Angela Gucwa is about to realize a lifelong dream by becoming a board-certified vascular surgeon. It is a dream that began even before she attended the University of Georgia in Athens, starting in the late 1990s.
Angela Gucwa earned a degree in biology from UGA, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2002. “I was pre-med in undergrad, which meant a lot of time in the lab and not a lot of fun,” Angela Gucwa remembers. “But the hours spent over organic chemistry problem sets was well worth it. I’m a surgeon now, and that’s always been my goal.”

From UGA, Angela Gucwa immersed herself in the study of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University. GRU was an excellent choice for this ambitious and goal-oriented young woman. GRU students are taught by some of the most prestigious scientists, clinicians, and scholars in the United States. Faculty members not only convey vital information, they conduct extensive research to optimize wellness and quality of life. “I found research really rewarding,” Angela Gucwa says now. “I published some interesting papers as a researcher – even the ones on carbohydrates – and doing research gave me a new approach to surgery. It made me more interested in the process, rather than just the results.”

Angela Gucwa will be completing her fellowship in the Greenville Health System in just a few months and looks forward to completing her vascular surgery boards so that she can begin practicing on her own. “It feels surreal,” Angela Gucwa said. “I started medical school in 2002, then residency in 2006, and it’s only in 2014 that I will be truly headed out on my own as a surgeon.”

One she completes her vascular surgery fellowship in June, Angela Gucwa intends to pursue a vascular surgery position in a major city and begin the next chapter of her life. “I’m really interested in experiencing the fast-paced world of medicine in a metropolitan center. I’ve practiced mostly in more suburban areas.” With the completion of her fellowship fast approaching, Angela Gucwa believes she has cultivated the necessary skills to become a highly skilled and successful surgeon. “I’ve worked with immensely talented and well recognized doctors and that work has given me a real sense of confidence in my work as a surgeon.”