A handful of SVS members will soon begin implementing projects to improve community health in three areas throughout the United States.
The plans are the result of the new SVS Foundation Community Awareness and Prevention Project Grants. The first recipients were announced during the SVS Vascular Annual Meeting in June.
The grants provide up to $10,000 to three community-based vascular surgeons, each of whom proposed an innovative, community-based initiative. The awards are part of the Foundation’s expanded mission to include projects that impact vascular health, awareness and prevention.
This year’s projects aim to:
- Reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for diabetic foot infections, in part by providing comprehensive diabetic preventive care for those at risk for such infections. Leaders are Marcus Semel, MD, MPH; and Edward Marcaccio, MD, both of South Shore Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital near Boston.
- Champion public awareness of vascular disease through empowering high school students in upstate New York to understandthe impact of vascular risk factors and disease and help diagnose diseases in family members. This project also hopes to increase awareness of vascular surgeons and their expertise in treating vascular disease. SVS project leader is Manish Mehta, MD, MPH, of Queensbury, N.Y.
- Expand a long-established Wellness Check held across the Excela Health service area in Pennsylvania, adding a Vascular Health Awareness and Screening event. SVS project leader is Elizabeth L. Detschelt, MD, director of vascular surgery for Excela Health, Westmoreland County and parts of Fayette and Indiana counties in Pennsylvania.
Vascular Specialist will describe the projects in greater detail next month.