Surgeon Spotlight – Dr. Ehsan Benrashid

Ehsan Benrashid, MD, vascular surgeon with USA Vascular, earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, VA. He completed a g junior and senior general surgery residency at Duke University Department of Surgery, Durham, NC, where he also served as Chief Resident. During this time, he also completed a surgical research fellowship. After residency training, Dr. Benrashid went on to pursue a vascular and endovascular surgery fellowship from Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Benrashid joined University Surgical Associates in August 2021.

Dr. Ehsan Benrashid always liked the idea of patient care. Growing up in an immigrant community, he believed from a young age that being a physician was a respected calling. With a desire for stability and to establish himself in a solid career, Dr. Benrashid was further drawn to medicine because of his desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. While he initially planned to be a neurologist and researched muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and other neurological conditions prior to his medical training, vascular surgery was ultimately where he found his passion.

“As a medical student, I had a lot of positive experiences with the vascular care team at UVA – the ability to help people by preventing a stroke or correcting a ruptured aneurysm really drew me in. The comprehensive nature of vascular surgery and the ability to be your patients’ physician for the long term was also really exciting to me,” says Dr. Benrashid. “My next inclination toward vascular surgery was due to the impact of several mentors who were experienced vascular surgeons. Even though some were later in their careers, they remained current with the latest endovascular techniques and technologies – and continued to do life and limb-saving work.”

Vascular and endovascular surgery is one field of medicine that is constantly evolving. With new minimally invasive techniques continuing to improve, what once meant a major open surgery can oftentimes be corrected through catheter-based systems that do not require large surgical incisions. In his work at USA, Dr. Benrashid will focus on a few key areas including cerebrovascular disease, carotid disease and stenting, transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), and the treatment of complex abdominal and thoracic aneurysm through both open and endovascular means.

“Many people with vascular conditions have complex medical histories – and decisions about their care aren’t always straightforward. But I enjoy the challenge of helping families navigate these difficult medical decisions, and also giving them information that helps them understand their disease process,” he shares. “With a greater understanding of how to incorporate healthy habits and practices into their normal lives, my goal is to help save lives and limbs and help my patients feel better in the long term.”

Dr. Benrashid notes that his two main goals in coming to Chattanooga and joining University Surgical Associates are to have a positive impact on the community and to raise awareness about the severity and consequences of vascular disease. He’s also excited to work alongside his colleagues at USA, UT and Erlanger to continue to expand the reach of services and offer comprehensive vascular care.

“The way we treat dangerous vascular conditions continues to evolve and improve – and that means we can bring life- and limb-saving care to more people in southeast Tennessee, Northeast Alabama and even into the western North Carolina,” says Dr. Benrashid. “I intend to lend my efforts to raise awareness about treatment and prevention and find my place in the broader medical community to impact as many lives as I can.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. BENRASHID, PLEASE CALL 423.267.0466.