After over a decade of rigorous medical education, Angela Gucwa is on the cusp of a new phase in her busy life. The vascular surgery fellow 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 independently. “It feels surreal,” said Angela Gucwa. “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.”

Angela Gucwa is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Athens, and the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia cum laude in 2002 with a degree in biology. “I was pre-med in undergrad, which meant a lot of time in the lab and not a lot of fun, 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,” explained Angela Gucwa.

Before coming to the Greenville Health System, Angela Gucwa was a resident at the Medical College of Georgia. Angela Gucwa completed both a general surgery residency and spent time as a research resident. “I found research really rewarding,” said Angela Gucwa. “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.”

After completing her vascular surgery fellowship in June of 2014, 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.”