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    Benjamin Starnes, MD

    Professor of Surgery
    University of Washington
    Vascular Surgery

    Biography 2026
    Benjamin W. Starnes, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a board certified vascular surgeon at Harborview Medical Center. Dr. Starnes is a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery for UW Medicine in Seattle, Washington. He also held the Alexander Whitehill Clowes Endowed Chair in Vascular Surgery. He was the longest serving Division Chief at the University of Washington from 2007 to 2024.


    Dr. Starnes is recognized nationally and internationally for his work in complex aortic pathology and vascular trauma, most notably the management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms and acute aortic syndromes. Prior to accepting his position at the University of Washington, Dr. Starnes spent a total of 15 years in the United States Army serving three combat tours, one in Kosovo and two in Iraq. He is the principal investigator for one of only a handful of physician-sponsored Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE) in the United States involving physician-modified fenestrated endografts. Dr. Starnes’ extensive research involvement combined with his clinical and technical abilities provides him with opportunities to speak regularly at medical conferences around the world. He has accepted thirty-five national visiting professorships and lectured internationally on five continents and in sixteen different countries including France, Belgium, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and China. He has been author or co-author of over 170 peer-reviewed publications with half as first or senior author. He created and edited the only textbook solely dedicated to the management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. On 9/11/2001 Dr. Starnes was a first responder to the Pentagon and is featured in the book, American Phoenix; Heroes of the Pentagon on 9/11. Dr. Starnes’ editorial review responsibilities with the leading vascular journals include The Journal of Vascular Surgery, Circulation, New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet and he won 2020 Reviewer of the Year for the Journal of Vascular Surgery. He was President of the Western Vascular Society in 2020.


    Personal Interests
    Dr. Starnes enjoys time with his family, woodworking, golfing, alpine climbing and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

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