BOSTON — Alik Farber, MD, MBA, an internationally recognized vascular surgeon, has been named Surgeon-in-Chief at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and James Utley Professor and Chair of Surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine to continue to grow the clinical, academic and research mission of the department.
Farber is an acclaimed expert in vascular and endovascular intervention to treat peripheral artery disease, and he is an internationally recognized authority on limb ischemia. Farber began his career in 1999 as a vascular surgeon in private practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In 2005, he was recruited to Boston Medical Center as an attending vascular surgeon and joined the faculty of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor, rising to full Professor in 2015. Throughout his tenure, Farber has been involved in diverse academic, clinical operational, and leadership roles.
“Dr. Farber is an accomplished leader and outstanding surgeon who has demonstrated a commitment to compassionate care and health equity for our community,” said BMC President Anthony Hollenberg, MD. “He will lead the continued growth of our nationally recognized surgery department with a focus on patient care, quality and the advancement of innovative research that that will be felt far beyond the walls of our hospital.”
“Dr. Farber is a highly accomplished investigator and educator,” said Karen Antman, MD, BU Medical Campus Provost and Dean, BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “He has taken an international research role in the management of vascular diseases while maintaining his role as an outstanding surgeon, with a commitment to his patients, residents, students and colleagues.”
Farber was appointed interim chief and chair of surgery in January of this year. Under his leadership, the department will continue to cultivate and attract top academic talent and clinicians who are also committed to mentoring the next generation of expert academic surgeons.
Farber has authored more than 260 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 30 book chapters and has edited two textbooks. He has given more than 160 presentations in over 20 countries. He has served as national co-principal investigator for the landmark National Institutes of Health-sponsored Best Endovascular versus Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (BEST-CLI) trial.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a distinguished fellow of the Society of Vascular Surgery, Farber frequently serves in leadership roles for professional organizations. Currently, he is Secretary of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) and Treasurer of both the New England Society for Vascular Surgery (NESVS) and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
After earning his undergraduate degree from Brown University, Farber received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed residency in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, a vascular surgery fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and an endovascular surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois School of Medicine. He received an MBA from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.
About Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center models a new kind of excellence in healthcare, where innovative and equitable care empowers all patients to thrive. We combine world-class clinicians and cutting-edge treatments with compassionate, quality care that extends beyond our walls. As an award-winning health equity leader, our diverse clinicians and staff interrogate racial disparities in care and partner with our community to dismantle systemic inequities. And as a national leader in research and the teaching affiliate for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, we’re driving the future of care.