Lee Kirksey, MD

Lee Kirksey, MD, is a vascular surgeon in the Department of Vascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He is board certified in surgery with special qualifications in vascular surgery and is a registered vascular technologist.

Dr Kirksey received his appointment to the Cleveland Clinic medical staff in 2011. He holds the Walter W. Buckley endowed Vice Chair in The Department of Vascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. A proud native of the Alliance, Ohio and a graduate of West Branch High School, Dr Kirksey voices pride in returning to and serving the people of the region. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Kirksey was assistant professor of surgery in The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and was on staff at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA where he was director of advanced limb preservation therapies.

Specialty/Clinical Interests: Open Carotid artery endarterectomy, peripheral artery disease (PAD), bypass/endovascular and hybrid surgery for atherosclerosis for limb salvage, medical management of carotid artery stenosis, minimally invasive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, endovascular treatment for thoracic aortic dissection, carotid artery stenting, reoperative and advanced dialysis access surgery, carotid artery stenting, primary and reoperative reconstruction of aortic occlusion, limb preservation procedures, wound care.

Number of Procedures Performed: Dr. Kirksey performs more than 500 to 600 index vascular procedures each year. He has performed more than 10,000 vascular procedures over the course of his career.

Success Rates: Cleveland Clinic’s Vascular Surgeons are national and international leaders in treating patients with even the most complicated cases, using the most advanced techniques. Much of our experience is in reoperative surgery for patients whose original operations were performed elsewhere. The department serves as a major referral center for these and other difficult cases throughout Ohio and the surrounding states. We have one of the largest post-graduate training programs in vascular surgery in the United States, and our academic work has been published in scientific journals throughout the world. Success rates for specific procedures are available at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx

Education and Training: Dr. Kirksey is an Ohio native and received his undergraduate and medical degrees from The Ohio State University. He served his residency in general surgery at The Graduate Hospital, University of The University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System in Philadelphia and completed fellowships in vascular surgery at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ, and in endovascular surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York. He earned his MBA from NYU business school.

Publications and Speaking: Dr. Kirksey has published more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, multiple book chapters and has participated in writing national guidelines papers on the topic of PAD. Topics include “Open aortic surgery volume experience at a regionalized referral center”. Dr Kirksey speaks extensively on the topics of complex treatment for peripheral artery disease, outcomes for aortic aneurysm and dissection, population health, value based healthcare and reducing health disparities in cardiovascular and vascular disease for vulnerable populations. He is active in the education of healthcare providers, community members and policy makers about the early identification and best practice management of vascular disease.

He is a member of a number of professional societies, including the Society of Vascular Surgery, Midwestern Vascular Society, American College of Surgeons, Eastern Vascular Society, Society of Black Academic Surgeons, Society for Vascular Technology, and Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery.

About Dr. Kirksey: “Untreated or undiagnosed vascular disease, whether it’s a stroke, a threatened limb, or an untreated abdominal aneurysm, can irreversibly change the lives of a patient and their family members. Providing patients with solutions that allow them to continue on with a productive life is incredibly rewarding especially for the Ohio community that I grew up in“

Leisure Activities: Dr. Kirksey is an avid sports fan and dedicated Ohio State University athletic supporter. He enjoys outdoor fitness activities.