More than 480 members cast votes for vice president and treasurer roles
ROSEMONT, Ill., August 11, 2020 – The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has announced its 2020-21 officers, including two elected via virtual voting for the first time in the organization’s history. Members were also able to select from a choice of candidates, with 482 eligible members – or 15.6 percent – casting votes for vice president and treasurer.
Dr. Ronald Dalman ascended to SVS president, succeeding Dr. Kim Hodgson, and Dr. Ali AbuRahma moves to the president-elect role. Dr. Michael C. Dalsing was elected vice president succeeding Dr. Ali AbuRahma; and Dr. Keith Calligaro was elected as the new SVS treasurer, succeeding Dr. Samuel Money.
About New Executive Board Members:
President Ronald Dalman, MD, DFSVS, served as chair of the SVS Program Committee, which oversees programming for the Vascular Annual Meeting, and has served on the SVS Board of Directors, the Patient Safety Organization Governing Council, the Education and Research Councils, as well as the PAC Steering, Document Oversight, SVS Foundation Development, Membership, Publications and PSO EVAR Cost committees. Dr. Dalman is board certified in both vascular surgery and surgery and serves as the Walter C. and Elsa R. Chidester Professor and chief of vascular surgery at Stanford University. He is co-director of the Cardiovascular Institute (CVI), currently serving as co-principal investigator of the CVI's NHLBI T32 "Mechanisms and Innovation in Vascular Disease" training grant. Dr. Dalman notes, “I have enjoyed serving thus far in my new role as SVS president during these unprecedented times. I believe the SVS has and will continue to make important progress in several key areas including diversity and inclusion. In this new role, I welcome all input and feedback from members that help to improve and shape the future of our Society.”
President-Elect Ali AbuRahma, MD, DFSVS, SVS president-elect, is a professor of surgery, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery and director of the vascular surgery fellowship and integrated residency programs at West Virginia University, Charleston. He also serves as the medical director of the vascular laboratory and co-director of the Vascular Center of Excellence at Charleston Area Medical Center. Dr. AbuRahma earlier served as secretary and was a member of the SVS Foundation Board of Directors, SVS Board of Directors, SVS Executive Board and served/chaired several other committees including, SVS Membership Committee, SVS Foundation Development Committee, SVS Document Oversight Committee, and the SVS Presidential Advisory Committee. “I’ve had the pleasure to serve in several roles as part of the SVS and look forward to contributing and applying key learnings to help advance the Society’s values and mission alongside vascular surgery experts,” he said.
Vice President Michael C. Dalsing, MD, DFSVS, started the Division of Vascular Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine and was its director until 2017. During his tenure as director, an independent and integrated Vascular Surgery residency was established in addition to an accredited Vascular Laboratory. He is currently a staff vascular surgeon with IU Health Physicians and Professor Emeritus of Surgery within the Division of Vascular Surgery. He is based in Indianapolis, and currently chairs the SVS Political Action Steering Committee and is a member of the SVS Policy and Advocacy Council. Dr. Dalsing said, “I am honored to serve in this important role on behalf of the SVS and bring awareness and recognition of the specialty as dedicated full-service vascular care providers. Vascular surgeons and our members, in particular, have the energy to make a meaningful difference, whether legislative, administrative, industrial or to the general public.” Treasurer Keith D. Calligaro, MD, DFSVS, is chief of the Section of Vascular Surgery and director of the Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital and clinical professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. He is a member of the SVS Appropriateness, Audit, Conflict of Interest and Professional Conduct, and Document Oversight committees. Dr. Calligaro noted, “I am eager to implement meaningful changes and believe my professional experiences will allow me to collaborate with the many diversified groups in our specialty. Vascular surgeons are the vanguard of treating vascular disease and are dedicated to work in partnership with other specialties that provide vascular care and provide comprehensive care in vascular disease management.”
About The Society for Vascular Surgery
The Society for Vascular Surgery is the leading not-for-profit, professional medical society on establishing causes and treatments for vascular disease. SVS seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness and is composed of specialty-trained vascular surgeons who are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for vascular disease. For more information visit www.vascular.org. Follow the SVS on Facebook @VascularHealth, Twitter @VascularSVS and Instagram @societyforvascularsurgery.
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