Abrazo Heart Hospital vascular surgery fellowship supports future generations of healthcare workers

Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital is one of only three hospitals in the state with a vascular surgery fellowship aimed at attracting, educating and mentoring the next generation of vascular surgeons.

The Vascular Surgery Fellowship was established by Dr. Stephen Smith, a board-certified vascular surgeon and the Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program Director, a press release explained. 

The program provides fellows with exposure to the full breadth of vascular surgery during 24 months of hands-on training.

“There is a national, regional and local shortage of vascular surgeons, so we will be training vascular surgeons for the future of care delivery, and it is all happening in our area, benefiting our current and future patients,” Dr. Smith said in the release.

Smith has advanced training in endovascular and minimally invasive vascular surgery, and his expertise and teaching have been recognized and awarded.

His first fellow is 33-year-old Dr. Steven Marincel, who is now in his first year of the program, the release stated. Dr. Marincel graduated from medical school in Chicago and then had a five-year residency in general surgery in Arizona before moving into the vascular specialty.

“I have always been interested in science and biology ever since I was a little boy and I had to have surgery and I thought my doctor was my hero, so I now want to make that kind of difference in people’s lives,” Marincel said in the release.

The Vascular Surgery Fellowship consists of:

• Cutting-edge open and endovascular experience;
• Engaged faculty with high ethical standards;
• Inpatient and outpatient experiences with ASC/OBL;
• Research and elective opportunities.

Marincel performs open and endovascular surgeries involving both arterial and venous systems under the guidance of Smith and other vascular surgeons at the heart hospital, the release detailed. He can evaluate and manage common and rare vascular pathologies.

The Vascular Surgery Fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. When Marincel completes the fellowship in July 2026, he will take the qualifying and certifying examinations by the American Board of Surgery and can then independently practice vascular medicine and surgery. 

The fellowship accepts one trainee every July.

For more, visit www.abrazohealth.com/health-professionals/abrazo-health-residency-programs/vascular-surgery-fellowship.