Meet Dr. Rizwan H. Bukhari

Rizwan H, Bukhari, M.D., F.A.C.S., known to his patients as Dr. Riz, is a vascular surgeon in the Dallas area and has been in practice for over twenty years. He is the North Texas Vascular Center owner, where he offers diagnostic services and minimally invasive outpatient procedures largely related to amputation prevention and limb salvage. 

His primary hospital is Baylor Sunnyvale, where he was formerly the Chief of Surgery. Currently, Dr. Bukhari serves on their Board of Directors and Board of Trustees and is Chief of Staff of the hospital. 

Training:

Dr. Riz attended Johns Hopkins University, followed by medical school at UT Southwestern. He completed a five-year general residency in Dallas and a two-year fellowship in Vascular Surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received specialized training in advanced minimally invasive procedures. 

Specialization:

As a board-certified vascular surgeon, Dr. Bukhari treats various vascular issues, including aneurysms, carotid artery stenosis, lower extremity arterial blockages, gangrene, dialysis access grafts, and varicose veins. He has a specific interest in minimally invasive procedures such as atherectomy, angioplasty, and stenting for limb salvage and amputation prevention. 

In his twenty years in practice, Dr. Bukhari has treated patients with severe advanced atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. He has seen the ravaging effects of poor lifestyle choices on his patients’ health. Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, such as obesity, tobacco use, hypertension, and diabetes, are largely acquired diseases secondary to the foods we eat and our lifestyle choices. Dr. Bukhari promotes food as medicine and a healthy lifestyle to help his patients and the general public prevent, halt, and in some cases even reverse disease. 

In the last few years, he has become a member of several pro-health organizations such as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Walk With A Doc, and Plant Pure Communities. As a Plant Pure Communities pod leader, his goal has been to stimulate interest in how poor food choices can contribute to cardiovascular disease. In contrast, healthier whole plant-based foods can help prevent and even reverse the same conditions. 

Before the pandemic, he was very active alongside his wife Maya in offering lectures, movie screenings, guest speakers, and potlucks to the Dallas community to offer education and support for people making the transition to a plant-based diet. 

In 2019, Dr. Bukhari achieved board certification in Lifestyle Medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Today he prescribes a diet comprised of mainly whole plant-based foods, exercise as medicine, adequate sleep, and tips on managing stress to improve overall health and quality of life. 

In January 2020, Dr. Bukhari completed his eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition certification to help educate himself on how consuming plant-based foods helps improve health and is good for the animals and the planet. Dr. Bukhari spent most of 2020 growing an indoor hydroponics garden to teach individuals how to grow their own green leafy vegetables, microgreens, and sprouts. These are said to be amongst the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and are rich in nitric oxide, which is also good for arterial health. 

As a result of the current COVID pandemic, Dr. Bukhari has become more vocal about the importance of optimizing health to minimize complications resulting from a COVID exposure. He has previously partnered with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in their Fight COVID-19 With Food class series to help educate the public that co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes can put patients at greater risk for complications if infected with the virus. In 2020, he participated in several online summits related to the power of plant-based foods.

Dr. Bukhari is the cohost of the Plant-Based DFW Podcast show that features physicians, health coaches, dietitians, and chefs who share their knowledge about the power of adopting a plant-based diet. The show also covers testimonies by individuals who have seen significant improvements in overall health due to switching to a plant-based lifestyle. 

As a plant-based physician, Dr. Riz has 4 main missions: 

1. To educate individuals on taking control of their own health through better nutrition and better lifestyle choices.  
2. To unite, elevate, and grow the Dallas plant-based community. 
3. To educate other healthcare professionals and physicians on the importance of plant-based nutrition so they, too, can incorporate this into their patient education and treatment. 
4. To reach out to medical students and residents in training to teach them about plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, understanding that they will be the future leaders to teach our patients.

DIRECTORIES

• American College of Lifestyle Medicine
• Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
• Plant Pure Communities
• Walk With A Doc

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
• Texas Medical Association
• Dallas County Medical Society 
• American College of Lifestyle Medicine
• Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
• Walk With A Doc
• Plant Pure Communities 

EDUCATION

Medical School:  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Residency:  St. Paul Medical Center, Dallas

Fellowship:  Good Samaritan Hospital Cincinnati, OH

Undergraduate:  Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Board Certified:  General Surgery & General Vascular Surgery, Lifestyle Medicine

Clinical Expertise:  Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

Languages:  English, Spanish