News from the SVS

Dear Colleagues,

Vascular surgery is a small specialty. We’re lucky if we have more than a handful of colleagues practicing nearby. Seeing our power in numbers is one reason the Vascular Annual Meeting is not to be missed. I get goose bumps thinking about it.

I invite you to attend the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston. Connect with your colleagues, learn about the most current research, see the latest devices and products, and get ideas that will help your practice today.

See you in Boston!

Julie A. Freischlag, MD

President, Society for Vascular Surgery

Vice Chancellor, Human Health Sciences

Dean, University of California Davis School of Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

Vascular surgery is a small specialty. We’re lucky if we have more than a handful of colleagues practicing nearby. Seeing our power in numbers is one reason the Vascular Annual Meeting is not to be missed. I get goose bumps thinking about it.

I invite you to attend the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston. Connect with your colleagues, learn about the most current research, see the latest devices and products, and get ideas that will help your practice today.

See you in Boston!

Julie A. Freischlag, MD

President, Society for Vascular Surgery

Vice Chancellor, Human Health Sciences

Dean, University of California Davis School of Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

Vascular surgery is a small specialty. We’re lucky if we have more than a handful of colleagues practicing nearby. Seeing our power in numbers is one reason the Vascular Annual Meeting is not to be missed. I get goose bumps thinking about it.

I invite you to attend the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston. Connect with your colleagues, learn about the most current research, see the latest devices and products, and get ideas that will help your practice today.

See you in Boston!

Julie A. Freischlag, MD

President, Society for Vascular Surgery

Vice Chancellor, Human Health Sciences

Dean, University of California Davis School of Medicine

Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) Political Action Committee (PAC), I want to thank all SVS members who contributed to the PAC in 2012. Your contributions totaled more than $106,000, which is the most ever raised in one year by the SVS PAC. One hundred percent of this money was used to attend fundraisers for Congressional members and non-incumbent candidates who are supportive of our issues.

The SVS PAC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012, ending our first Decade of Access to Congress. This is the only PAC that is totally focused on the interests of vascular surgeons, particularly our reimbursement and our patients. The PAC has been a catalyst for positive action for us, including the following:

• A freeze on Medicare physician payment vs. large cuts for the last eight years

• Removal of barriers to AAA screening

• Averting additional cuts to vascular ultrasound for the last five years

• Passage of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) repeal and medical liability reform by the House of Representatives

• And most important, being "at the table" for Medicare physician payment reform.

With 2012 being an election year for the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, and the President, SVS PAC fundraising by incumbent/new candidates was at an all-time high. These races provided SVS additional opportunities to educate candidates about our issues. Two new physicians, Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) joined the 17 other physicians who were re-elected to Congress.

While I am happy to report the good news above, we still have work to do. Only 7 percent of the SVS membership contributed to the PAC in 2012. We owe it to our patients to protect and advocate for the resources that will often determine whether they live or die, lose or keep a limb, suffer a stroke or continue to live a happy and normal life.

I acknowledge the six vascular group practices that had 100 percent participation by their SVS members, and our SVS leadership, who increased their PAC support in 2012. We look forward to announcing more vascular group practices with 100 percent participation and 100 percent participation by our leadership in 2013.

Also, we look forward to hosting all of our SVS PAC contributors at an exclusive PAC reception with special guests during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting® in San Francisco. We will celebrate this past year’s achievements and anticipate our next set of challenges.

Last but not least, we want to thank Carlo A. Dall’Olmo, MD, for his many years of service as SVS PAC Chair. Without his leadership, the PAC would not have developed a presence that is recognized by so many members of Congress.

David Deaton, MD

SVS PAC Chair

Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) Political Action Committee (PAC), I want to thank all SVS members who contributed to the PAC in 2012. Your contributions totaled more than $106,000, which is the most ever raised in one year by the SVS PAC. One hundred percent of this money was used to attend fundraisers for Congressional members and non-incumbent candidates who are supportive of our issues.

The SVS PAC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012, ending our first Decade of Access to Congress. This is the only PAC that is totally focused on the interests of vascular surgeons, particularly our reimbursement and our patients. The PAC has been a catalyst for positive action for us, including the following:

• A freeze on Medicare physician payment vs. large cuts for the last eight years

• Removal of barriers to AAA screening

• Averting additional cuts to vascular ultrasound for the last five years

• Passage of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) repeal and medical liability reform by the House of Representatives

• And most important, being "at the table" for Medicare physician payment reform.

