Featured Member of the Month (Apr. 2023): Dr. Raghu Kolluri

Raghu Kolluri, MD, is the system medical director of Vascular Medicine at OhioHealth, responsible for the noninvasive vascular laboratories and vascular medicine program. As an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, he is involved in training medical students, residents, and cardiology fellows. He is the President of The VIVA Foundation and the Immediate Past President of the Society for Vascular Medicine. He serves on the AVLS Board of Trustees and is one of the Intersocietal Accreditation Council’s Vascular Testing Board of Directors. Dr. Kolluri is a regular faculty member at numerous national and international educational conferences. He is also the founder of academic programs, including The VEINS, The Society for Vascular Medicine Fellows, and the Advanced Practitioner course. As a clinical trialist, Dr. Kolluri is involved in numerous clinical and device trials involving peripheral artery disease, critical limb ischemia, and superficial and deep venous disease. He authored scientific abstracts, guidelines, consensus documents, book chapters, and peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is a Fellow of the Society for Vascular Medicine, American College of Cardiology, Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, and the American Heart Association.

How and why did you start practicing in the field of vein/lymphatic care?

Vein and lymphatic care were included in our vascular medicine fellowship program, along with a variety of unusual vascular disorders, thrombosis, and non-invasive imaging. My interest in vein/lymphatic medicine blossomed when I went into practice and started working in the wound center. Seeing the morbidity of patients with the most severe forms of venolymphatic disease increased my interest further in this field. The smiles on the patients' faces once the ulcers start healing is absolutely priceless! That was the incentive.

How long have you been a member of the AVLS and why did you decide to join?

I joined AVLS (when it was the American College of Phlebology) in 2005. The reason was simple - I wanted to learn about superficial venous disease from the experts in the field.

In what ways has the AVLS helped you as a vein/lymphatic care provider?

Medical care changes continuously. Most of what I learned in medical school changed or is considered archaic. 3,000-5,000 papers are published daily in the biomedical field, and it is almost impossible to keep up. Regulations, coverage, and reimbursements are also constantly changing. AVLS helps distill pertinent information from the noise around us. It provides learning opportunities and information that help us better practice venous medicine and better care for our patients with venous disease.

Any advice for your peers new to the field?

Learn about the disease process and care for the patients accordingly. Appropriateness in care delivery is a must.

What resources does the AVLS provide that would benefit them?

Phlebology Journal, interaction with colleagues, and the annual meeting are my top 3. Also, there are several AVLS committees. I recommend that peers new to the field volunteer on these committees. It is a great way to get involved in the society and grow one's career by meeting like-minded people, finding mentors, and then paying it forward to mentees.

When you are not at work, how do you spend your time?

I love traveling with my family. I am also a serious amateur landscape photographer. I enjoy my yearly guided photography trips, especially with like-minded friends. Finally, trying to recreate my mother's South Indian vegetarian recipes is another way I exercise my right brain.