Inside VSORT - Building the Next Generation of Vascular Surgery Researchers

Jacob Soucy (@JacobWSoucy) hosts an inside look at one of the most active and collaborative vascular surgery research teams in the country, the Vascular Surgery Outcomes Research Team (VSORT) at Penn State College of Medicine.

VSORT is a dynamic academic group that brings together vascular surgery attendings, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and medical students to conduct impactful outcomes-based research. Meeting every Friday at 4 PM, the team has produced dozens of peer-reviewed manuscripts, podium presentations, and national collaborations, embodying the power of mentorship and structure in academic medicine.

In this episode, Jacob speaks with two of the key figures behind VSORT's success, Dr. Faisal Aziz and Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali, to discuss how the program was founded, how it operates, and what other institutions can learn from its model.

Show Guests

Dr. Faisal Aziz (@FA_VascularMD) is the Chief of Vascular Surgery and Program Director of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he also serves as the Gilbert and Elsie Sealfon Endowed Professor of Surgery. A nationally recognized leader in vascular surgery, Dr. Aziz has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and holds multiple national leadership roles. His work focuses on advancing surgical education, outcomes research, and mentorship within academic vascular surgery.

Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali (@ahsanzileali) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and a driving force behind VSORT's research productivity. A graduate of the University of Health Sciences in Lahore, Punjab, he has co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications and plays a central role in coordinating VSORT's data infrastructure, mentorship framework, and project pipeline. His passion for research efficiency and education continues to inspire medical students and trainees across the institution.

Resources and Social Media

Twitter: @VsortVasc, @PennStVascular
Instagram: @vsortvasc, @pennstatevascular

Special thanks to Dr. Faisal Aziz and Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali for sharing their time and insight, and to the entire VSORT team for their ongoing contributions to vascular surgery research and mentorship.

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*Gore is a financial sponsor of this podcast, which has been independently developed by the presenters and does not constitute medical advice from Gore. Always consult the Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to using any medical device.