Benjamin Ware Starnes, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Starnes is a UW professor of surgery and chief of the Vascular Surgery Division. He was recruited to the University of Washington in 2007 after a 15-year career in the U.S. Army for which he had operative experience in three combat tours. He is considered an international expert in the management of aortic disease and vascular trauma. He practices primarily at Harborview Medical Center.

Patient Care Philosophy
Anyone who works with me will tell you that my standards are extremely high when it comes to performing surgery. When making a decision about patient care, start with the most feared complication and work backward. Keep patient care first among all considerations.

Scope Of Care

• Vascular and endovascular surgery
• Aortic aneurysm
• Aortic dissection
• Vascular trauma
• Limb preservation 
• Dialysis access

Personal Interests
Family, woodworking, mountaineering, golf, cycling and fitness.

I climb Mount Rainier every year with a special group of friends to raise money for an orphanage in Africa.

Clinical Interests

• Ruptured aortic aneurysms
• Blunt traumatic aortic injury
• Aortic dissection
• vascular trauma

Research Interests

• Multi-branch and fenestrated endografting for complex aortic disease
• Vascular Trauma
• Factors that influence outcomes for patients presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Teaching Interests
Starnes is the program director for the vascular surgery fellowship.

Languages
English

Expertise
Vascular Surgery