Expert Care. A Practice Built on Getting to Know You.

Meet the Team at Vascular Wellness Institute

At Vascular Wellness Institute, you are not a chart number or a fifteen-minute slot on a schedule. From your first call to your follow-up visit, you will work with the same team — surgeons who take time to explain what they find, nurses and practitioners who know your history, and staff who are genuinely glad you called.

Our two fellowship-trained, board-certified vascular surgeons founded VWI together with a shared belief: that patients in Sarasota, Bradenton, and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities deserve the same quality of vascular care available at the country’s top academic medical centers — delivered close to home, without the wait.

Our Surgeons

Dr. Kristian A. Ulloa, MD, FACS, RPVI, CWSP, AIHM

Quadruple Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon · Founding Physician

Dr. Ulloa is a quadruple board-certified vascular surgeon — the only vascular surgeon in the United States holding board certifications in vascular surgery, general surgery, wound care (CWSP), and integrative medicine (AIHM). He completed his vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center and has been in vascular practice for more than 15 years.
His integrative medicine training allows him to address the metabolic, dietary, and lifestyle factors that drive vascular disease — not just the procedures required to treat it. For patients with complex vascular conditions, wound care needs, or a desire to approach their health more holistically, this combined expertise is rare and meaningful.

Dr. Ulloa sees patients in both Sarasota and Bradenton and is a fluent English and Spanish speaker.

Board-Certified: Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Wound Care (CWSP), Integrative Medicine (AIHM)
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical Center
Languages: English and Spanish
Hospital Affiliations: HCA Florida Blake Hospital · HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital · Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Meet Dr. Ulloa →

Dr. Mariano F. Arosemena, MD, FACS, RPVI

Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon & Endovascular Specialist · Founding Physician

Dr. Arosemena is a board-certified vascular surgeon and a national faculty proctor and trainer for TCAR — Trans Carotid Artery Revascularization. That designation means he travels nationally to train other vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and neurosurgeons in this advanced stroke-prevention technique. Patients in Sarasota and Bradenton have access to one of the country’s most experienced TCAR practitioners without leaving the Gulf Coast.
He completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and serves as a Fellowship Site Director at the University of Maryland, where the next generation of vascular surgeons trains under his guidance.

Dr. Arosemena sees patients in both Sarasota and Bradenton and is a fluent English and Spanish speaker.

Board-Certified: Vascular Surgery, RPVI
Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
National Faculty Proctor: TCAR (Trans Carotid Artery Revascularization)
Fellowship Site Director: University of Maryland
Languages: English and Spanish
Hospital Affiliations: HCA Florida Blake Medical Center · HCA Doctors Hospital · Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Meet Dr. Arosemena →

Our Clinical Team

Our patients are seen by more than just surgeons. Our clinical team includes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and vascular sonographers who work alongside Dr. Ulloa and Dr. Arosemena to provide continuous, coordinated care. Whether you are coming in for an ultrasound, a follow-up visit, or a procedure, you will interact with experienced professionals who know you and your case.

Marianela Horta Acosta MSN, APRN

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Marianela Horta Acosta was a licensed physician in Cuba for eighteen years before emigrating to the United States in 2016. A medical license does not cross borders, so she trained again here — earning her registered nurse license in 2020 and her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2023. She sees patients alongside our vascular surgeons and provides care in both English and Spanish.

18 years practicing as a physician in Cuba
Nursing assistant, nursing home, assisted living, and home care experience in the US
Completed her Nurse Practitioner program

Meet Marianela →

SERVING SARASOTA, BRADENTON & LAKEWOOD RANCH

Ready to schedule a consultation with our team?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are both surgeons taking new patients?

Yes. Dr. Ulloa and Dr. Arosemena are both accepting new patients at both the Sarasota and Bradenton offices. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks of their first call. To request an appointment, call Sarasota at (941) 312-6196 or Bradenton at (941) 795-6370.

Do your surgeons speak Spanish?

Yes. Both Dr. Ulloa and Dr. Arosemena are fluent in English and Spanish, and our clinical staff includes Spanish speakers. We welcome Spanish-speaking patients and can conduct your entire visit in Spanish if you prefer.

Will I always see a surgeon, or will I see a nurse practitioner?

Your care at VWI is coordinated and team-based. For new patient consultations and surgical decisions, you will meet with one of our board-certified vascular surgeons. Follow-up visits and ongoing management may involve our nurse practitioner or nursing staff, always in close coordination with your surgeon.

What hospitals are your surgeons affiliated with?

Our surgeons hold privileges at HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The appropriate facility for any procedure will be determined based on the nature of the procedure and your individual needs.