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Vascular interventional radiologist Joseph Stavas, MD, of the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care, works with UNC physicians from 14 different departments to provide comprehensive care for vascular malformations.


Vascular interventional radiologist Joseph Stavas, MD, of the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care, works with UNC physicians from 14 different departments to provide comprehensive care for vascular malformations.

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Joseph Stavas, MD
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Darlene Pitcher, patient in the UNC Hemangioma and Vascular Malformations Clinic

Darlene Pitcher of Wilson, NC has been suffering from a congenital vascular malformation since birth. Her right arm, shoulder, and chest are covered in red and purple welts, causing her chronic pain in both her arms, reduced ability to move, and migraines. After seeking treatment from physicians in Boston, Colorado, and Minnesota, Darlene had given up hope that she would ever be pain-free.

Enter the exceptional multidisciplinary team that makes up the UNC Hemangioma and Vascular Malformations Clinic. Vascular interventional radiologist, Joseph Stavas, MD, of the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care, is one of the physicians leading the way on this extraordinary effort to treat patients with vascular malformations.

More than five years ago, Dr. Stavas began working regularly with other physicians at UNC on hard-to-treat cases such as Darlene Pitcher.

“Patients such as Darlene may come to UNC for what we think is only a vascular malformation, but once we begin treatment, we realize that a multidisciplinary approach is crucial to treatment and a successful outcome,” says Dr. Stavas.

Click here to read more about Darlene’s story and about the multidisciplinary approach used by Heart and Vascular for hard-to-treat cases.