An article naming local physician,
Dr. Nicolas J. Mouawad, as one of the top 200 vascular surgeons in the nation is good news for the community.
Mouawad, a vascular surgeon with McLaren Bay Region, says he was surprised and honored to find himself included in
Newsweek’s America’s Best Vascular Surgeon 2024 list.
“It was a real honor and I’m humbled by it,” Mouawad says.
He learned about the list from a friend.
“I didn’t know about it,” Mouawad says. “It was a completely unsolicited, independent review. I had no idea … A friend of mine sent it to me.”
While he’s personally honored, Mouawad says the recognition also is significant for the community. Mouawad sees his inclusion on the list as a nod to the quality services available at
McLaren Bay Region.
It should make the community feel confident about seeking treatment here.
“I think it’s a real testament to us bringing the highest level of quality care to the local community,” Mouawad says.
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Photo courtesy of McLaren Bay RegionDr. Mouawad says vascular disease is on the rise as the population ages. Fortunately, the number of treatments also is rising.He understands why some of his patients ask about going to medical centers affiliated with universities or in larger cities. But he also tells them it’s not necessary.
Mouawad trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, and at The Ohio State University. Many of his colleagues also trained at prestigious institutions around the world.
“A lot of us trained at these larger centers and we’re offering the same care that technically would have happened there. There’s no need to travel two, three, four hours to make it down to some of these larger academic centers.”
Mouawad also argues that in many cases local care is better.
“I think we’re more approachable, more personable, and more available. There’s better access to care,” he says. “Having this national recognition really is, from a personal perspective, it’s a validation of the kind of care I want to be able to provide.”
With quality services available here, Mouawad encourages people to take care of themselves and keep up with routine screenings.
“When I came here 10 years ago, a lot of the procedures that we do now were not available here. Some of the procedures didn’t exist at all,” he says.
Mouawad says vascular surgery has made significant advances in the last several years. As chief of vascular surgery at McLaren Bay, Mouawad has worked to see that the latest procedures and services are available here.
As people live longer, more of us are facing health problems. Because blood runs to all parts of the body, vascular surgeons treat health concerns in every part of the body.
“If your heart is pumping for so many year … at some point, it’s like a motor in a car. After awhile, it tends to wear out a little,” Mouawad says. “It’s a testament that in medicine we’re doing better. Our population is living longer. Care is great. But as you get older, there are diseases that come with age.”
The good news is that lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery can reduce the impact vascular problems have on your life.
“It’s nice to know that our community is getting just as good of care, if not better, than some of these larger places would be. I was proud to see that,” Mouawad adds.
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Graphic courtesy of McLaren Bay Region“I want to say that you to the community for trusting us with their health care. It’s their most precious asset. They can go anywhere they want. For them to be able to stay local and know that from a national ranking that we are in the highest of the national ranking should give them ease and comfort.”
Mouawad also encourages patients to call a doctor at the first sign of problems.
“We’re available all the time, so don’t neglect any of your symptoms,” he says.
About the Newsweek list
To create the list of the top 200 vascular surgeons in the country try, Newsweek evaluated publicly available clinical data and quality metrics along with a survey of medical experts.
Newsweek rated Mouawad as being high performing in procedures that improve blood flow in carotid arteries and to the legs, and treatments that treat peripheral vascular disease and varicose veins.
About vascular surgery
Vascular surgeons perform specialized procedures to relieve quality-of-life-limiting symptoms of common, potentially life-threatening conditions. Damaged blood vessels can lead to life-threatening conditions such as strokes or aneurysms