Fritz Bech, MD

Clinical Focus

• Vascular Surgery

Administrative Appointments

• Clerkship Director, Surgery 300A, Stanford University School of Medicine (2008 - present)
• Medical Director, Vascular Laboratory, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (2007 - present)
• Division Chief, Vascular Surgery, Crozer Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania (2002 - 2007)
• Vice President, Medical Staff, Taylor Hospital, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (2005 - 2007)

Honors and Awards

• Newton Prize in English Literature, Haverford College (1976)
• High Honors in English Literature, Haverford College (1976)
• Family and Community Medicine Prize, Medical College of Pennsylvania (1985)
• Alpha Omega Alpha Award for Clinical Excellence, Medical College of Pennsylvania (1985)
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical College of Pennsylvania (1985)

Professional Education

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Surgery

Research Interests

I am interested in the effects of new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies on medical decision making, patient outcomes, and cost. Current projects include the CLEVER trial, comparing treatments for intermittent claudication; effect of new IVC filter technology on DVT management; and the role of percutaneous intervention in the management of AV fistula maturation.

Publications

• Thrombolytic therapy for mesenteric ischemia Bech FR, Gewertz BL. Postgraduate Vascular Surgery. 1992; 3 (2)
• Hemodynamic effects of glucagon after acute mesenteric ischemia in rats Sardella GT, Bech FR, Cronenwett JL. Journal of Surgical Research. 1990; (49): 354-360
• Increased platelet deposition on PTFE grafts after balloon catheter thrombectomy Bech FR, Galt SW, Cronenwett JL. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 1990; (11): 804-810
• The effect of glucose infusion on survival after acute mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion Gerstle JT, Bech FR, Walsh DB, Cronenwett JL. Journal of Investigational Surgery. 1990; 1 (3): 33-37
• The effect of thromboxane receptor blockade versus thromboxane synthase inhibition on canine arterial graft patency Bech FR, Cronenwett JL, McDaniel MD, Ogletree ML. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 1990: 12 119-125