San Antonio’s Southside is home to a very special community of creators, hard workers, and people that inspire–many of which own small businesses in and around the Southside. The VIDA San Antonio Makers and Shakers blog series showcases these unique businesses and their owners. Each addition to the series offers new insight into the community and the gente that make the Southside so unique.
This month’s feature highlights Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, a vascular surgeon and founder of the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic. Dr. Ochoa has dedicated her career to expanding access to high-quality vascular care on the Southside and beyond.
Tell us about yourself and your business.
I am a vascular surgeon originally from Mission, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. I completed medical school, general surgery residency, and vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
I moved to San Antonio in 2011 and, after several years in group practice, founded the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic in 2018. What began with me and eight employees has now grown to more than 34 team members. Our mission from the start has been to address diabetes-related amputations, which are highest in San Antonio’s Southside and Southeast ZIP codes.
We now operate six clinics across San Antonio and three additional clinics in Floresville, Pearsall, and Jourdanton. In addition, we opened Mission Surgery Center, the Southside’s only Medicare-accredited vascular surgery center, built in the heart of the community.
What inspired you to become a physician and open your own practice?
Growing up, many of my family members struggled with diabetes, and my grandmother had an amputation. I didn’t think medicine was within reach, but I earned an eight-year scholarship to Baylor College of Medicine, which changed my life. My father would not let me pass up that opportunity, and it put me on the path to medicine.
I was drawn to surgery because of the challenge and the sense of accomplishment it brings. I chose vascular surgery because you can see the impact immediately when restoring blood flow. Vascular disease is lifelong which means I build long-term, meaningful relationships with patients and their families.
I love the range of treatment options, from lifestyle changes to minimally invasive procedures to open surgery. The field is always evolving with new technology, which keeps me learning and focused on patient-centered care.
“Vascular surgeons are one of the few specialists who form life-long relationships with patients. That makes my work deeply personal.”
How does your clinic specifically serve the Southside community?
We intentionally focus on underserved communities where access to care is most limited. When a Southside hospital closed in 2023, we saw an immediate increase in amputations. It was a clear reminder of how fragile healthcare access is in these areas.
Healthcare is shaped by social determinants of health including factors like access to healthy food, safe places to exercise, education, transportation, and health literacy. Recognizing this, we also helped found the nonprofit Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas (CHEST) to address these broader community needs.
How do you see your clinic continuing to grow its role in improving healthcare on the Southside?
We’re actively recruiting more surgeons and specialists, such as podiatrists and pain management physicians, to perform outpatient procedures here on the Southside so patients don’t have to travel downtown or north for care.
We’re deeply invested in training the next generation of healthcare workers. We take high school, college, and medical students, as well as students from local community colleges, and train them to become medical assistants, ultrasound techs, or billing specialists. By showing them early what it means to care for a community, we hope to inspire future physicians and vascular surgeons to replicate this model.
“We are community-driven and community-focused. That is the message I want to instill in the next generation of healthcare providers.”
What makes the Southside unique compared to other parts of San Antonio?
The Southside is unique in its resilience, pride, and deep Mexican-American culture. The love for this city and the strength of its support networks are unmatched.
What advice would you give to young people from the Southside who aspire to careers in medicine or leadership?
Medicine, especially surgery, is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be moments when you feel tired or defeated, but if you stay focused on your purpose, it will carry you through the challenges. Surround yourself with a strong support system. Mentors, family, and peers can make all the difference as you pursue your goals.
“In medicine, purpose comes first. If you know why you’re here, you’ll find the strength to keep going.”
How can people find your work?
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