Surgical Success
Sentara Albemarle Medical Center’s vascular surgeon excels in quality, patient care and more
Dr. Tarkten Pharr is a key member of the local medical community. As the only vascular surgeon in the region, patients rely on him to provide outstanding care with a high level of expertise. Luckily, not only is Dr. Pharr up to the task, but exceeds well beyond patient expectations.
“Vascular surgery is an interesting field,†Pharr says. “It does involve open procedures, but there are also a lot of technologies that allow for minimally invasive surgeries. It’s a fun, exciting and a challenging specialty, and can sometimes take creativity to solve a problem.â€
Pharr has been at the Sentara Albemarle Medical Center for the past 12 years, though it was acquired by Sentara Healthcare three years ago. At Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, Pharr is able to provide the best patient care possible with access to state-of-the-art, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for vascular disease patients. “I love the community here and spending more time with patients doing what I love,†Pharr says. He adds that modern technology has helped vascular surgery patients with a shorter recovery time, which is a plus for everyone. “There used to be certain conditions that had to be fixed with an open surgery, but now you can do it with aeortic stint graphs and the patient is home the next day,†he says
As a vascular surgeon, Pharr performs procedures that address everything from aortic aneurysms to surgical access for renal failure and pacemaker placement, including the new Medtronic Micra device, a minimally invasive alternative to traditional pacer technology. He says that the one thing that’s most important as a surgeon is becoming more rare – and that’s time spent with patients, both in the clinic and as a face in the community. “You need to be able to spend time with people, especially when discussing a procedure and recovery,†Pharr says. “It can be a challenge sometimes.â€
Despite the challenges, Pharr is well-respected and extremely skilled in his profession, along with many other surgeons in Sentara’s Albemarle Medical Center. The Center offers high-quality, compassionate care in every surgical aspect from total knee replacements to hernia repairs, right here in Northeastern North Carolina. To learn more about Sentara and its surgical services, visit sentara.com/ECSurgery.