USA Welcomes New Vascular Surgeon

University Surgical Associates is thrilled to announce the addition of Neelima Katragunta, MD to our team of highly trained surgical specialists. Dr. Katragunta specializes in comprehensive care for vascular disease, including aneurysms, carotid artery disorders, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), dialysis access, and venous disorders. Dr. Katragunta brings cutting edge vascular expertise to our region. She has worked as a vascular surgeon at the world-renowned Stanford Healthcare and before that at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

TEAM BASED CARE

Dr. Katragunta specializes in both minimally invasive endovascular as well as open vascular surgery. She strongly believes in a team based, multidisciplinary approach to provide the best care for her patients. During her time at Stanford University and University of Iowa, Dr. Katragunta was part of a multidisciplinary team that treated individuals with complex aortic disease. While the condition is effectively treated in the Chattanooga region, she’s excited to bring a more streamlined regional aortic program involving various hospital disciplines including cardiothoracic surgery, anesthesiology, critical care, and radiology, allowing for a more team-based approach.

“Working together with other specialists who have an interest in this disease process will be a great benefit to patient outcomes and care. Even when we get patients through a complex procedure, they still need intensive monitoring and support to help them get well again. Patients also need to be optimized before any major procedure,” Dr. Katragunta says.

MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

Dr. Katragunta was born in India and wanted to be a doctor since she was a little girl, due in part to a wonderful family physician. After completing her medical school from one of India’s top ranked medical schools, she moved to the United States for residency and fellowship training. Once in medical school, surgery was a very natural choice.

“As a young medical student doing my first surgery rotation, I knew immediately that I was going to be a surgeon. The dexterity, clinical judgment and mental stamina that surgery demands of you immediately drew me to the field,” says Dr. Katragunta. “I was also struck by the amount of trust the patients placed in their surgeons and realized that it was such a privilege to be able to earn it.”

Dr. Katragunta’s decision to go into vascular surgery came about during her internship when she discovered the beauty and the intensity of vascular procedures that require both a mastery of surgical and endovascular skills as well as a sound knowledge of the complex vascular pathologies.

Dr. Katragunta earned her medical degree from Armed Forces Medical College which consistently ranks among the top three medical schools in India. She then completed a residency in general surgery from East Tennessee State University before continuing fellowship training in vascular surgery from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga. She is board certified in general and vascular surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

RETURNING TO CHATTANOOGA

Teaching future physicians and surgeons has always been important to Dr. Katragunta. After holding academic appointments at Stanford University and University of Iowa, Dr. Katragunta is excited to return to Chattanooga where she serves as Associate Professor of vascular surgery and Associate Program Director for the Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the UT College of Medicine.

“I’m very excited to return to the program and the colleagues who were instrumental in my education and training,” shares Dr. Katragunta. “University Surgical Associates is a talented group of surgeons who are dedicated to excellent patient care and have a mission for teaching and thus improving the quality of medical care for the entire region. It’s my privilege to join them and to return to this beautiful region to provide vascular care.”