Meet the Skilled Professionals Behind Our Vascular Care

Dr. Gerald Richard Fortuna, Jr., is a native of South Carolina.  His early childhood was spent growing up in Surfside Beach while his father was stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.  He currently resides in Surfside with his wife and family.  Dr. Fortuna is a vascular surgeon, and a retired decorated military officer committed to medical excellence and service. With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Fortuna is an established leader in both fields.

Dr. Fortuna completed his fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Texas at Houston and is an alumnus of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He is board-certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery, following comprehensive training programs at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served 30 years in the USAF.  He is a retired Colonel, and his last duty assignment was as Director of the St. Louis Center for the Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, where he oversaw vital training programs that prepared medical teams for complex trauma situations in deployed combat environments.

Col Fortuna's military career is marked by numerous combat deployments as a trauma surgeon supporting Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. His roles have included deployments as a critical care air transport team member and leadership positions within USAFE's Acute Lung Rescue Team and Tactical Critical Care Team-Enhanced. These experiences have honed his expertise in trauma and acute care surgery and hybrid techniques at complex hemorrhage control.  Dr. Fortuna's clinical research focuses on innovative approaches to trauma care, including the management of blunt traumatic aortic dissection and the use of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA).  

Prior to joining Coastal Vascular and Vein, Dr. Fortuna served as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, contributing significantly to the sections of Vascular and Acute/Critical Care Surgery. His dedication to education extends internationally as an instructor at Vascular International in Germany and as a course director for the American College of Surgeons' Basic Endovascular Skills for Trauma (BEST) Course.  He most recently was the Director of Vascular Surgery at Lexington Medical Center in Columbia, SC.

His service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Donald F. Hagen Department of Defense Young Physician Award and multiple Air Force commendations. His leadership and expertise have also earned him a place on the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

Dr. Fortuna's multifaceted career reflects his unwavering dedication to advancing surgical practice and improving patient care. Dr. Fortuna is committed to the Myrtle Beach community and has interests in managing complex aortic conditions, carotid disease, venous wounds, deep venous thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, and limb salvage.  

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