At Michigan Vascular Center, our commitment to exceptional patient care goes far beyond the operating room. For decades, our team has partnered with hospitals and specialists across Flint and the surrounding Michigan communities to ensure that patients receive the comprehensive, life-saving interventions they need. Recently, our very own Dr. Robert Molnar had the opportunity to discuss this critical collaborative role on Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.
About Dr. Robert Molnar
Dr. Molnar joined Michigan Vascular Center in 1998 and has since become a leading voice in vascular surgery. He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Michigan State University and Associate Program Director for the MSU General Surgery Program at the Flint campus. Board-certified in Vascular Surgery and highly skilled in endovascular procedures, Dr. Molnar is recognized as one of the nation’s most experienced surgeons in carotid artery stenting. Alongside his strong clinical interest in peripheral vascular disease and hemodialysis access, he currently serves as an Executive Board At Large Member of the Society for Vascular Surgery.
Reflecting on his career during the podcast, Dr. Molnar shared his appreciation for the practice and the community.
“I’ve been in private practice with the Michigan Vascular Center in Flint, Michigan, for twenty-eight years. This is where I landed right out of my fellowship at Vanderbilt. [I’ve] been here ever since, and it’s been a great opportunity. We’re sort of one of the largest and oldest groups in the country. [The Michigan Vascular Center] Started in 1963, so the group’s been around a while and provided services to the hospitals.”
In the podcast episode, sponsored by the Society for Vascular Surgery, Dr. Molnar was joined by Dr. William Shutze, a vascular surgeon at Texas Vascular Associates and former Executive Board Member of the Society for Vascular Surgery. Together with host Brian Zimmerman, they explored how robust vascular surgery programs drive better patient outcomes, enable complex care, and strengthen overall hospital performance.
The Infrastructure of Complex Care
Vascular surgery is the essential infrastructure that makes high-level, complex care possible across an entire hospital system. When other surgical specialties encounter complications or need to perform intricate procedures, vascular surgeons are the experts they rely on.
Dr. Molnar emphasized this point during the discussion, noting the vital importance of early collaboration for patient safety and success. He explained how proactive planning prevents emergencies and improves overall outcomes.
“I know for our surgical oncologists, it’s great that they will consult us often before a big procedure. They recognize that if they’re gonna do that Whipple procedure, which is a highly complex case, there might be portal vein involvement with the tumor… It’s much better that we’re engaged at the front end of that so that we’re either scrubbed with them when that part of the case is coming, or we’re on standby.”
This level of preparation creates a highly efficient surgical environment. It protects service lines from potential complications and provides immediate, expert intervention when the inevitable occurs.
“If it’s the ICU putting in lines, if it’s the anesthesiologist putting in a Cordis, if it’s your general surgeon or an obstetrician-gynecologist putting in a trocar, those things are gonna happen. That trocar can get into that aorta. And if you don’t have a strong team ready to take care of that, you’re gonna have an increased risk of loss of life and limb.”
Enabling Growth and Keeping Care Local
A strong vascular surgery service line does more than manage complications. It actively enables growth across other major medical disciplines. Hospitals looking to expand their capabilities in areas like operative spine programs, cardiothoracic procedures, or trauma care require the foundational support of vascular surgeons.
“If there is a strongly supported vascular surgery service line, it could really align with the mission of the institution and enable growth across all their major service lines. For example, specifically, if you wanted to increase your operative spine program, both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgeons really rely on vascular surgeons to obtain their exposure for these procedures.”
By providing this critical infrastructure, vascular surgeons allow hospitals to accept more challenging cases and increase their overall case mix index. Dr. Molnar pointed out that without this specialized support, hospitals are often forced to transfer patients with complex needs to other facilities.
“If you don’t have any vascular surgeons at all, you’re gonna have to transfer some of those patients… which number one, puts them at an increased risk. If you have an ischemic limb and it’s not taken care of, you have hours to get that addressed. And if you have a massive hemorrhage issue, you have minutes.”
When hospitals invest in a strong vascular service line, they can keep complex care within the community. This provides patients with timely, high-quality treatment closer to home.
The Financial and Operational Impact
The strategic value of vascular surgery extends to the operational and financial health of medical institutions. Planned early involvement of vascular surgeons leads to significantly better outcomes, which translates directly into operational efficiencies.
“I think strong administrative support for a vascular service line is win-win for everyone. I mean, first off, the biggest win comes for the patients because they have better outcomes. Some cases that might not have been taken on or addressed before now can be with the assistance of the vascular surgery team.”
This exceptional efficiency underscores the fact that vascular surgery is a vital investment that yields great returns for both the hospital and the community it serves.
Looking to the Future
As healthcare continues to evolve, the demand for specialized vascular care will only increase. Building and maintaining a strong vascular surgery program requires forward-thinking leadership and strategic alignment across all service lines.
At Michigan Vascular Center, we are proud of Dr. Molnar’s contributions to the field and his dedication to advancing the standard of care. His appearance on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast highlights the expertise and collaborative spirit that define our practice. We remain committed to working alongside our hospital partners in Flint and beyond to deliver the highest level of vascular care to our patients.
We encourage you to listen to the full conversation and learn more about the strategic importance of vascular surgery.
Listen to the episode here: The Strategic Role of Vascular Surgery in Improving Patient Outcomes.
A special thank you to the Society for Vascular Surgery for sponsoring this insightful episode and to Becker’s Healthcare Podcast for hosting this important discussion.