With 2012 being an election year for the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, and the President, SVS PAC fundraising by incumbent/new candidates was at an all-time high. These races provided SVS additional opportunities to educate candidates about our issues. Two new physicians, Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) joined the 17 other physicians who were re-elected to Congress.

While I am happy to report the good news above, we still have work to do. Only 7 percent of the SVS membership contributed to the PAC in 2012. We owe it to our patients to protect and advocate for the resources that will often determine whether they live or die, lose or keep a limb, suffer a stroke or continue to live a happy and normal life.

I acknowledge the six vascular group practices that had 100 percent participation by their SVS members, and our SVS leadership, who increased their PAC support in 2012. We look forward to announcing more vascular group practices with 100 percent participation and 100 percent participation by our leadership in 2013.

Also, we look forward to hosting all of our SVS PAC contributors at an exclusive PAC reception with special guests during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting® in San Francisco. We will celebrate this past year’s achievements and anticipate our next set of challenges.

Last but not least, we want to thank Carlo A. Dall’Olmo, MD, for his many years of service as SVS PAC Chair. Without his leadership, the PAC would not have developed a presence that is recognized by so many members of Congress.

David Deaton, MD

SVS PAC Chair

Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) Political Action Committee (PAC), I want to thank all SVS members who contributed to the PAC in 2012. Your contributions totaled more than $106,000, which is the most ever raised in one year by the SVS PAC. One hundred percent of this money was used to attend fundraisers for Congressional members and non-incumbent candidates who are supportive of our issues.

The SVS PAC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012, ending our first Decade of Access to Congress. This is the only PAC that is totally focused on the interests of vascular surgeons, particularly our reimbursement and our patients. The PAC has been a catalyst for positive action for us, including the following:

• A freeze on Medicare physician payment vs. large cuts for the last eight years

• Removal of barriers to AAA screening

• Averting additional cuts to vascular ultrasound for the last five years

• Passage of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) repeal and medical liability reform by the House of Representatives

• And most important, being "at the table" for Medicare physician payment reform.

With 2012 being an election year for the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, and the President, SVS PAC fundraising by incumbent/new candidates was at an all-time high. These races provided SVS additional opportunities to educate candidates about our issues. Two new physicians, Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) joined the 17 other physicians who were re-elected to Congress.

While I am happy to report the good news above, we still have work to do. Only 7 percent of the SVS membership contributed to the PAC in 2012. We owe it to our patients to protect and advocate for the resources that will often determine whether they live or die, lose or keep a limb, suffer a stroke or continue to live a happy and normal life.

I acknowledge the six vascular group practices that had 100 percent participation by their SVS members, and our SVS leadership, who increased their PAC support in 2012. We look forward to announcing more vascular group practices with 100 percent participation and 100 percent participation by our leadership in 2013.

Also, we look forward to hosting all of our SVS PAC contributors at an exclusive PAC reception with special guests during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting® in San Francisco. We will celebrate this past year’s achievements and anticipate our next set of challenges.

Last but not least, we want to thank Carlo A. Dall’Olmo, MD, for his many years of service as SVS PAC Chair. Without his leadership, the PAC would not have developed a presence that is recognized by so many members of Congress.

David Deaton, MD

SVS PAC Chair

Experience ‘everyone’s favorite city’, San Francisco, May 30-June 1. Known for its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, and diverse communities, San Francisco also has world-class cuisine.

Register online today for the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting^®. And when making your travel plans, check the schedule-at-a-glance  to view the exciting educational sessions which the SVS Program Committee has planned. Make your hotel reservations soon, rooms are filling quickly.

Opening Session and Debates

Plan to attend the Opening Ceremony at 8 am on Thursday, May 30. In addition, the SVS/ESVS debates will be held on Friday, May 31, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Your attendance is appreciated and we hope your schedule will allow you to partake of these special activities at the meeting

E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum

The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum, "From Discovery to Vascular Intervention," will be held from 10:30 am - Noon during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting. SVS President-Elect Julie Ann Freischlag will moderate this session and topics will include: The Future of Care for Carotid Occlusive Disease, Contemporary Evidence-Based Approach to Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease, Aortic Aneurysms: Is there a Potential for a Medical Cure, and more. The Critical Issues Forum was established by then SVS President E. Stanley Crawford in 1988, and named in his honor upon his death in 1992. The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum is among the highlights of the Vascular Annual Meeting.

