BRMC's Dr. Tahara Becomes Fellow

By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department


Robert W. Tahara, M.D., director of Bradford Regional Medical Center's (BRMC's) Peripheral Interventions Program and also Allegheny Vein & Vascular, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

This enables Dr. Tahara to use the credentials F.A.C.S. after his name to indicate his elevation from Associate Fellow to Fellow, says Cynthia Hicks, supervisor of the credentials section of the Division of Member Services at the American College of Surgeons in Chicago.

Becoming a Fellow means the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation and are consistent with the high standards established by the American College of Surgeons, she says.

"I'm very pleased and honored to be named a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons," says Dr. Tahara, who's been with BRMC for the past seven years.

The American College of Surgeons has over 76,000 members, including more than 4,000 Fellows, making it the largest organization of surgeons in the world, notes Ms. Hicks.

Since his arrival in 2002, Dr. Tahara has been bringing revolutionary procedures such as arterial stenting, endovascular aneurysm repair, and most recently the VNUS Closure procedure to this region, say BRMC officials.

Currently, Dr. Tahara is the regional leader and in the top percentage nationwide in performing what's called the VNUS Closure procedure.

This is a minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous reflux, with little or no pain. VNUS Closure patients can walk away from the vein procedure and be back to everyday activities -- either at home or work -- typically within a day.

Because of his expertise with this procedure and his growing teaching reputation, he was recently selected to the faculty for the national VNUS Total Vein Care Course where he will instruct other physicians in advanced vein care procedures.

In 2003, he performed BRMC's first renal stent procedure, using stents rather than vein grafting to treat blood clots and serious blockages in a patient's kidney and leg arteries, and began treating peripheral aneurysms with covered stent grafts.

The following year, Dr. Tahara began using a then-newly FDA-approved vascular surgery technique at BRMC called CryoPlasty. The technique was developed to bring relief to those who suffer from peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, a narrowing or blockage of the blood flow to arteries in the leg.

Just a few months later, Dr. Tahara was credited with first using the new AngioJet (R) Thrombectomy System at BRMC, a minimally invasive treatment of patients with blood clots in their extremities.

In 2005, Dr Tahara was the first physician in the United States to use the then-newly approved Neovasc Metricath system for clinical cases. The Metricath system uses a novel balloon technology to measure blood vessels to assist with accurate sizing of stents and balloons used to open blocked peripheral arteries.

In 2007, Dr Tahara brought endovascular aortic aneurysm repair to BRMC, using covered stent grafts, miniature incisions, and an overnight stay to repair aortic aneurysms instead of the traditional open surgery requiring large incisions and prolonged hospital stays.

Previously, such new technologies were only available in larger urban settings, say BRMC officials.

"The patients we've already helped are profoundly grateful that we've made their care, treatment and recovery easier," Dr. Tahara says.

Due to the ever-increasing amount of cutting edge vein, vascular and endovascular surgeries being performed by Dr. Tahara at BRMC, the hospital last year designated Allegheny Vein & Vascular as its latest Center of Excellence. Two months ago BRMC unveiled a specially designed outpatient suite adjacent to Allegheny Vein & Vascular. Both are located on the third floor of BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center.

The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then was on active duty with the U.S. Navy as a diving medical officer supporting U.S. Naval Special Operations. Following his release from the military, he then served as Chief Resident in Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.

For further information about any surgical or diagnostic procedures Dr. Tahara performs, his office can be reached by calling 814-368-8490 or going online at www.brmc.com.

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