Having trained and practiced in Fresno, California for over a decade, Leigh Ann O’Banion, MD says she has developed a true appreciation for providing vascular care in underserved communities.
“Over 50 percent of the vascular amputees in our region are underrepresented minorities, most of whom present at late stages of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) due to a lack of access to appropriate health care,” notes Dr. O’Banion, an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF)-Fresno. “Witnessing this early on in my training motivated me to pursue a career in vascular surgery, focusing on outreach and advanced limb salvage. My career as a vascular surgeon allows me to improve availability and enhance care in this vulnerable patient population through amputation prevention.”
Dr. O’Banion says the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) provides a valuable network for clinicians who have a calling to prevent unnecessary amputations in high-risk patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
“Succeeding at amputation prevention in any setting, especially in rural and underserved environments, requires dedication to the constantly evolving field of limb salvage,” notes Dr. O’Banion. “ALPS provides a platform for continued learning, networking, and collaboration to all those joining in the fight against limb loss.”
With your donation to ALPS today, you can help us prevent unnecessary amputations for high-risk patients in underserved communities.