International Forum and Guest Reception

For those who want to learn more about vascular surgery research outside the U.S., a special session featuring abstracts from international authors is being held this year. Plan to attend the International Forum, from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29. All international attendees are then invited to the International Guest Reception immediately following the Forum, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Exhibit Highlights

See what’s new in the Exhibit Hall this year.

SVS Annual Business Meeting

The Society for Vascular Surgery® will conduct its Annual Business Meeting in San Francisco, CA, on Friday, May 31, 2013, 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm at the Moscone Center West.

At the meeting, members will vote on:

1. New SVS members

2. New officers

3. Bylaws amendments

The SVS membership will be asked to approve proposed bylaws amendments.

Experience ‘everyone’s favorite city’, San Francisco, May 30-June 1. Known for its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, and diverse communities, San Francisco also has world-class cuisine.

Register online today for the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting^®. And when making your travel plans, check the schedule-at-a-glance  to view the exciting educational sessions which the SVS Program Committee has planned. Make your hotel reservations soon, rooms are filling quickly.

Opening Session and Debates

Plan to attend the Opening Ceremony at 8 am on Thursday, May 30. In addition, the SVS/ESVS debates will be held on Friday, May 31, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Your attendance is appreciated and we hope your schedule will allow you to partake of these special activities at the meeting

E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum

The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum, "From Discovery to Vascular Intervention," will be held from 10:30 am - Noon during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting. SVS President-Elect Julie Ann Freischlag will moderate this session and topics will include: The Future of Care for Carotid Occlusive Disease, Contemporary Evidence-Based Approach to Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease, Aortic Aneurysms: Is there a Potential for a Medical Cure, and more. The Critical Issues Forum was established by then SVS President E. Stanley Crawford in 1988, and named in his honor upon his death in 1992. The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum is among the highlights of the Vascular Annual Meeting.

International Forum and Guest Reception

For those who want to learn more about vascular surgery research outside the U.S., a special session featuring abstracts from international authors is being held this year. Plan to attend the International Forum, from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29. All international attendees are then invited to the International Guest Reception immediately following the Forum, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Exhibit Highlights

See what’s new in the Exhibit Hall this year.

SVS Annual Business Meeting

The Society for Vascular Surgery® will conduct its Annual Business Meeting in San Francisco, CA, on Friday, May 31, 2013, 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm at the Moscone Center West.

At the meeting, members will vote on:

1. New SVS members

2. New officers

3. Bylaws amendments

The SVS membership will be asked to approve proposed bylaws amendments.

Experience ‘everyone’s favorite city’, San Francisco, May 30-June 1. Known for its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, and diverse communities, San Francisco also has world-class cuisine.

Register online today for the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting^®. And when making your travel plans, check the schedule-at-a-glance  to view the exciting educational sessions which the SVS Program Committee has planned. Make your hotel reservations soon, rooms are filling quickly.

Opening Session and Debates

Plan to attend the Opening Ceremony at 8 am on Thursday, May 30. In addition, the SVS/ESVS debates will be held on Friday, May 31, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Your attendance is appreciated and we hope your schedule will allow you to partake of these special activities at the meeting

E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum

The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum, "From Discovery to Vascular Intervention," will be held from 10:30 am - Noon during the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting. SVS President-Elect Julie Ann Freischlag will moderate this session and topics will include: The Future of Care for Carotid Occlusive Disease, Contemporary Evidence-Based Approach to Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease, Aortic Aneurysms: Is there a Potential for a Medical Cure, and more. The Critical Issues Forum was established by then SVS President E. Stanley Crawford in 1988, and named in his honor upon his death in 1992. The E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum is among the highlights of the Vascular Annual Meeting.

International Forum and Guest Reception

For those who want to learn more about vascular surgery research outside the U.S., a special session featuring abstracts from international authors is being held this year. Plan to attend the International Forum, from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29. All international attendees are then invited to the International Guest Reception immediately following the Forum, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Exhibit Highlights

See what’s new in the Exhibit Hall this year.

SVS Annual Business Meeting

The Society for Vascular Surgery® will conduct its Annual Business Meeting in San Francisco, CA, on Friday, May 31, 2013, 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm at the Moscone Center West.

