is the past president (2017-2018) of the second largest national vascular society in the US – the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, past president (2015-2017) of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission’s Vein Center division, current Treasurer of the Eastern Vascular Society and the Chair of the American Board of Vascular Surgery. He is board certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.