As a member of McLeod's nationally recognized cardiovascular team, fellow-ship trained, board-certified vascular surgeon, Dr. Christopher G. Cunningham with his experience in both minimally invasive endovascular treatments as well as complex surgery is helping fight the battle against stroke, peripheral arterial disease and aneurysms.

With 22 years of experience in both minimally invasive endovascular treatments, such as carotid artery stenting as well as complex surgery, Dr. Cunningham is also fellowship trained and board certified in vascular surgery.

Dr. Cunningham received his medical degree from the Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. His general surgery residency was completed at the Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego, California and a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Cunningham also served as the Head of the Section of Vascular Surgery, NNMC-Bethesda Navy Hospital and the Assistant Professor of Surgery where his duties included instructing residents and medical students in vascular surgery.

Dr. Cunningham is a member of the American Medical Association, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, The International Society of Vascular Surgery, the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery and the International Society for Endovascular Surgery. He received a Navy Commendation Medal for outstanding emergency and trauma surgical contribution in Middle Eastern, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific deployment as Battle Group Surgeon, USS Ranger CV-61 Battle Group.

"I am very excited about being a member of the McLeod Heart & Vascular Institute team," said Dr. Cunningham.

"There is a real need in this community for vascular care education and I want to do my part to help by teaching the sign and symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease, who is at risk and treatment options. The thing I enjoy the most about my work is taking care of my patients."

Dr. Ganesha Perera, a board certified vascular surgeon, has joined Dr. Christopher Cunningham in practice at McLeod Vascular Associates.  Prior to coming to McLeod, Dr. Perera was in practice in Savannah, Georgia.  He received his medical education at the Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and completed his residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center in Irvine, California.  Dr. Perera completed a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

"There is a significant need for vascular services in this area because of the large number of individuals with vascular disease," said Dr. Perera.  "Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system such as aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease or hardening of the arteries, carotid artery disease, varicose veins and blood clots.

"I was drawn to McLeod as a medical facility. As McLeod has a mission to care for patients in this region, I too, want to help patients who have this disease process.  Treating patients in the early stages of their disease is very beneficial to successful outcomes and a better quality of life for them.  We can help achieve this mission through education. 
"From a patient's perspective, there is sometimes a lack of understanding of what places a person at risk for vascular disease.  Often, patients need to be educated on their medications.  For example, what they are meant to do, and how they are helping to reduce their risk for complications from vascular disease," added Dr. Perera.

Risk factors for vascular disease are the same as those for coronary artery disease.  These risk factors include: 

• advanced age
• smoking
• family history
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• obesity
• physical inactivity  
• diabetes 

"Diabetics especially need to be attuned to the risk factors of vascular disease," said Dr. Perera.  "Being diabetic puts them at an increased risk for limb loss among other complications."

Dr. Perera enjoys the constant decision-making required in vascular medicine. "It involves both surgical and medical skills to assess the patient's condition and to determine the best course of treatment whether that involves better medications, open surgery or minimally invasive endovascular treatment," said Dr. Perera.