Michael S. Conte

Dr. Michael S. Conte is Professor of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, where he serves as Co-director of the UCSF Heart & Vascular Center and Chief of the Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery. Specializing in vascular surgery, Dr. Conte focuses on diseases of the aorta, aneurysms, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and diabetic vascular disease, performing complex revascularization procedures to preserve limb function and prevent amputations.

Dr. Conte received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1986, completed surgical residency at Weill Cornell Medicine, and vascular surgery training at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His clinical and research work has significantly advanced the field of vascular surgery, particularly in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) management.

Dr. Conte's research interests center on vascular interventions, limb preservation strategies, diabetic foot complications, and vascular disease outcomes. He led the largest multicenter clinical trial of leg bypass surgery for severe PAD and has been instrumental in the BEST-CLI trial comparing surgical versus endovascular approaches for CLTI. His work investigates mechanisms of vascular injury response, angioplasty and bypass failure, and methods to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes.

Analysis of Dr. Conte's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on CLTI management, diabetic foot care, health disparities in vascular treatment, and quality improvement in vascular surgery. His research spans clinical trials, systematic reviews, guideline development, and health services research, demonstrating consistent contributions to evidence-based vascular care.

• American Heart Association 2019 Peripheral Vascular Disease Distinguished Achievement Award
• San Francisco Magazine 2016 Bay Area Top Doctors
• Best Doctors, Inc. 2015 Best Doctors in America
• New York Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council 2006 Distinguished Achievement Award
• NHLBI/Lifeline 1999 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award

Dr. Conte has secured significant NIH funding for research on diabetic foot care and vascular interventions, serving as Principal Investigator on multiple grants including the UCSF Diabetic Foot Clinical Research Unit (NIH U01DK119100) and research on specialized lipid mediators in vascular injury (NIH R01HL119508). He has established multidisciplinary 'toe and flow' programs at UCSF focused on limb preservation for patients with diabetic foot complications.

As an active member of the Society for Vascular Surgery and Society of University Surgeons, Dr. Conte serves on editorial boards for leading vascular journals and has contributed to clinical practice guidelines. His clinical practice emphasizes complex revascularization procedures, and he is board certified in Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.