Donna Mendes '73 is a senior vascular surgeon at St. Luke's-Roosevelt SLR Hospital Center, having been there since completing her vascular fellowship at Englewood Hospital in 1984. She has been chief of vascular services at SLR, and at North General Hospital, one of SLR's affiliated hospitals. At present, she is site director of vascular surgery at St. Luke's, and assistant clinical professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Donna Mendes, recipient of the Award for Alumni Achievement

Donna, who was raised in Roosevelt, New York, and attended Sacred Heart Academy, came to attend Hofstra at the encouragement of her father. "He offered to buy me a car if I would continue to live at home and attend Hofstra," she laughs. But Donna got a lot more out of her classes at the University than a set of wheels. She was acing science classes for her declared major in speech pathology, and soon switched over to premed. "My adviser, Beatrice Nivens, was very encouraging, and she is still a friend to this day," says Donna.

Donna holds the distinction of being the first African American female vascular surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery. Being a pioneer in this way was not something she recognized immediately. "I was busy just doing my best in my work, so it didn't hit me right away. I came to realize I was different because there were not many female vascular surgeons in general. I would go to large conferences and conventions and the vast majority of the people there were white men."

She continues, "Clearly there are still challenges in the health care profession for minorities. Some of the same people that I went through school and training with received a lot more mentoring and guidance along the way than I did. In many ways I'm considered a role model, so it's up to me to be a mentor to other women - both white and minority - interested in vascular surgery."

And she certainly has been an influence and inspiration to others. Donna says her distinction as the first certified African American female vascular surgeon has been surpassed by her satisfaction of having at least three young women in her residency program become certified and practicing vascular surgeons.

Donna is clearly energized by her profession. "You always have to be on the cutting edge. It's a very challenging and fulfilling profession," she says. "The other side is that you don't always have well-defined time off. You think about the surgery you just did the day before. Your work is on your mind after you leave the office."

Peripheral arterial disease, which is little understood by the general population and often misunderstood or diagnosed too late, is Donna's main focus today. Early on, it was clear to her that the incidence and the pattern of vascular disease were different in her Upper Manhattan patient population. There were high numbers of stroke and amputation, with a lower incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms. It remains unclear if these disparities are racial or economic, but this the clinical research Donna is presently developing.

In fact, St. Luke's-Roosevelt, along with Columbia University, Mount Sinai Hospital, and North General Hospital, is participating in an Upper Manhattan initiative to foster cooperation among the hospitals for disease management and information sharing. Management of peripheral arterial disease is being considered in an attempt to reduce the rate of amputation.

Donna was recently an oral examiner for the Vascular Boards of the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the advisory council for vascular surgery for the American College of Surgeons. She was on the board of the Association of Black Cardiologists and, while there, she participated in a women's heart education video with Maya Angelou and her patient, Sylvia, owner and namesake of the esteemed Harlem restaurant.

Donna's belief is that although she can perform a bypass to alleviate the symptoms of poor circulation and prevent an amputation, the lesson to be learned is that prevention is a way of life. "Exercise, eating properly and knowing your family history are vital to your health. If I knew that a history of heart problems existed in my family, I would never eat foods high in fat or be caught with a cigarette in my hand. Lifestyle is so important," she says with the knowledge of someone who sees the physical toll of unhealthy living on a regular basis.

Donna has presented at several national and local meetings, and authored many articles. She has been married to Ronald E. LaMotte since 1986, and resides in Englewood, New Jersey. She is active with several community projects, is a member of the national women's organization the Links, and mentors young women who wish to enter the medical profession.