Mark David Gonze, MD in Baltimore: Vascular Medicine at University of Maryland Medical System

Dr. Mark David Gonze is a vascular medicine specialist based at University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore's largest academic health system by patient volume, where he evaluates and manages arterial and venous disease, including peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, and limb-threatening conditions. His practice bridges outpatient consultation and interventional care, serving patients referred from Baltimore-area primary care physicians and emergency departments.

What Dr. Gonze's practice actually is

The vascular medicine division at UMMS operates within the Department of Surgery and specializes in the non-surgical and minimally invasive management of blood vessel disease. Gonze sees established and new patients on a referral basis, typically from internists, cardiologists, and emergency medicine providers across Baltimore. His clinic evaluates patients presenting with leg pain during walking, non-healing wounds, swelling, or abnormal ultrasound findings. The practice works in parallel with interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons within the UMMS network; Gonze's role focuses on medical stabilization, risk factor modification, and determining when catheter-based intervention or surgical referral is appropriate. Unlike primary care, this specialty rarely handles acute walk-in demand; instead, it functions as a secondary consultation.

Services and typical referral pathways

A first consultation with Dr. Gonze typically includes a history focused on claudication, rest pain, ulceration, and previous vascular events, followed by a physical examination and office-based duplex ultrasound to assess blood flow in the legs and arms. If imaging findings are significant, the patient may be scheduled for CT or MR angiography at a UMMS facility, with results reviewed and a management plan developed during a follow-up visit. Patients with acute limb-threatening ischemia bypass the clinic and go directly to the interventional suite or operating room through the emergency department.

Costs for an initial vascular medicine consultation at UMMS depend on insurance and verification status but typically range from $150 to $300 out-of-pocket for established commercial insurance holders; Medicare and Medicaid rates are lower. Imaging (ultrasound, CTA, MRA) adds $500 to $2,000 per study, depending on the modality and whether contrast is used. Insurance prior authorization is often required, particularly for advanced imaging and any planned intervention. Patients without established insurance should request a financial counselor at UMMS before or immediately after scheduling.

How Dr. Gonze's practice compares to other Baltimore vascular specialists

Baltimore has several vascular medicine programs, and the choice depends partly on insurance coverage and referral source. Johns Hopkins Hospital operates a separate vascular surgery and interventional radiology division with its own set of vascular medicine consultants; Hopkins' practices tend to serve patients within the Hopkins network and those with commercial insurance. MedStar Health operates a smaller vascular service at Union Memorial Hospital, which maintains shorter average wait times but offers fewer research and fellowship-training opportunities.

A patient should choose UMMS-based care if referred by a UMMS primary physician or hospitalized within UMMS, as continuity of care and internal coordination are seamless. A patient with Johns Hopkins insurance or already receiving cardiology care at Johns Hopkins may find Hopkins vascular consultants more integrated with their existing medical team. MedStar and Union Memorial may offer slightly faster appointment availability in some months, particularly for routine follow-up. For complex, limb-threatening disease or consideration of novel endovascular techniques, UMMS and Johns Hopkins both have interventional capacity and active case volumes; the choice is less about quality than about insurance network alignment.

Who this practice suits and does not suit

Dr. Gonze's practice is appropriate for patients with suspected or confirmed arterial disease (claudication, rest pain, tissue loss), venous disease (swelling, varicose veins, post-thrombotic syndrome), or aortic disease requiring medical optimization before intervention. Patients needing a second opinion on previous vascular imaging or those transitioning from emergency care to outpatient management are also well-suited.

Patients seeking vascular preventive care or risk-factor counseling without imaging findings may be better served by a primary care physician or cardiologist, as vascular medicine is subspecialty consultation, not screening. Patients without a clear vascular diagnosis or referral are unlikely to be scheduled, as the clinic does not accept direct-to-specialty walk-ins or self-referrals.

What a first visit involves

New patients are asked to provide medical records and prior imaging (ultrasound reports, CT or MR angiograms, EKG) at the time of scheduling. Bring a list of current medications, blood pressure logs if available, and information on smoking history, dialysis status if applicable, and prior surgeries. The appointment typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Insurance cards and identification must be present; if you have not verified coverage, expect to spend 10 to 15 additional minutes in the waiting area with financial staff. Some patients complete office duplex ultrasound the same day; others are scheduled for advanced imaging after the clinic visit.

Hours, location, and logistics

UMMS vascular clinics are located at the University of Maryland Medical Center campus on West Pratt Street, with additional satellite clinics in Sykesville and Glen Burnie. Main campus clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some providers offer early-morning or afternoon slots. Parking at the Medical Center costs $5 per hour in the adjacent Lexington Street parking garage, or $8 per day; ask the front desk about validation options if your visit is covered by a research protocol. Verify current office hours and appointment availability by calling the Department of Surgery's vascular clinic directly, as scheduling details may shift seasonally.

Dr. Gonze's expertise in peripheral arterial disease and his integration within UMMS's full interventional and surgical infrastructure make him a natural choice for Baltimore patients whose primary physicians are within the UMMS network or who require coordination across multiple vascular disciplines.