Renowned vascular surgeon David Rosenthal, MD, co-founder of the Atlanta Vascular Society and a former president of both the Southern Association for Vascular Society (SAVS) and the Georgia Vascular Society, has died. He was 76.
Beginning practice in Atlanta in 1978, he initially joined a group of general and vascular surgeons that would later become composed of only vascular surgeons.
Under David’s leadership, the vascular surgery fellowship at Georgia Baptist Hospital—now Atlanta Medical Center—was created in 1982. More than 20 fellows completed the program over the years. He was a prolific author, accumulating more than 300 publications to his name. He had a particular interest in carotid disease, publishing many articles about the topic.
David was an aficionado of new technology and was an early adopter of endovascular techniques such as angioscopy and angioplasty. He was also an inventor, developing techniques for delivering radiation to venous anastomoses in dialysis access to prevent intimal hyperplasia and a novel vena cava filter that had an absorbable suture mechanism to open after implantation.
David was well-known in the vascular community in Atlanta. He was one of the creators in the early 1980s of the Atlanta Vascular Society—an organization that became the Georgia Vascular Society, and he was the organization’s first-ever president.
A devoted husband and father, he was also an enthusiastic athlete who excelled in swimming among other sports. He was featured on ABC 20/20 in the early 1980s as he competed in and finished the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.
“David is fondly remembered by his family, colleagues, friends, fellows and all who knew him,” said colleague Daniel T. McDevitt, MD, president and CEO of Peachtree Vascular Specialists in Atlanta “He was the embodiment of a vascular surgeon whose fundamental calling was service to his patients. He devoted himself to being the best surgeon possible while inspiring others to do the same.”
