Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

About the Author
Dr. Illig relocated to the Dialysis Access Institute in Orangeburg, SC, the busiest multidisciplinary dialysis access center in the country, in 2018. Formerly Chief of Vascular Surgery at the University of Rochester and the University of South Florida, Dr. Illig has been practicing vascular surgery for 32 years. Involved in all aspects of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, his major interests in this area include venous outflow stenosis in patients with arteriovenous access, recurrent neurogenic TOS, and education on this topic as a whole; he is particularly proud of his contributions (along with Hugh Gelabert) to the TOS Centre of Excellence in Great Britain. He is past president of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, a former member of the American Board of Surgery/Vascular Surgery Board, and an Academic Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery.
Robert W. Thompson, MD is the Director of the Washington University Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Thompson is an experienced research investigator who has studied the basic science pathobiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms, translational research on vascular disease, and clinical outcomes research on thoracic outlet syndromes. His clinical program is focused on all forms of thoracic outlet syndrome and upper extremity neurovascular compression disorders. The surgical management of patients with TOS is an area for which he has acquired an unusually rich experience and for which his expertise is widely sought. In building a nationally recognized referral center for patients with TOS at Washington University, Dr. Thompson has worked to develop a highly knowledgeable staff and an effective multidisciplinary collaborative team, which includes experts in physical therapy and rehabilitation, anesthesia and pain management, diagnostic and interventional radiology, and other related specialties.
Julie A. Freischlag, MD is the Chief Executive Officer and Dean of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center that includes Wake Forest Baptist Health, a growing, multi-hospital health system and physician network, the state-of-the-art and highly competitive Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Wake Forest Innovations, its technology transfer, commercialization enterprise. As CEO and Dean, she has the overall responsibility for the Medical Center’s clinical, academic and innovation enterprises and its annual operating budget of $3.5B. In addition to serving in various national and international leadership roles, she mentors students, residents and young faculty and is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from her expertise in vascular diseases including thoracic outlet syndrome, teamwork and patient safety, leadership and work-life balance to women succeeding in health professions. She continues to care for and operate upon those patients with thoracic outlet syndrome and teach vascular residents and fellows to do the same. Freischlag has dedicated her career to serving as a role model for her students, a respected colleague across health professions, a strong community leader and a national voice for improving health and health care.
Dean M. Donahue, MD, is the Director of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Program in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves at the thoracic surgery consultant for the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Red Sox, as well as numerous collegiate sports teams.
Dr. Sheldon Jordan has published original research in behavior modification of autistic and developmentally disabled children at the Kennedy Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and developed programs for schizophrenic and depressed patients at the Sheppard Pratt Institute. Dr. Jordan is recognized as a top neurologist by Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who, Global Edition, and Super Doctors. His philosophy is to listen to patients tell their stories. He believes that each person must be treat