At the meeting, members will vote on:

1. New SVS members

2. New officers

3. Bylaws amendments

The SVS membership will be asked to approve proposed bylaws amendments.

The SVS Women's Leadership Committee is committed to promoting a supportive environment for female vascular surgeons and to fostering professional development by networking, identifying mentors, and advancing the representation of women in SVS and the specialty.

The Committee periodically awards a women's leadership training grant for female vascular surgeons. The grant is presented at the Vascular Annual Meeting®. The Women's Leadership Training Grant, in the amount of $5,000, is supported by a grant from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Funding from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. supports three $5,000 awards.

Examples of leadership training opportunities include personal leadership coaching, travel to meet women leaders, or specific training programs. The application deadline is May 10, 2013. Read complete details and download an application.

The SVS Women's Leadership Committee is committed to promoting a supportive environment for female vascular surgeons and to fostering professional development by networking, identifying mentors, and advancing the representation of women in SVS and the specialty.

The Committee periodically awards a women's leadership training grant for female vascular surgeons. The grant is presented at the Vascular Annual Meeting®. The Women's Leadership Training Grant, in the amount of $5,000, is supported by a grant from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Funding from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. supports three $5,000 awards.

Examples of leadership training opportunities include personal leadership coaching, travel to meet women leaders, or specific training programs. The application deadline is May 10, 2013. Read complete details and download an application.

The SVS Women's Leadership Committee is committed to promoting a supportive environment for female vascular surgeons and to fostering professional development by networking, identifying mentors, and advancing the representation of women in SVS and the specialty.

The Committee periodically awards a women's leadership training grant for female vascular surgeons. The grant is presented at the Vascular Annual Meeting®. The Women's Leadership Training Grant, in the amount of $5,000, is supported by a grant from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Funding from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. supports three $5,000 awards.

Examples of leadership training opportunities include personal leadership coaching, travel to meet women leaders, or specific training programs. The application deadline is May 10, 2013. Read complete details and download an application.

SVS logo ties, bowties, and scarves (see below) will be available for purchase at the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting near the registration area, during registration hours.

The price is $40/each. Show off your pride in being a SVS member.

Images courtesy of SVS

SVS logo ties, bowties, and scarves (see below) will be available for purchase at the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting near the registration area, during registration hours.

The price is $40/each. Show off your pride in being a SVS member.

Images courtesy of SVS

SVS logo ties, bowties, and scarves (see below) will be available for purchase at the 2013 Vascular Annual Meeting near the registration area, during registration hours.

The price is $40/each. Show off your pride in being a SVS member.

Images courtesy of SVS

The SVS International Scholars Program is offering four scholarships to qualified young vascular surgeons from countries other than the United States or Canada. The scholarships, in the amount of US $5,000 each, provide scholars with an opportunity to participate in the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting®, June 5-7, in Boston, MA, USA, and visit clinical, teaching, and research activities in the United States and Canada. The application deadline is June 14, 2013.

Learn more about the SVS International Program and the scholarship requirements and supporting materials online. For questions, email membership@vascularsociety.org or call 312-334-2306.

The SVS International Scholars Program is offering four scholarships to qualified young vascular surgeons from countries other than the United States or Canada. The scholarships, in the amount of US $5,000 each, provide scholars with an opportunity to participate in the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting®, June 5-7, in Boston, MA, USA, and visit clinical, teaching, and research activities in the United States and Canada. The application deadline is June 14, 2013.

Learn more about the SVS International Program and the scholarship requirements and supporting materials online. For questions, email membership@vascularsociety.org or call 312-334-2306.

The SVS International Scholars Program is offering four scholarships to qualified young vascular surgeons from countries other than the United States or Canada. The scholarships, in the amount of US $5,000 each, provide scholars with an opportunity to participate in the 2014 Vascular Annual Meeting®, June 5-7, in Boston, MA, USA, and visit clinical, teaching, and research activities in the United States and Canada. The application deadline is June 14, 2013.

Learn more about the SVS International Program and the scholarship requirements and supporting materials online. For questions, email membership@vascularsociety.org or call 312-334-2306.

