Larry W. Kraiss, M.D is a graduate of Vanguard University of Southern California (BA: Science-Chemistry) and Baylor College of Medicine (M.D.). He took his general and vascular surgical training at the University of Washington in Seattle where he spent three years in the vascular biology research laboratory of Dr. Alexander Clowes. He joined the faculty at the University of Utah in 1995 where he established an NIH-funded research laboratory studying translational control in endothelial cells. He served as vascular surgery division chief from 2003-2018 and was director of the vascular surgery fellowship program at the University of Utah from 2003-2012. He is currently Professor of Surgery and Medical Director of the University of Utah Hospital Vascular Laboratory and maintains a broad-based vascular surgery practice. Dr. Kraiss has a robust outreach schedule seeing patients in Roosevelt, Utah, Evanston and Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Dr. Kraiss has received a number of research and teaching awards and has been a regular reviewer for research proposals submitted to the NIH, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). He has served as Chair of the SVS Research Council and Chair of the Executive Committee of the SVS Patient Safety Organization (VQI) and is current Chair of the SVS Quality Council. He is past-president of the Rocky Mountain Vascular Society and the Western Vascular Society. His current research interests center on frailty in vascular surgery patients.
Why Utah? It’s a wonderful place to practice and live. The University of Utah is a top-tier institution situated in a beautiful state drawing patients from numerous surrounding states. We practice vascular surgery at the highest level with a healthy balance of endovascular and open procedures. When you are off duty, there isn’t a better place to be whether it’s snowing or the sun is shining.
Research Statement
My laboratory research involves gene expression by endothelial cells (EC) under both basal and stressed conditions. The goal is to understand how stressed EC alter their function to allow development of vascular disease such as atherosclerosis. In particular, we focus on post-transcriptional and translational control of gene expression in EC. Clinically, I am interested in outcomes research in patients with vascular disease as well as use of non-invasive imaging by the vascular laboratory to assess the status of arteries and veins.
