Abstract
Friends,
They say that in life, nothing is more constant than change. Indeed, way back in September, during the annual 2023 Vascular Scientific Sessions (VSS), a new Executive Committee was voted in for the next 2 years. Well . . . sort of new. Most of us are staying on, some are in new roles. But Dr Aditya Sharma has joined us as Secretary and Dr Raghu Kolluri has rolled off after many years of formal service to the Society (spoiler: he is still serving the Society, just not on the Executive Committee). Similarly, we saw a few changes in the Board of Trustees. Drs Eri Fukaya and Marc Bonaca joined us as we thanked Dr Scott Kinlay for years of service to our community. Finally, we would like to announce that the Society has a new Executive Director, Marty Roth. Marty has replaced Matt Helms who has left to pursue a unique opportunity. And don’t worry. Sandy Addison is staying on in her role as Associate Director.
Change always represents opportunities, and we have many reasons to have a positive outlook for the Society in the upcoming years. So, we would like to share our sense of optimism and tell you a bit about our plans and about the goings-on in the Society as we begin our journey together.
As you know, the
At the start of my term, I met with leadership from all SVM committees. These meetings were very productive as we were able to ensure that each committee will propose and enact practical short- and long-term projects that will fortify the Society’s foundations and advance the practice of vascular medicine for the benefit of all our members and our patients. Stay tuned for updates!
Still, even now, at the outset, you should be very proud of your committees. They are full of eager, hardworking, intelligent, and dedicated SVMers who are volunteering their time for the benefit of all of us.
Also, we know that you, the Society membership, are the backbone of anything we do. You give us purpose. Without you, the Society is nothing but a hollow vessel. As such, I will be sure to update you directly whenever something of note happens in the Society. Sometimes, I will do this through one of our social media outlets (with the help of Dr Sneha Thomas). So, please consider subscribing to the Society’s YouTube channel
And now, to some exciting updates from our officers!
Dr Herb Aronow, our immediate Past President, wanted his update to focus on our accreditation efforts. He relayed that SVM leadership continues to interface and collaborate with leadership from other cardiovascular and primary care professional organizations on the topic of vascular medicine board certification. To that end, former American College of Physicians (ACP) President Jack Ende weighed in favorably in a recent publication. 1 Similarly, the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) have submitted an application to the American Board of Medical Specialties for a standalone cardiovascular medicine board to replace that which currently exists under the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). 2 In this context, SVM is exploring various vascular medicine board certification pathway options for its internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine specialist members.
Dr Esther Kim has agreed to remain as our Treasurer. She updates that the Society’s finances are stable and stronger than ever. As such, we have been able to embark on some major endeavors to set the stage for further growth in the years to come. In addition to hiring an investment firm, MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, Inc., to assist the Society in growing our investment portfolio, the Society has also developed an official SVM Investment Policy to ensure that our investment strategies align with the SVM mission. Going forward, the Audit and Finance Committee will collaborate with other committees with a mutual aim to further diversify revenue streams, including expansion of our Giving Tuesday campaign and development of a legacy giving program.
Our newly elected Secretary, Dr Aditya Sharma, is excited to share that in a momentous leap, the Society has eclipsed the 700-member mark for the first time ever. Our global community, spread across continents and states, is an amalgamation of distinguished professionals ranging from medical to interventional, and surgical specialties. With representation in 18 countries, our objective is to expand and deepen our global reach. We acknowledge the keen interest of students in medical degree programs, and thanks to Dr Elizabeth Ratchford we have initiated a dedicated membership category for them. Furthermore, we are committed to providing enriching educational opportunities for our growing number of Advanced Practice Provider (APP) members.
Being an SVM member is as beneficial as ever. You can
Last, but certainly not least, is our President-Elect Dr Elizabeth Ratchford, who would like her update to focus on the VSS. Just a few days after the record-breaking 2023 VSS in Washington, DC, planning began at her direction for #VSS2024 in Houston, TX. It will be the first-ever SVM meeting in Texas, and we cannot wait! The weekend will be fun, relaxed, and casual; our hotel has a huge sports bar, a rooftop pool, and a lazy river in the shape of Texas. As the fourth largest and most diverse city in the US, Houston is home to more than 10,000 restaurants, 145 different languages, and the world’s largest medical complex.
What else can you expect in Houston? First, the feedback was unanimous that we should keep the innovations that we successfully launched in DC, including TED Talk-style keynote speakers and the Shark Tank-format competition. As always, the VSS Year in Review session is the best way to catch up on the latest developments in vascular medicine. We hope to exceed last year’s abstract submissions, which were the most ever in SVM history. In 2024, we will have opportunities for both young investigators and established researchers to showcase their best science. Dr Ana Casanegra will serve us Cases on the Rocks, perhaps with margaritas. Dr Gaurav Parmar will be teaching us point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and Dr Aaron Aday will chair the popular Speed Mentoring session. You can expect plenty of time for networking and catching up with your friends and colleagues, along with several new surprises that are still under wraps. Mark your calendar now to come home to the largest vascular medicine family reunion: SVM’s #VSS2024 in Houston at the Marriott Marquis from September 19 to 22.
Very sincerely,
Your SVM Executive Committee (Ido, Herb, Esther, Aditya, and Elizabeth)
Footnotes
Declaration of conflicting interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
