Healthy Veins, Healthy Legs: A Woman’s Guide to Vein Care

Dr. Jennifer Chang is a board-certified vascular surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of venous conditions. She earned her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed her general surgery residency at Northwell Health, and her vascular surgery fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Chang is a faculty member in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Northwell Health, where she contributes to resident and fellow training. A member of the American Venous Forum and the Society of Vascular Surgery, she is committed to delivering exceptional, comprehensive, patient-centered care.

An internationally recognized vascular surgeon and vein specialist, Antonios P. Gasparis, MD, FACS serves as System Chief for Ambulatory Vascular and Vein Program at Northwell Health. Dr. Gasparis completed his residency in General Surgery at SUNY Syracuse, followed by a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at SUNY Stony Brook. He was on the faculty at Stony Brook from 2003-2023 and Professor of Surgery. During his tenure, he held multiple administrative positions and developed an internationally recognized venous program. Dr. Gasparis has been on the Board of several national organizations and is the Past-President of the American Venous Forum, the premier national society on venous disease. He is a true educator, running multiple educational programs in venous disease. He is a researcher and innovative surgeon who cares deeply for his patients and their families.

A highly skilled vascular and endovascular surgeon who serves patients at Northwell Health Vascular Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr Jacobowitz has over 30 years of expertise in the field of vascular surgery, and is dedicated to providing the highest quality care and compassionate care to his patients. His areas of focus include superficial and deep venous disease, deep vein thrombosis, and endovascular surgery, including treatment of carotid artery disease and peripheral arterial disease.  He is certified by the American Board of Surgery in both surgery and vascular surgery

Dr. Jacobowitz completed his undergraduate degree at Princeton University and medical degree at New York University School of Medicine. He then went on to complete his residency in general surgery and fellowship in vascular surgery at the renowned program at New York University Medical Center, further refining his surgical skills and expertise.  Prior to coming to Northwell Health in 2024, Dr Jacobowitz was a faculty member of the Division of Vascular Surgery at NYU Langone Health from 1996-2024, serving as Chief of Vascular Surgery 2018-2023. He is also a recent past President of the American Venous Forum,  the foremost professional society focused on venous and lymphatic disease.  As a nationally and internationally recognized leader in academic vascular surgery, Dr Jacobowitz has over 150 publications and has spent his career mentoring students and residents in the art and science of vascular surgery.

In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Jacobowitz holds the position of System Chief of Vascular Surgery at Northwell Health. In this role, he oversees the development and maintenance of quality inpatient and outpatient vascular surgical programs across the entire Northwell Health System.

Dr. Jennifer Svahn is a board-certified vascular surgeon and one of only a few women at Northwell Health who holds the academic title of Associate Professor of Surgery at the Zucker SOM/Hofstra.  Dr. Svahn earned her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her general surgery and vascular surgery training at NYU Medical Center. Dr. Svahn has demonstrated a robust commitment to leadership, program development and mentoring, particularly in gender equity, promotion of women in medicine/surgery and advancing clinical care for women.

Dr. Svahn built one of the earliest venous disease practices in NYC and currently serves as the Director of Vein Surgery at Union Square, Northwell Health and also as the Medical Director of the on-site ICAVL certified vascular lab. Dr. Svahn’s practice received accreditation as a nationally recognized Vein Center by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), making it the second IAC accredited vein center across Northwell Health and the only one in the Western Region.

Dr. Svahn is a staunch advocate for delivering optimal women’s healthcare and is a founding member of KIWH, having served in the past both on the steering committee and as Co-Chair of the Marketing/Communications/Social Media subcommittee to impact its trajectory and growth. She is also the concept developer, founder and director of SWELL (Services for Women’s Edema of the Lower Limbs), an innovative KIWH program focused on providing interdisciplinary assessment and treatment of all causes of lower extremity edema.
She created and leads a Northwell Health RxPAD affinity group for Women in Surgery, which serves to create a collaborative space to formally address and elevate system-wide conversations around gender equity and issues/challenges unique to women in surgery.  Dr. Svahn also served on the Northwell Health Physician Partners Board of Governors (2022-2025), further evidence of her system-wide leadership and involvement in helping to shape the landscape of NHPP.
Beyond Northwell, Dr. Svahn is a member of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Gender Equity Task Force and is a founding board member of the VP&S Women in Medicine Collaborative of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
As a vocal, involved advocate and mentor for women in medicine and surgery, Dr. Svahn is extremely engaged with premedical and medical students, residents and younger attending surgeons pursuing these career paths, and is a frequently invited speaker on various platforms.