Stanford Vascular Surgery Welcomes Dr. Andres Schanzer as 2026 Al-Khatib Visiting Professor

The Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery welcomed Dr. Andres Schanzer as the 2026 Al-Khatib Visiting Professor on May 26, 2026, continuing a tradition that honors the legacy of Dr. Weesam Al-Khatib and his lasting contributions to Stanford Vascular Surgery.

The annual professorship celebrates Dr. Al-Khatib’s impact as an exceptional surgeon, educator, mentor, and colleague. Nearly 20 years after first joining Stanford for vascular fellowship training, his influence continues to be felt throughout the division. 

This year's program brought together faculty, trainees, colleagues, and members of the Alkhatib family, whose continued support has helped sustain the visiting professorship and strengthen Stanford’s commitment to vascular surgery education and training.

Dr. Schanzer, a nationally recognized vascular surgeon, educator, innovator, and mentor, currently leads the vascular surgery program at UMass Chan Medical School. Under his leadership, the program has become one of the nation's leading vascular surgery training programs. He is widely recognized for his contributions to complex aortic repair, clinical research, and surgical education. Following his service as Chair of the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Annual Meeting Program Committee from 2021–2024, Dr. Schanzer will serve as President-Elect of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

During his visit, Dr. Schanzer participated in the Department of Surgery Grand Rounds and presented a lecture titled, "From Valve to Femoral: The Transformation of Aortic Surgery," highlighting the evolution of aortic surgery and the innovations that continue to shape patient care. He also met with Stanford Vascular Surgery faculty and trainees, toured Stanford Hospital, and engaged in discussions focused on innovation, education, and the future of vascular surgery. The day concluded with the annual Al-Khatib Visiting Professor Lecture, "How a Bunch of Dots Became a Direction: Navigating A Career Journey While Aligning Key Stakeholders," and a faculty dinner.

Through this professorship, Dr. Al-Khatib’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of vascular surgeons and physician leaders.