Sept. 23, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Sanford Health.

Dr. Thekla Bacharach is one of three fellowship-trained and board-certified surgeons at Sanford Vascular Associates and the only female vascular surgeon in South Dakota.

Bacharach grew up in a family of healthcare providers and always knew she wanted to work in healthcare.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted to go into the medical field,” Bacharach said. “My grandfather worked in public health. My father is an interventional cardiologist. He was and still is a huge inspiration in my life.”

Studies here and abroad

Bacharach is a Sioux Falls native.

“Growing up here, you know what a unique and special place it is,” she said.

In addition to her South Dakota upbringing, she gained experience abroad as a foreign exchange student in Germany her sophomore year of high school.

After high school, Bacharach attended Macalester College in St. Paul, where she majored in biology. She also studied for a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark, learning about the different healthcare systems there.

She then went to medical school in Australia and New Orleans through a partnership between the University of Queensland and the Ochsner Clinical School.

Her general surgery residency took her to Greenville, South Carolina, for five years, where she was able to do a rotation in Cameroon in central Africa.

“It was incredible and humbling,” Bacharach said. “The international experiences throughout my life have not only given me a love and appreciation of many cultures but also a greater appreciation of family and friends and how special it is to be home and raise my son with such loving support.”

A return to her roots

When the opportunity presented itself, Bacharach was grateful to join Sanford Health and be in Sioux Falls again.

“Sioux Falls has the infrastructure and opportunity of a much larger city. And Sanford Health has state-of-the-art equipment, access to all the new technology, and dedicated and hardworking healthcare providers,” Bacharach said. “You can tell people love coming to work here. It is a happy place to be. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Her philosophy of care

Bacharach enjoys partnering with patients to find the best treatments for their condition and lifestyle.

She offers minimally invasive vascular surgery, wound care and procedures that improve circulation and lower the risk of stroke.

Bacharach focuses on using advanced techniques and technology to improve her patients’ lives.

One of these techniques is the transcarotid artery revascularization procedure. TCAR involves placing a stent to treat carotid artery disease, which is the second-leading cause of stroke.

“This newer technology is revolutionizing carotid artery revascularization for the prevention of strokes,” she said.

In addition to treating carotid artery disease, Bacharach uses advanced endovascular therapies to treat peripheral artery disease, a condition that restricts blood flow to the legs and can cause pain and limited mobility. In severe cases, PAD can threaten limb health.

Using minimally invasive techniques such as angioplasty, stenting and other vessel-opening technologies, Bacharach can restore circulation and help patients return to the activities they enjoy with less pain, discomfort, numbness and tingling.

“Advances in PAD treatment are allowing us to improve blood flow with less invasive procedures, helping patients reduce symptoms, stay active and maintain their quality of life,” Bacharach said. “Identifying vascular disease early can make a huge difference in a patient’s health.”

Advancing vascular care

Bacharach chose to become fellowship trained so she could bring that expertise to Sioux Falls.

Her two-year vascular surgery fellowship was with Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. The knowledge and experience she gained there proved invaluable.

“I had the privilege of training under some of the most hardworking and skilled vascular surgeons,” Bacharach said. “Their dedication to patients as well as education and teaching truly shaped who I am today.”

That experience helped Bacharach become a leader in her field, and now she’s advancing vascular care in South Dakota.

“We hope to create an aortic center of excellence and start a vascular fellow training program for future leaders in the field,” Bacharach said.

Encouraging future providers

As the vascular care field continues to grow, it offers many opportunities for students.

“Vascular surgery is a very rewarding yet challenging specialty. It demands a great attention to detail and a high level of technical skill,” Bacharach said. “It also allows for creativity and outside-the-box thinking, which is what has driven the technological advances and innovation.”

Her advice to young people looking at a career in medicine is simple.

“Finding something you are passionate about is what turns a job into something you live for.”

Appointments can be scheduled at Sanford Vascular Associates by calling 605-312-7300. No referral is needed. Next-day appointments are available for referring providers.