February 11 marked the second anniversary of the Society for Vascular Surgery® Patient Safety Organization (SVS PSO), a milestone of which we should all be exceedingly proud. The Vascular Quality Initiative®(VQI), which includes the SVS PSO, the regional quality groups and the M2S cloud-based registry, is truly coming into its own.

As you will read in this annual report, we have a lot of good news:

1. Participation continues to grow, with more than 200 sites now enrolled.

2. Quality improvement projects have been initiated in 15 regional quality groups.

3. The PATHWAYS cloud-based registry has expanded the real-time data entry and benchmarked reporting functions.

4. The first national research studies using VQI data have been approved.

We are especially proud of this year’s expansion to include procedure modules for venous interventions. The American Venous Forum (AVF) is playing a key role in developing the procedure forms and benchmarked outcomes reports. AVF also has representation on the SVS PSO Governing Council and a newly created Venous Quality Committee.

The VQI has now matured to the point that a dedicated VQI session will be included in the Vascular Annual Meeting to present both quality-related reports and scientific papers based on regional and national VQI data. We hope to see you there Saturday morning, June 1.

A number of other vascular societies have endorsed the VQI and are working with us toward our goal of universal participation: Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery, Eastern Vascular Society, Florida Vascular Society, Michigan Vascular Society, Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, New England Society for Vascular Surgery, New York Society for Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Rocky Mountain Vascular Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Southern California Vascular Society, and Western Vascular Society. We appreciate their support and enthusiasm.

While the pursuit of high quality patient care has always been central to our specialty, tools like the VQI could not be more necessary or more timely. In a recent survey, SVS members ranked the "need to document quality and outcomes" as the most important issue facing vascular surgery, along with the need for "tools to measure and document the quality of vascular care." These high rankings were consistent across all age groups and for all practice types—signaling broad recognition that our practice environment requires more from us than ever. The VQI is an essential tool for contemporary practice.

Richard P. Cambria, MD
Chair, SVS PSO Governing Council

February 11 marked the second anniversary of the Society for Vascular Surgery® Patient Safety Organization (SVS PSO), a milestone of which we should all be exceedingly proud. The Vascular Quality Initiative®(VQI), which includes the SVS PSO, the regional quality groups and the M2S cloud-based registry, is truly coming into its own.

As you will read in this annual report, we have a lot of good news:

1. Participation continues to grow, with more than 200 sites now enrolled.

2. Quality improvement projects have been initiated in 15 regional quality groups.

3. The PATHWAYS cloud-based registry has expanded the real-time data entry and benchmarked reporting functions.

4. The first national research studies using VQI data have been approved.

We are especially proud of this year’s expansion to include procedure modules for venous interventions. The American Venous Forum (AVF) is playing a key role in developing the procedure forms and benchmarked outcomes reports. AVF also has representation on the SVS PSO Governing Council and a newly created Venous Quality Committee.

The VQI has now matured to the point that a dedicated VQI session will be included in the Vascular Annual Meeting to present both quality-related reports and scientific papers based on regional and national VQI data. We hope to see you there Saturday morning, June 1.

A number of other vascular societies have endorsed the VQI and are working with us toward our goal of universal participation: Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery, Eastern Vascular Society, Florida Vascular Society, Michigan Vascular Society, Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, New England Society for Vascular Surgery, New York Society for Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Rocky Mountain Vascular Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Southern California Vascular Society, and Western Vascular Society. We appreciate their support and enthusiasm.

While the pursuit of high quality patient care has always been central to our specialty, tools like the VQI could not be more necessary or more timely. In a recent survey, SVS members ranked the "need to document quality and outcomes" as the most important issue facing vascular surgery, along with the need for "tools to measure and document the quality of vascular care." These high rankings were consistent across all age groups and for all practice types—signaling broad recognition that our practice environment requires more from us than ever. The VQI is an essential tool for contemporary practice.

Richard P. Cambria, MD
Chair, SVS PSO Governing Council

February 11 marked the second anniversary of the Society for Vascular Surgery® Patient Safety Organization (SVS PSO), a milestone of which we should all be exceedingly proud. The Vascular Quality Initiative®(VQI), which includes the SVS PSO, the regional quality groups and the M2S cloud-based registry, is truly coming into its own.

