As population most at risk for vascular disease surges, shortages leave people in 2,400+ U.S. counties without a vascular surgeon
ROSEMONT, Ill., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than 75 million people in the United States live in a county without a vascular surgeon, according to new data released today by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The findings reveal an alarming gap in access to care just as more Americans than ever reach the age when the risk of vascular disease is highest. By 2030, all baby boomers will be at least 65.
The ACS Surgical Workforce Mapping Tool, developed in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Surgery, for the first time shows the distribution of vascular surgeons practicing in each county across the United States. Drawing on a single data source, the tool compares surgeon supply across 12 surgical specialties and all 3,144 counties. The tool identifies 4,685 vascular surgeons practicing nationwide, an average of 1.4 per 100,000 people, and shows why access must be measured where patients actually live. While 290 hospital referral regions include at least one vascular surgeon, 2,320 counties within those regions do not. Broad regional averages can hide the local gaps that determine whether a patient gets timely care.
The shortage hits hardest where the need is greatest. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), one of the most common vascular diseases, affects up to 12 million Americans and leads to nearly 150,000 lower-leg amputations each year, many of which are preventable with timely specialist care. Yet states with the highest amputation risk, including Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, have below-average vascular surgeon supply, and 93% of rural counties have no vascular surgeon at all.
“While these findings are startling, they are not surprising,” said Samantha Minc, MD, MPH, vascular surgeon at Duke University. “Rural and underserved communities face both a higher burden of vascular disease and fewer resources to support the specialists who treat it. Vascular surgeons belong in these communities and are essential partners in caring for people with PAD and other vascular conditions.”
Vascular surgeons are also vital to the prevention of disease, critical to multidisciplinary care teams and a driver of economic impact. When vascular surgeons are readily available, and have a supportive program, hospital systems can expand service offerings, reduce transfers, and strengthen their reputation as regional centers of excellence.
“We applaud ACS for developing this critical data, and the spotlight it places on what needs to happen as we grow our specialty and support the existing workforce,” said Linda Harris, MD, DFSVS, SVS President. “To close these gaps, we’re working to attract more surgical residents and fellows, elevate the importance of vascular surgeons currently in practice, and build care teams that extend our reach into the rural and underserved communities that need us most.”
With county-level data now available, communities, health systems and policymakers can see exactly where vascular surgeons are needed and direct investments where they will help patients most. SVS will use these findings to advocate for expanded GME residency positions, education and funding incentives for practice in rural and underserved communities, and policies that support the long-term recruitment and retention of vascular surgeons, so the workforce grows in step with the population at risk.
About SVS
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research, and public awareness. The organization was founded in 1946 and currently has a membership of more than 6,300. SVS membership is recognized in the vascular community as a mark of professional achievement.
Media Contact
Sarah Jeziorski
312-334-2317
SVSPress@vascularsociety.org
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SOURCE Society for Vascular Surgery
