Steven Clark Cunningham, MD, FACS in Baltimore: General and Vascular Surgery with Same-Day Wound Closures
Steven Clark Cunningham is a general and vascular surgeon in Baltimore practicing at University of Maryland Medical Center, a major academic hospital in West Baltimore. His practice covers routine surgical consultations, vascular procedures including dialysis access surgery, and same-day evaluation and wound closure for acute injuries, with the ability to operate same-day when medically necessary.
What he actually does
Cunningham is a board-certified general surgeon with added fellowship training in vascular surgery (indicated by FACS, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a credential requiring board certification and peer review). His scope includes elective hernia repairs, gallbladder surgery, and general surgical problems, combined with vascular-specific work: arteriovenous fistula creation for dialysis patients, carotid intervention, and limb-threatening ischemia. Unlike many suburban surgical practices that refer complex vascular cases to specialized centers, Cunningham's position at an academic medical center means vascular patients can expect in-house imaging, interventional radiology support, and immediate escalation to higher levels of care if needed, without transfer delays.
At University of Maryland Medical Center, his clinic operates within the hospital's surgical service line. Same-day or next-day wound evaluation is available for traumatic lacerations and acute surgical issues, a practical advantage for Baltimore residents who would otherwise wait days for private-practice slots or cycle through urgent care centers unpredictably equipped to manage complex wounds.
Services and typical access
Consultations for surgical problems (hernia, varicose veins, arterial disease, vascular access for dialysis) are scheduled through the hospital operator or the surgical department directly. Insurance copays and deductibles apply according to your plan; there is no separate facility fee beyond what University of Maryland Medical Center charges as a major hospital system. Specific pricing is set by your insurance plan and the hospital's contracted rate, which varies widely. Call University of Maryland Medical Center's main line to confirm current consultation wait times; they change by season and internal demand.
Urgent same-day or next-day wound closures (lacerations, traumatic wounds needing surgical-level closure rather than emergency-room gluing) can often be accommodated if you call the surgical department directly rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment slot. This is particularly useful for wounds in high-motion areas (hands, joints) or those requiring layer-by-layer closure that an ER provider may not perform.
How this compares to other Baltimore surgical options
Most Baltimore general surgeons in private practice do not maintain same-day acute wound-closure availability; they operate in scheduled office blocks and refer acute wounds to emergency departments. Johns Hopkins Hospital and Sinai Hospital also have general surgery on staff, but like University of Maryland, their acute services prioritize emergencies and admitted patients; same-day clinic evaluation is not guaranteed. Meritus Medical Center (Hagerstown, about an hour north) and Calvert Memorial Hospital (Prince Frederick, south) serve suburban communities but lack vascular fellowship expertise and require referral for complex arterial disease.
Cunningham's advantage is twofold: he is a vascular specialist (most Baltimore general surgeons are not), so referral from another surgeon for carotid disease or dialysis-access complications lands directly with someone already trained and credentialed in that work, not someone operating at the edge of their scope. Second, because he practices at an academic hospital with operating suites, he can move urgent cases directly to surgery if findings warrant it, without the transfer delays that plague private-practice models. Choose Cunningham or the University of Maryland surgical service if you have vascular disease, need dialysis access, or have an acute wound requiring same-day surgical closure; choose a private general surgeon if you want a long-term relationship with someone closer to home and can schedule elective hernia repair weeks ahead.
Who this suits and who it does not
This practice suits Baltimore patients with vascular disease (claudication, carotid disease, limb-threatening ischemia), patients needing arteriovenous fistula creation before starting dialysis, and patients with acute traumatic wounds that need same-day surgical closure rather than ER gluing or waiting a week for the next private-practice slot. It also suits people with complex surgical problems (recurrent hernias, challenging anatomy) who benefit from the academic-hospital environment and access to interventional radiology and vascular imaging under one roof.
This does not suit patients seeking a small-practice, long-term surgical relationship or those who strongly prefer local neighborhood-based care; University of Maryland Medical Center is in West Baltimore, and parking, traffic, and distance matter if you live in Canton, Fed Hill, or outer counties. If you need routine hernia repair on a set schedule with minimal complexity, a private general surgeon closer to home will deliver the same outcome faster and with less bureaucratic friction.
What your first visit involves
Call University of Maryland Medical Center's main line and request surgical consultation with Dr. Cunningham or the general and vascular surgery clinic. You will be assigned an appointment (typically 1 to 3 weeks out for elective consultation, but ask about earlier urgent slots if you have acute symptoms). Bring insurance cards and a list of current medications. The visit itself covers history, physical examination, and imaging review if imaging was done elsewhere; during the first visit, Cunningham will decide if surgery is indicated, what type, and timing. For elective vascular work or hernia repair, you will schedule the operating room as a second step. For acute wounds, state that when you call; same-day or next-day evaluation may be possible.
Hours, parking, and logistics
University of Maryland Medical Center operates 24/7. The surgical clinic operates weekdays during standard business hours (typically 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); call ahead to confirm current clinic hours. Parking is available in the hospital's main garage (fee required, typically $5 to $8 for short visits, more for extended stays) or validated if you arrange it through the surgical department. The main campus is located at 22 South Greene Street in West Baltimore, accessible via I-95 north or local streets. Public transportation: the light rail (Camden Line) serves the hospital area.
Cunningham's practice at an academic teaching hospital positions him as the logical referral for complex vascular surgery in Baltimore and the right first call if you need same-day wound closure.
