Education, Prevention and Treatment Programs Also Highlighted
The SVS Foundation is expanding its mission beyond support of basic and clinical science research grants to include programs that address patient education and disease prevention.
The SVS Foundation’s new mission is: To optimize the vascular health and well-being of patients and the public through support of research that leads to discovery of knowledge and innovative strategies, as well as education and programs, to prevent and treat circulatory disease.
Beyond expansion, the Foundation has delineated its vision: Vascular surgeons will lead in the discovery and delivery of the highest quality and most accessible health care to reduce the complications of circulatory disease."
The mission expansion was announced to the membership at the Society’s Annual Business Meeting during the recent Vascular Annual Meeting.
"An expanded mission permits the Foundation to address emerging issues in vascular health and prevention and also is consistent with our desire to build deeper collaborative relationships with other philanthropic and public service organizations whose missions are in alignment with that of the SVS Foundation, and which share our goals for optimizing the public’s vascular health," said past SVS Foundation Chair Dr. Bruce A. Perler.
To support these programs, the Foundation will seek funding from private and corporate foundations and other entities outside the National Institutes of Health, he said. Collaborating and partnering with such organizations will bring positive attention not only to the Society for Vascular Surgery but also, and more importantly, to "our commitment to advancing our public health goals," he said.
Supporting basic and clinical research remains the core Foundation mission. Added, as adjacent to this core mission, is the support of programs that:
- Address the vascular health and well-being of the patient population.
- Enable vascular specialists to optimize the delivery of high-quality patient care.
The SVS Foundation Board of Directors also has identified six goals aligned with the expanded mission and vision that are to be considered in developing project and funding priorities. They are to:
- Improve access to appropriate vascular care, especially for disadvantaged populations, such as the elderly.
- Address the impending critical shortage of vascular surgical specialists through education and innovative recruitment strategies for medical students and residents.
- Reduce the waste in health care spending by addressing the epidemic of inappropriate or unnecessary vascular care.
- Address the challenge of innovation in technology outpacing the development of sufficient wealth to afford it; we will identify the right treatment for the right patients.
- Define true quality in vascular health care delivery.
- Address the epidemic of obesity and diabetes mellitus to reduce cardiovascular morbidity, death, and limb loss.
A new staff position, that of SVS Foundation Development Manager, has been created to provide support in fundraising for the Foundation to further its mission work.
To contribute to the SVS Foundation, visit vsweb.org/GiveSVSFoundation.