Vascular Trainee Program redesigned for VAM 2020

Mar 31, 2020 Re-posted from the April 2020 issue of Vascular Specialist

BY BETH BALES

Helping vascular trainees successfully transition from education and training to clinical or academic practice is the central goal for the Vascular Trainee Program at the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM).

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) and the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) are working together to create the program, redesigned substantially from 2019.

“There are nuanced and nonclinical skills required to successfully make that transition that are important to highlight,” said Dawn Coleman, MD, SVS representative for the program.

The program includes four didactic sessions on Thursday and Friday, June 18 and 19. Topics and times are: Academic Vascular Surgery, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday; Transition to Independent Clinical Practice, 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday; Conflict Management, 8 to 9 a.m. Friday; Leadership and the Young Surgeon, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday.

The presentations will highlight “interactive sessions with a free exchange of questions and answers,” geared to both clinicians and researchers.

A “micro-mentoring” luncheon will be held from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Friday. Planners envision several tables, each hosting a different trainee-related topic. In addition, vascular trainees will have their own area for conversation and networking with leaders at the Thursday evening opening reception, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The transition to independent practice “can be anxiety-provoking” and not all programs/ curriculum comprehensively prepare trainees for all that is required, said Coleman. The team doctors brainstormed on content they thought would be useful for rising surgeons—essentially, “what we wish we had known, what we wish someone had told us,” said Coleman.

They knew they wanted to include leadership as a topic and skill. Many surgeons “underestimate that we all lead at many levels, even without a title of authority. We lead clinical and research teams, we interact with medical students and residents daily,” said Coleman. The vascular trainee program fills a gap. “We wanted something for vascular trainees, particularly ‘senior learners’ close to that transition to independent practice,” she said. The program has also been tailored to accommodate feedback from the 2019 Fellows Program.

For planning purposes, participants must register for the Friday luncheon. Visit vascular.org/VAM.

Tags
Vascular Specialist

Related Articles

Why donate to the SVS PAC?

A few years ago, in his presidential address to the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, Mark Mattos, MD, spoke eloquently about the need to “protect our specialty.” A large part of this, he argued, is protecting our patients; no other specialty in medicine can provide the type of comprehensive vascular care that we offer. The daily reality we all face is the potential for declining Medicare reimbursement for our services.

Progress made during year like no other

While the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects dominated 2020–21 fiscal year—including the cancellation of the live 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM)—it did not deter progress on many important initiatives. “When covid hit, it intensified our focus on what was truly important: our members, their patients and the SVS as their Society,” said Executive Director Kenneth M. Slaw, PhD. “That focus was sustained the past 15 months and it has led to innovation and an unprecedented volume of member value programs.” He outlined important highlights from the fiscal year that ended March 31—just more than a year after the pandemic was declared—and the vital initiatives that continue to move forward.

New SVS vice president, revised bylaws set to be unveiled at June 16 Annual Business Meeting

Members, be sure to register for the June 16 Virtual Annual Business Meeting, the first of two business meetings for 2021. Registration is required to assure A quorum. Register at vascular.org/ABM1Register. The second meeting will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, during the Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM). The Wednesday, June 16, meeting will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Members will hear reports from President Ronald L. Dalman, MD, Secretary Amy Reed, MD, and Treasurer Keith Calligaro, MD. Nominating Committee Chair R. Clement Darling III, MD, will present his report, announce the results of the election for SVS vice president and on bylaws revisions, and introduce the 2021–22 Officers.