Sebastian Junger, an author, journalist and documentarian, took the plenary stage at SIR 2025 in Nashville to share his experience as an IR patient—and to speak with one of the physicians who oversaw his care.
In 2020, Junger had a gastrointestinal artery aneurysm which ruptured while he was on vacation in Cape Cod. After being taken to the ER in the midst of hemorrhagic shock, Junger was transferred into the care of Philip J. Dombrowski, MD, an IR, and Daniel R. Gorin, MD, a vascular surgeon.
Because of the risks, Junger was not a safe candidate for surgery, and so Dr. Dombrowski attempted embolization to staunch the bleeding. However, because the aneurysm was being supplied by the dorsal pancreatic branch coming off the proximal splenic artery—a very rare occurrence—access was extremely difficult. Ultimately, Dr. Dombrowski decided to try a radial approach, going in through Junger’s left wrist while Dr. Gorin approached from the groin.
In a previous interview, Dr. Dombrowski described his decision to try radial access.
“I’ve always been one who likes new ideas and new approaches,” he said. So, I think even before Sebastian’s situation, I was very comfortable with performing certain types of procedures from a radial approach.”
While sharing his story with SIR 2025 attendees, Junger stated that he felt it was important to share a patient’s perspective, emphasizing the moments that stood out to him and impacted him, such as the value of physical touch. He discussed the near-death visions that informed his recent book, In My Time of Dying, and reflected on how close he came to death, if not for IR intervention.
“You are involved with a science that saved my life,” he told attendees. “So, on behalf of my daughters and my wife, thank you.”
Junger is one of several high-profile patients who have benefitted from IR interventions, such as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who underwent uterine fibroid embolization, and First Lady Melania Trump, who received therapy for a kidney condition in 2018. IR members have also been involved in managing high-level trauma situations, such as when Arshad A. Khan, MD, FSIR, treated Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., after he was shot during the 2017 congressional baseball game.
However, despite coverage of these therapies and the “celebrity” status of patients, many still do not know the role that IR plays in both trauma response and planned interventions. As one panelist pointed out, coverage of Junger’s story often gives attribution to a surgeon rather than an IR.
It’s an ongoing frustration, one which IRs are seeking to amend through both advocacy and a focus on longitudinal care. However, Junger has suggested a new way of explaining IR therapies to the general public.
“I tell people that the vascular system is like the interstate system. You get onto the interstate in Boston, and you can take it all the way to San Diego. If you know how to navigate it, it can take you anywhere you want to go,” he said.
Using this metaphor, Junger says that IRs can enter the body’s internal interstate from the groin and pop out near the heart to manage a problem, without requiring the patient to be cut open.
“The fact that the body works this way, and that we have incredible technology and incredibly talented doctors who can do this, is really nothing short of a miracle,” he said.