As you will read in this annual report, we have a lot of good news:

1. Participation continues to grow, with more than 200 sites now enrolled.

2. Quality improvement projects have been initiated in 15 regional quality groups.

3. The PATHWAYS cloud-based registry has expanded the real-time data entry and benchmarked reporting functions.

4. The first national research studies using VQI data have been approved.

We are especially proud of this year’s expansion to include procedure modules for venous interventions. The American Venous Forum (AVF) is playing a key role in developing the procedure forms and benchmarked outcomes reports. AVF also has representation on the SVS PSO Governing Council and a newly created Venous Quality Committee.

The VQI has now matured to the point that a dedicated VQI session will be included in the Vascular Annual Meeting to present both quality-related reports and scientific papers based on regional and national VQI data. We hope to see you there Saturday morning, June 1.

A number of other vascular societies have endorsed the VQI and are working with us toward our goal of universal participation: Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery, Eastern Vascular Society, Florida Vascular Society, Michigan Vascular Society, Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, New England Society for Vascular Surgery, New York Society for Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Rocky Mountain Vascular Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Southern California Vascular Society, and Western Vascular Society. We appreciate their support and enthusiasm.

While the pursuit of high quality patient care has always been central to our specialty, tools like the VQI could not be more necessary or more timely. In a recent survey, SVS members ranked the "need to document quality and outcomes" as the most important issue facing vascular surgery, along with the need for "tools to measure and document the quality of vascular care." These high rankings were consistent across all age groups and for all practice types—signaling broad recognition that our practice environment requires more from us than ever. The VQI is an essential tool for contemporary practice.

Richard P. Cambria, MD
Chair, SVS PSO Governing Council

SVS and the Society of Interventional Radiology will launch the first large-scale, multispecialty prospective study to evaluate the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and related follow-up treatment. The five-year PRESERVE (PREdicting the Safety and Effectiveness of InferioR VEna Cava Filters) study will evaluate the overall safety and efficacy of filters following the August 2010 FDA medical alert detailing the possibility that retrievable IVC filters could move or break, potentially causing significant health risks for patients. The study information can be found online by clicking here.

SVS and the Society of Interventional Radiology will launch the first large-scale, multispecialty prospective study to evaluate the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and related follow-up treatment. The five-year PRESERVE (PREdicting the Safety and Effectiveness of InferioR VEna Cava Filters) study will evaluate the overall safety and efficacy of filters following the August 2010 FDA medical alert detailing the possibility that retrievable IVC filters could move or break, potentially causing significant health risks for patients. The study information can be found online by clicking here.

SVS and the Society of Interventional Radiology will launch the first large-scale, multispecialty prospective study to evaluate the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and related follow-up treatment. The five-year PRESERVE (PREdicting the Safety and Effectiveness of InferioR VEna Cava Filters) study will evaluate the overall safety and efficacy of filters following the August 2010 FDA medical alert detailing the possibility that retrievable IVC filters could move or break, potentially causing significant health risks for patients. The study information can be found online by clicking here.

The Department of Defense has issued a program announcement to solicit and fund research on the topics of vascular injury and hemorrhage control.

To learn more, access the grants.gov website link by clicking here and keyword search: 'endovascular.'

The Department of Defense has issued a program announcement to solicit and fund research on the topics of vascular injury and hemorrhage control.

To learn more, access the grants.gov website link by clicking here and keyword search: 'endovascular.'

The Department of Defense has issued a program announcement to solicit and fund research on the topics of vascular injury and hemorrhage control.

To learn more, access the grants.gov website link by clicking here and keyword search: 'endovascular.'

As a member, you value your SVS membership. Invite your colleagues to enjoy those benefits, which range from discounted meeting registration to personalized practice resources and networking opportunities, by becoming an active, associate, affiliate or international SVS member. SVS membership will allow your colleagues to be part of the world's most prestigious professional vascular society.  Access the online application today at VascularWeb.org.

As a member, you value your SVS membership. Invite your colleagues to enjoy those benefits, which range from discounted meeting registration to personalized practice resources and networking opportunities, by becoming an active, associate, affiliate or international SVS member. SVS membership will allow your colleagues to be part of the world's most prestigious professional vascular society.  Access the online application today at VascularWeb.org.

As a member, you value your SVS membership. Invite your colleagues to enjoy those benefits, which range from discounted meeting registration to personalized practice resources and networking opportunities, by becoming an active, associate, affiliate or international SVS member. SVS membership will allow your colleagues to be part of the world's most prestigious professional vascular society.  Access the online application today at VascularWeb.org.