Education

• MD, Indiana University Medical School, Indianapolis, IN, 1973
• Internship and Residency, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, 1973-1978
• Fellow, GI and Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, England, 1978-1980
• Instructor in Vascular Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, 1981-1982
• Peripheral Vascular Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1982-1983

Clinical Specialties

Dr. Acher is certified by the American Board of Surgery, with a certificate of additional qualifications in vascular surgery. His clinical interests include prevention of ischemic spinal cord injury in repair of thoraco-abdominal aneurysms (TAA), renal and visceral arterial occlusive disease, minimally invasive endovascular surgery, treatment of cerebral vascular occlusive disease for stroke prevention (carotid and subclavian revascularization), and limb salvage in severe vascular disease.

Dr. Acher provides a wide range of services including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair - Endovascular, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair - Open, Amputation, Angioplasty With Stent Placement, Carotid Endartecotomy, Carotid Stenting, Compartment Syndrome Treatments, Extended Efforts in Limb Salvage, Peripheral Artery Bypass, Thoracic Aortic Aneursym - Endovascular, Thoracic Aortic Aneursym - Open, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Treatment, and Varicose Vein Treatment.

Research Interests

Dr. Acher’s current research activities include participation in a VA cooperative study on aneurysm detection and management, research in treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysm, and prevention of paraplegia in thoracic aneurysm surgery.

Active Clinical Trials

• An Evaluation of the GORE Conformable TAG® Thoracic Endoprosthesis for the Primary Treatment of Aneurysm of the Descending Thoracic Aortic
  Principal Investigator(s): Charles W Acher, MD
  Status: Active, not recruiting
  [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00874250]
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Recent Publications

• Pulse Wave Velocity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults.
  Zhong W, Cruickshanks KJ, Schubert CR, Carlsson CM, Chappell RJ, Klein BE, Klein R, Acher CW
  Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2013 Apr 28.
  [PubMed ID: 23632267]
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• Low incidence of paraplegia after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair with proactive spinal cord protective protocols.
  Bobadilla JL, Wynn M, Tefera G, Acher CW
  J. Vasc. Surg. 2013 Mar 13.
  [PubMed ID: 23490292]
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• Carotid atherosclerosis and 10-year changes in cognitive function.
  Zhong W, Cruickshanks KJ, Schubert CR, Acher CW, Carlsson CM, Klein BE, Klein R, Chappell RJ
  Atherosclerosis 2012 Oct; 224(2):506-10.
  [PubMed ID: 22854188, PMC ID: 3459157]
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• Infection control knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare workers at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
  Sethi AK, Acher CW, Kirenga B, Mead S, Donskey CJ, Katamba A
  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012 Sep; 33(9):917-23.
  [PubMed ID: 22869266]
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• Institutional variation in the surgical treatment of breast cancer: a study of the NCCN.
  Greenberg CC, Lipsitz SR, Hughes ME, Edge SB, Theriault R, Wilson JL, Carter WB, Blayney DW, Niland J, Weeks JC
  Ann. Surg. 2011 Aug; 254(2):339-45.
  [PubMed ID: 21725233, PMC ID: 3428030]
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• Socioeconomic status and subclinical atherosclerosis in older adults.
  Nash SD, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein R, Klein BE, Nieto FJ, Ryff CD, Krantz EM, Shubert CR, Nondahl DM, Acher CW
  Prev Med 2011 Mar-Apr; 52(3-4):208-12.
  [PubMed ID: 21195728, PMC ID: 3062713]
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• It is not just assisted circulation, hypothermic arrest, or clamp and sew.
  Acher C
  J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2010 Dec; 140(6 Suppl):S136-41; discussion S142-S146.
  [PubMed ID: 21092780]
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• Outcomes in open repair of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta.
  Acher C, Wynn M
  J. Vasc. Surg. 2010 Oct; 52(4 Suppl):3S-9S.
  [PubMed ID: 20709481]
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• Presurgical localization of the artery of Adamkiewicz with time-resolved 3.0-T MR angiography.
  Bley TA, Duffek CC, François CJ, Schiebler ML, Acher CW, Mell M, Grist TM, Reeder SB
  Radiology 2010 Jun; 255(3):873-81.
  [PubMed ID: 20501724]
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• Effect of early plasma transfusion on mortality in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
  Mell MW, O'Neil AS, Callcut RA, Acher CW, Hoch JR, Tefera G, Turnipseed WD
  Surgery 2010 Nov; 148(5):955-62.
  [PubMed ID: 20378142]
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