Dr. Velis is a native Chicagoan and has over 30 years of experience practicing Phlebology and Aerospace Medicine (Designated Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, Federal Aviation Administration). He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and was awarded Diplomate status in 1995 after being Certified by The American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Velis is also certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine (Diplomate status, Inaugural Examination, 2008). He began working at a very young age and learned the importance of honesty and devoted work ethic from his father.
Dr. Velis earned his undergraduate degree (Cum Laude) from Northeastern Illinois University and received his MD (with honors) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. His postgraduate work included research at the University in the Dept. of Microbiology; Infectious Diseases and Immunology analyzing The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
He completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency at St. Francis Hospital of Evanston followed by a one year research fellowship in Glaucoma at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept. of Ophthalmology under Professor Theodore Krupin, MD an internationally recognized Ophthalmologist and author specializing in Glaucoma. Dr. Velis also successfully completed training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support.
Dr. Velis has authored and coauthored numerous studies for medical symposiums including the Annual Congress of the American College of Phleblology and the annual meeting of the American Society of Microbiology. Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Glaucoma research.
Curriculum Vitae
Personal
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Date of Birth: September 18, 1953
Education
Morton West High School, Berwyn, IL, (June, 1971)
Morton College, Cicero, IL, (Associate of Arts, August, 1974)
National University of Health Sciences; formerly National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, IL, (1975-1977)
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, (Bachelor of Science, Biology, 1981)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, (Doctor of Medicine, March, 1988)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece Department of Microbiology, Doctorate Thesis: “Investigation and assessment of the prevalence of serum antibodies against certain herpes viruses; (Herpes Simplex I, Herpes Simplex II Cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus among diverse Greek populations.)”
Honors and Awards
Bachelor of Science in Biology, with honors Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, (August, 1981)
Doctor of Medicine, with honors National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, (March,1988)
Physicians Recognition Award, American Medical Association, (September, 1995 & 1998)
Certificate of Appreciation Award, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine, annually, (2002 - 2010)
America's Top Physicians, Phlebology & Aerospace Medicine, Consumers Research Council of America, (2011- 12, 13, 14)
Medical Research
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, (September, 1987 to May, 1989)
Immunology of Infectious Diseases Center: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS Screening and research at the Department of Microbiology
PPostgraduate Research Associate
Duties included follow-up individuals with a different AIDS viruses antibody screening for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and Herpes viruses (Herpes Simplex I Herpes Simplex II Cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus as well as using the ELISA and Western-Blot methods analyzing and recording experimental data.
Abstracts
Robin AP, Forrestal MD, Velis DT, Harp JJ, Garcia G,
Endovenous Laser Ablation of the small Saphenous Vein presented at the 24th Annual Congress of the American Society of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, Orlando, Florida, (November 4-7, 2010)
Lianou PE, Velis DT, Votta EG, Papavassilou JT:
Prevalence of Antibodies Against Herpes Viruses (CMV. EBV. HSV 1, HSV II) in the serum of individuals that are at high risk of contracting viral infections. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology, New Orleans, LA, (May 14-18, 1988)
Tang LQ, Krupin T, Sarkissian E, Velis, DT, Leung F:
Halothane Altered the Chloride Transport Systems In the Isolated Rabbit Iris Ciliary Body. Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, Association for Research in vision and (May 1995)
Postgraduate Medical Training
Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine, St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, an affiliate of the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Evanston, IL (January 14, 1991 - January 13, 1994)
Fellowship
Research Fellowship
Glaucoma Research, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, (September, 1994 - June, 1995),
Professor Theodore Krupin M.D., F.A.C.S.
Active Licensure
California: Physician and Surgeon License: No. AA051431
Illinois: Physician and Surgeon License: No. 036085777
Wisconsin: Medicine and Surgery License: No. 33588
Greece (EU): Physician License: No. 1588 1/ July 19, 1988
All licenses are active and unrestricted
Certification
American Board of Internal Medicine: Diplomate, Certificate No. 15819 (August, 1995)
American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine: Diplomate, Certificate No. 00017, (May 2008)
Federal Licensing Examination: Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, Harrisburg, PA (December, 1989)
E.C.F.M.G.: Certificate No. 419-708-3, (September, 1989)
American College of Surgeons: Advanced Trauma Life Support
American Heart Association: Advanced Cardiac Life Support
U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration, Designated Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, Certificate No. 18702-4, (October, 1995 Present)
Hospital Appointments
Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL, House Physician, Critical Care Unit, Surgical Heart Unit, Telemetry, and General Medical Floors, (March, 1993 - December, 1998)
Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL, Attending Physician, Active (October, 1997 - December 2012), Special Courtesy, (December 2012—Present)
Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines, IL, House Physician, Critical Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit, Telemetry, General Medical Floors, (February, 1994 - August, 1995)
Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, IL, House Physician, Critical Care Modules, Telemetry, General Medical Floors, (June, 1996 - September, 1999)
Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL, Attending Physician, (October, 1995—Present)
St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, Evanston, IL, Attending Physician, (January, 1998 - May, 1999)
Faculty Appointments
Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Arc Ventures Educational Services, Chicago, IL, Lecturer/Instructor for students preparing for NMBE and FMGEMS, (July, 1990 - January, 1991)
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, IL, Clinical Assistant Professor, (January 15, 1999—Present)
American Society of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, Faculty, Advanced Regional Symposium, Chicago, IL (September, 2006)
Surgical Procedures
Duplex Ultrasound Guided Endo-luminal Chemical Ablation treat superficial venous insufficiency, (1996—Present)
Endo-venous Laser Ablation, (2004—Present), Using an endo-luminal 1320-nm Nd: YAG laser (Cool-touch)
Endo-venous Radio Frequency Ablation, ClosureFast generator by Medtronic, (2019—Present)
Ambulatory Phlebectomy, (2007—Present)
Consultations
State of Illinois Department of Human Services: Bureau of Disability Determination Services, (February, 1994 - 2020)
On Call Physician: United Center, Allstate Arena, Rosemont Theater, Chicago House of Blues, Vic and Cadillac Palace Theaters, for Artists and crews, (2002—Present)
Professional Organizations
- American College of Physicians, Fellow
- American Society of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, Premier Member
- Chicago Executive Airports Pilots Association
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Languages
Fluency in English and Greek; written and spoken
Hobbies, Sports and Interests
Aviation (U.S.A. Department of Transportation, F.A.A.), Private Pilot Certificate No. 2849140, Percussion (Drums), Golf, Football, Water Sports, and Travel
Updated May 2025