From Jordan to the Vascular Lab: How Dr. Alsayegh Balances Med, Leadership, & Life
- Ella S
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
What do pica, precision medicine and 4:30 AM alarms have in common? Dr. Alsayegh.
Finding His Path: From Jordan to Vascular Medicine
Born and raised in Jordan, Dr. Alsayegh moved to the U.S. after high school with his family, eventually landing in Cleveland where he started college.
After earning his medical degree from Ohio State, he completed his internal medicine residency in Columbus and went on to pursue a fellowship in vascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.
“I actually considered cardiology for a long time,” he said, “but once I did two rotations in vascular medicine, I fell in love with it.”
Since 2006, he’s been practicing in Milwaukee, where he leads both the Anticoagulation Clinic and the Vascular Lab at Aurora.
What Is Vascular Medicine, Really?
Vascular medicine treats everything outside the heart: carotid artery disease, aneurysms, varicose veins, blood clots, lymphedema and more.
“A lot of people confuse it with cardiology,” he explained. “But vascular medicine focuses on the entire vascular system—just not the heart.”
It’s a specialty that’s broad, detailed and deeply tied to lifestyle, habits and prevention.
A Surprising Diagnosis... and a Common Misconception
One of the most overlooked conditions Dr. Alsayegh sees is chilblains—also called perniosis. It shows up in winter as painful, discolored toe and finger lesions, but is often misdiagnosed as something much more serious.
“Even specialists sometimes mistake it for blood clots or cholesterol emboli,” he said.
And when it comes to myths?The most common one he hears: that high blood pressure always has a clear cause. “In most cases, it just happens. That’s called essential hypertension. There doesn’t always need to be a ‘why.’”
Stop Smoking. Seriously.
If there’s one preventative habit he wishes every patient would adopt, it’s to quit smoking.
“Smoking is tied to everything—heart disease, cancer, aneurysms, PAD, high blood pressure,” he said. And yes, vaping too. “You never know what you’re inhaling. It could be even worse.”
What Precision Medicine Looks Like in Real Life
With patients managing diabetes, strokes, high cholesterol, or peripheral artery disease all at once, tailoring care becomes more than clinical—it becomes personal.
“You treat the person, not just the condition,” he told me. “Sometimes symptoms are masked by other diseases. That’s why you look at the whole picture.”
A Day in the Life of a Medical Director
Dr. Alsayegh’s days start at 4:30 AM and don’t slow down. Between reading ultrasounds, clinic visits, patient rounds, test results and administrative responsibilities, no two days look the same.
“You get home and you’re exhausted. But that’s the job. Medicine is sacrifice—during training, and after.”
Still, his family always tries to eat dinner together, even if he’s running late.
Advice for Students Considering Medicine
Dr. Alsayegh’s message to high schoolers? Be honest with yourself about what medicine requires.
“There are long nights. Missed weekends. It’s a lifestyle, not just a job. But if you love it, the sacrifice is worth it.”
He encourages students to shadow, explore different fields and never choose a specialty just for the prestige.
The First Patient That Changed Everything
His first ever patient as an attending had a blood clotting disorder and was placed on warfarin. The problem? Her levels weren’t responding.
Eventually, she revealed she was eating an entire pound of corn starch a day.
“It turned out to be pica—a condition tied to iron deficiency,” he said. After treating her anemia and helping her break the habit, her medication finally worked.
“That case stuck with me. It taught me how much we need to really talk to patients and understand their full story.”
Final Thoughts: People Over Pathology
Dr. Alsayegh’s journey, from Jordan to Ohio to Milwaukee, is more than a geographic one. It’s a path built on precision, passion and patient-centered care.
Whether he’s leading a vascular team, explaining myths about blood pressure or helping a patient beat a strange diagnosis, he’s doing what medicine is really about: meeting people where they are.
Watch my interview with Dr. Alsayegh here!
You can also follow along on Instagram for posts, stories and behind-the-scenes content.
Until next time, thanks for watching and keep learning!
-Elioenai
Comments