Our Staff
Our Staff consists of well-experienced professionals working closely together to deliver the highest level health care with superior communication, compassion and respect. We are all deeply committed to providing services that we would expect ourselves. Honesty, openness and professionalism remain the cornerstone of how we practice medicine.
Dr. Vazales and James Gracy, PA-C work closely together in developing and implementing specific treatment plans. Clinicians Val Jons, RN and Ginny Vogel, MA perform the initial vein screening, assist in evaluations and procedures, and arrange testing and followup assesments.
Brad Vazales, MD
Dr. Vazales has been performing heart, lung and vascular surgery for over twenty-five years. The last ten years he was the Medical Director of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital. Prior to that, he was Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania. He has remained on the cutting edge of new technology and surgical techniques for complex heart and lung surgeries. Unfortunately (though not uncommon to this profession), Dr. Vazales is no longer physically able to perform these complex surgeries. A physical disability has put a premature end to an outstanding surgical career. However, Dr. Vazales's experience makes him an excellent resource for second opinions, surgeon referrals and patient management issues. He continues to be very active in the treatment of venous reflux disease.
James Gracy, PA-C
James Gracy, PA-C joined Great Lakes Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery in October 2007. He has worked side by side with Dr. Vazales for the last ten years. He has been on staff at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital since 1991 in the Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Department. He has been the first assistant in at least 5000 open heart surgeries and pioneered minimally invasive endoscopic vein harvesting. Since joining Great Lakes, he has performed over 750 vein procedures in our office.
Val Jons, RN
Val Jons, RN has been with Great Lakes since 2002 and participates in all aspects of patient care including assisting our office surgical procedures. She has been on staff at NMRH for 24 years and continues to work periodically as a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit. (Val was the team leader, co-manager and clinical supervisor of the ICU at NMRH during her tenure.) She was awarded the prestigous Nightingale Award which recognizes Excellence in Nursing Practice.
Ginny Vogel, MA
Ginny Vogel, MA has been on staff at Great Lakes Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery since its beginning in 1999. She has an extensive understanding of venous insufficiency and has tremendous insight into insurance requirements, treatment options and patient care. She remains a tremendous resource to our patients and their families.
Therese Bickford-Laub, RVT
Therese Bickford- Laub is a Registered Vascular Technologist and the Technical Director of our vascular laboratory. She brings a broad background of experience in all aspects of vascular tehcnology examinations. Therese has been a Vascular Technologist for 21 years, starting her career in Washington, DC where she trained at Georgetown University Hospital. After returning to Michigan, she worked at Detroit Medical Center and William Beaumont Hospital before relocating to Northern Michigan. As a member of our team, she is dedicated to serving patients by performing quality vascular ultrasound examinations with compassion and humor.
Pam Trombley
Pam Trombley is an aerospace engineer by training and has been our Practice Manager for the last two years. Prior to that, Pam was in charge of our billing department. She possesses creative organizational and managerial skills and a comprehensive knowledge of insurance workings.
Lisa Ross
Lisa Ross, our Medical Records Administrator, is "the glue" that holds us all together. She is intensely involved in practice philosophy, medical records, office management and operations, transcription, and information dissemination. Lisa has been with Great Lakes since its inception.
Theresa Love
Theresa Love is the Great Lakes receptionist and is the first smiling contact patients have with our practice whether they call or walk in the door. She is always kind, compassionate and organized. She is a wonderful resource for scheduling, insurance and billing issues for patients and their families.