The 32nd SVM Annual Scientific Sessions will be held September 9–11, 2021. This year, our meeting will again be virtual given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is my honor to return as chair of the Scientific Program Committee and work alongside a diverse, multidisciplinary group of vascular thought leaders from vascular medicine, cardiology, radiology, vascular surgery, podiatry, and more. Together, our Program Committee, comprised of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and technologists, have created an outstanding agenda. Building on the success of last year’s meeting, we will provide both live and only-on-demand content. In addition to our traditional Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit, we will offer Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit this year. We’ve retained the Conference Exchange (‘Confex’) to provide event management, including technical support on the day of the meeting. Their highly functional digital platform integrates meeting registration, abstract submission and hosting, on-demand content, a faculty portal, links to industry supporters, and more. Please find our preliminary agenda below.
On Thursday September 9, the meeting will kick off with the Virtual Poster Session, where attendees can discuss original science and interesting cases in real time with presenters in individual breakout sessions. At the new FSVM Welcome Ceremony, members of the Board of Trustees will individually recognize new SVM Fellows (their friends, family, and colleagues may join the session for free to help celebrate). After a warm welcome by yours truly, we’ll embark upon the William R Hiatt Vascular Medicine Year in Review session. In addition to covering the past year’s most important advances in vascular disease, we will take a moment to remember Dr Will Hiatt, who we sadly lost in December 2020. Dr Hiatt was one of our field’s pioneers and a friend, colleague, and mentor to many in SVM, as well as one of our Past Presidents. During our first ever Speed Mentoring session, trainees and early career members will rotate through brief career counseling interactions with mid- and late-career mentors. The evening will wrap up with an industry-sponsored session (topic to be determined).
On Friday, September 10, at Fireside Breakouts with the Board of Trustees, participants will receive brief Societal updates from individual Board members, after which they will be able to ask questions of and make suggestions to SVM’s leadership in a small group environment. Perennial favorite, Vascular Jeopardy, will keep you on the edge of your seat as you compete for the vascular community’s ultimate prize, 1 year’s worth of bragging rights! The evening will wrap up with another industry-sponsored session (topic to be determined).
Saturday, September 11 will be our most robust meeting day. It will begin with and be punctuated midday by industry-sponsored sessions (topics to be determined). In addition, two virtual coffee breaks will allow attendees to engage directly with industry sponsors. After the Presidential Address, three of our most promising early career members will compete for the top submitted abstract designation in the Jay D Coffman Young Investigator Competition. There will be three case-based sessions on Arterial Disease, Venous and Lymphatic Disease, and Environmental and Inflammatory Vascular Disorders. At International Cases Over Cocktails, our vascular colleagues from around the world present their most interesting cases while we enjoy virtual cocktails. The day wraps up with the Awards session, during which new Masters of the SVM will be recognized, and other awards, including the Jess R Young Outstanding Vascular Medicine Educator, will be bestowed upon worthy recipients.
But wait . . . there’s more! In addition to 8 hours of live accredited educational content, all of which will be archived for later viewing, we’ll have another 8 hours of dedicated only-on-demand content for CME and MOC credit. The on-demand content will include four pre-recorded hour-long SVM in the Vascular Lab sessions, as well as dozens of topics formatted into 5-minute ‘shorts’ for efficient on-the-go learning. On-demand topic areas will include peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, aortic disease, renal and mesenteric disease, venous thromboembolic disease, and chronic venous disease.
So, why should you join the 32nd SVM Annual Scientific Sessions? It is the only place you can get world-class vascular medicine content presented by expert faculty and tailored to a virtual environment, all while catching up with friends and colleagues from around the world, and without leaving the comforts of your home. I can’t wait to see you there!
