Final Count: VAM17 Breaks Attendance Records

Jun 18, 2017

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1323","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","style":"width: 460px; height: 296px; float: right; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px;","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]June 19, 2017 (UPDATED) - The 2017 Vascular Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., held May 31-June 3, broke all previous attendance records with a final, professional registration total of more than 1,807, the Society for Vascular Surgery has announced.

Final counts for 2017 found that:

  •  The previous total professional attendance record, set in 2011 (Chicago), was 1,670.
  • International attendance also hit an all-time record with 362 or 20% of all professional registrants.
  • VAM17 was the third highest member-attended meeting.
  • Paid professional registration also set a new record at 1,644.
  • Strong non-member and scholarship recipient registration contributed to the record.

The event could not have gone better, said SVS President Dr. R. Clement Darling III. "Over and over I heard nothing but great feedback," he said. "I think our high turnout was due to several key factors, which all came together."

He noted:

  • Anecdotally, attendees were drawn by a particularly intriguing selection of abstract topics
  • A population shift for vascular surgeons; roughly 30 percent of SVS members now live in the western United States, convenient to San Diego
  • High turnout from the international surgeon community, including more than 80 members from China
  • The SVS goal of including more related associations paid off, drawing many members from other societies.

"I would like to extend our congratulations and thanks to all the hardworking member volunteers who helped to make this event a success," Dr. Darling said. "And none of that would be possible without the generosity of our sponsors."

Major sponsors were:

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS

  • Abbott
  • Boston Scientific Corporation
  • Cordis®, A Cardinal Health company
  • Endologix, Inc.
  • Gore
  • Medtronic

VAM SPONSORSHIPSAbbottAcelityBard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.BTGCook MedicalCryoLife, Inc.GetingeGoreMedtronic