Michael L. Schwartz, MD, has been honored as a 2024 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the 20th year he has received this prestigious accolade. This recognition places Dr. Schwartz among the top 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians chosen annually for their specialties by the Castle Connolly research team.
Dr. Schwartz is a highly respected vascular surgeon with over 25 years of experience. He is affiliated with Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates and primarily serves patients in Rockland County and Orange County, New York. Certified in both general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Schwartz is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, he holds certification as a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation®, making him an expert in interpreting vascular ultrasound images.
Dr. Schwartz's expertise extends to treating a range of vascular diseases, including aortic aneurysms, carotid stenosis, limb-salvage procedures, varicose veins, and dialysis access. He is proficient in the latest minimally invasive treatments but also has substantial experience performing open surgeries when necessary. Dr. Schwartz emphasizes a conservative approach to treatment, opting for non-operative management of vascular problems whenever possible. He believes that surgical interventions should only be used when absolutely necessary, a philosophy that has earned him the trust of referring physicians and patients alike.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Schwartz serves in several leadership roles. Since 2020, he has been the chief of surgery at WMC Health/Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY, where he previously served as chief of vascular surgery for nearly 17 years. He has also been chief of vascular surgery at Montefiore Nyack Hospital since 2004 and an attending surgeon at Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla, NY, since 2016.
Dr. Schwartz's educational background includes a medical degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, followed by a four-year surgery residency and a two-year vascular surgery fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He also holds an undergraduate degree in microbiology, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctors list is highly regarded in the medical community, with honorees selected based on criteria such as medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Physicians cannot pay to be included on the list, ensuring that the recognition is based solely on merit.
Dr. Schwartz attributes his repeated nominations to the positive experiences of his patients and the trust of his peers. He takes pride in the personalized, high-quality care provided by Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates, where patients receive university-quality treatment in a small community setting. The practice's commitment to accessibility and compassionate care further enhances the patient experience, contributing to Dr. Schwartz's continued recognition as a top doctor.
