Bruce Alan Perler, who established the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital over his 44-year tenure as a surgeon, died July 23 of complications of pancreas cancer at home with his family. He was 76.
Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Dr. Perler was the first person in his family to attend college. Dr. Perler always credited his parents who instilled in him the values of hard work, honesty and loyalty, values that he incorporated into his career. As a naturally introverted and quiet person, he was always grateful to his many friends and colleagues for their friendship and mentorship. His dry sense of humor often left his friends laughing. As he gained more influence in vascular surgery, he consistently aimed to support his colleagues and set a standard for success, emphasizing the importance of conducting oneself ethically in both a professional and personal capacity.
Dr. Perler joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1982 and was named the inaugural recipient of the Julius H. Jacobson II, MD, Endowed Chair in Vascular Surgery in 2002. He held the position of Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. He served as Director of the Vascular Noninvasive Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) since 1982. Dr. Perler founded the Vascular Surgery Fellowship at JHH in 1998. In recognition of his commitment to education, he received the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award from the surgical house staff at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Perler trained generations of surgeons at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in the art and science of vascular surgery. His humble demeanor, prodigious skill and evident mastery are cherished by all the Halsted residents who knew him and live on as his legacy in American surgery.
A graduate of Duke University Phi Beta Kappa and the Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Perler recognized the outsized influence of former Halsted Resident David Sabiston, MD, who as Chair of Surgery took an incredible level of interest in medical students and medical education at Duke. One of Dr. Sabiston’s absolute rules is one should never use notes when presenting a patient. This seminal experience was the basis of Dr. Perler’s legendary oratorial skills, via attention to details and polish, evident in his renowned societal addresses and exceptional introductions of Visiting Professors at the Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery Grand Rounds.
Dr. Perler completed his general surgery and vascular surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital and further honed his leadership skills with an MBA from Johns Hopkins where he earned the Outstanding Student Award at graduation. He was internationally recognized for his clinical expertise in carotid arterial disease, having delivered nearly 400 lectures nationally and internationally. His hundreds of publications, research and chapters have been cited over 12,000 times.
Dr. Perler has served as Senior Editor of the Journal of Vascular Surgery, the leading vessel in the field. He also served as President of the Chesapeake Vascular Society, the Eastern Vascular Society, the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery and the Society for Vascular Surgery, where his visionary leadership helped shape the future of the specialty. He co-edited three editions of the leading textbook in vascular surgery, Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. Dr. Perler served as the Associate Executive Director of the American Board of Surgery for Vascular Surgery and from 2019-2024, he served as the Vice President of the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Perler was the recipient of the 2025 Society for Vascular Surgery Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Meeting of the society. This highest honor reflects a career defined by exceptional clinical care, academic leadership and enduring contributions to the advancement of vascular surgery. Indeed, this was his third lifetime achievement awarded by his colleagues in surgical and interventional societies, a fitting tribute for a career that reflected not only clinical excellence and international leadership, but a deep understanding of the evolution of the field of vascular surgery over the past decades.
Dr. Perler is survived by his wife Patti and his daughter Rachel, whose wedding he attended just weeks before his passing. His son Mason passed away in 2024. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Bruce Perler, MD may be directed to support the Skip Viragh Center for Pancreatic Cancer at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Bruce Perler, MD to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, P.O. Box 49143, Baltimore, MD 21297-9143 or make a gift online at hopkinscancer.org.
