Articles & Press Releases
Recent Articles
Advocating for ‘fair and equitable coverage’ of vascular services
Among the many projects of the SVS Coding and Reimbursement Committee, advocating appropriate coverage for vascular services continues to be a major focus. In 2021, the committee, led by chair Sunita Srivastava, MD, will continue to increase its coverage initiatives, working with government and private payers.
Continuing the cause of the SVS Branding Toolkit
A new SVS Branding Toolkit is the culmination of hard work over the past two years by the Public and Professional Outreach (PPO) Committee, according to campaign spearhead and committee chair Joseph L. Mills, MD. And there’s more to come for 2021.
Pushing forward VA facilities for the betterment of vascular surgery
The SVS VA Vascular Surgeons Committee is looking ahead this year to reclaim procedural volume at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities—ravaged by COVID-19—and to facilitate construction of hybrid suites.
Inaugural leadership program overcomes pandemic difficulties
The inaugural cohort of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Leadership Development Program had to show some resilience early.
CMS confirms Physician Fee Schedule cuts; SVS members asked to contact lawmakers
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) has delivered a blow to vascular surgery in the form of a 7% cut in total payment for the services it provides. The cuts are included in the agency’s final rule for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and were slated to take effect Jan.1, 2021.
Dalman to trainees: ‘Vascular surgery is a tremendously rewarding career’
For aspiring vascular trainees, interview season is a time of great stress as well as opportunity. Graduating medical students and residents prepare the pitches of a lifetime.
Appropriateness Committee seeks to push ahead with new guidelines
It was a central plank of the presidential agenda set out by immediate past president Kim Hodgson, MD. And now the SVS Appropriateness Committee has targeted further development of the Society’s first set of Appropriate Use Criteria guidelines.
New committee to deliver diversity position statement
The newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee plans to implement the recommendations from the DEI Task Force.
New Year will bring new SVS online education portal
As part of the Education Council (see related story, below), the Education Committee is breaking new ground in 2021.
Overseeing governance and expanding SVS footprint
The Policy and Advocacy Council is composed of the leaders of the Coding and Reimbursement, Government Relations, PAC, Quality and Performance Measures, and VA Vascular Surgeons committees.
Gaining stronger representation for community practice surgeons
Since its inception, the Community Practice Committee has been a valuable resource for surgeons working in settings that serve local communities.
Forging ahead with a new identity and planning for VRIC 2021
The Basic and Translational Research Committee (BTRC) is the new name of the former Research and Education Committee.
Deadlines near for Society, Foundation awards
Applications are due early in 2021 for a number of Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and SVS Foundation awards, honors and grants.
Missing your journals? Be sure your dues are paid
Have you paid your 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery dues? If you haven’t, you’re missing access to all of the latest research in the Journal of Vascular Surgery publications.
Cover Story: Ronald L. Dalman, MD, SVS President
While there is little doubt the pandemic has impacted each vascular surgeon and the SVS as a Society in numerous ways, the commitment and dedication of SVS committee, council and task force members to deliver on the mission has remained undaunted.
New link-up for the Document Oversight Committee
The SVS Document Oversight Committee—or the DOC—will be aligning with the SVS Quality Council in order to further its crucial work during the course of 2021.
Preparing for VAM—with alternative options on deck
The Postgraduate Education Committee is hard at work to try to provide the most compelling, timely educational material for SVS members this year, chair Vikram Kashyap, MD, tells Vascular Specialist.
Going global: Society gets new International Mentorship Program
The International Relations Committee has launched a new International Mentorship Program to provide experienced SVS academic mentors for members outside the United States who do not have access to individuals who can assist them in professional growth.
Partnering with SVS PAC in fight over payment cuts
As 2020 brought both the prospect of significant reimbursement challenges for surgical services as well as the tremendous clinical and financial challenges of the pandemic, the SVS Government Relations Committee focused intensely on efforts to head off implementation of steep cuts to 2021 Medicare reimbursements.
Council moves SVS into vascular population health vacuum
The Clinical Practice Council, chaired by William Shutze, MD, has numerous ongoing and new projects and initiatives, including the new SVS Population Health Initiative.
Foundation looks to up contribution levels in 2021
Led by chair Peter Nelson, MD, the SVS Foundation Development Committee works with Foundation chair Peter Lawrence, MD, and the SVS Foundation Board to develop strategies to promote SVS member donations.
Publications Committee braced for major change in year ahead
The Publications Committee is responsible for overseeing, among others, the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) family, the Rutherford textbook and Seminars in Vascular Surgery. After conducting reviews and interviews, committee members as a group put forth candidates for the editorship of JVS and Rutherford to the SVS Executive Committee for its final decisions, according to committee chair Peter Henke, MD.
Grant Helps Amputees Get Up and Walk More Quickly
A grant from the SVS Foundation has helped amputees in the Fresno, Calif. area get up and walking more quickly than is typical.
Recent Articles
Congress Failed Our Nation’s Health Care Providers by Allowing Massive Medicare Cuts to Take Effect That Will Harm Seniors
Continuing resolution to fund the government disregards need to protect patient access to care. WASHINGTON, December 2, 2021 – Congress is on the brink of allowing massive Medicare cuts to go into effect at the start of the new year based on the language of the continuing resolution
Study Shows Intraoperative Vascular Surgeon Consultations are Increasing at a Major American Trauma Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media ContactBeth Richmanbrichman1@gmail.com312-806-8999
Findings Reinforce Vascular Surgeons’ Value for Trauma Centers
Medicare Cuts to Vascular Surgery Ignore Realities of Pandemic and Will Harm Patient Care
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) urges Congress to stop the harmful Medicare cuts that will take effect in less than two months and will limit patient access to needed care; Majority of the U.S. House supports stopping the cuts.
More Than One Million Health Care Providers Tell Congress to Stop Medicare Cuts
Organizations representing more than one million physician and non-physician health care providers unite to protect care for the millions of seniors who rely on the Medicare program.
Study Shows Increase in Risk of Renal Failure Following Lytic Therapy for Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis
A large single-center retrospective study reveals the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) following pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a high as 22%.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines and Implementation Document on the Management of Extracranial Cerebrovascular Disease
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released updated clinical practice guidelines accompanied by an implementation document on the management of patients with extracranial carotid artery disease. Since stroke prevention related to carotid artery disease is of major interest to vascular surgeons, the documents aim to use the existing clinical evidence to ensure patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease in the carotid arteries receive appropriate treatment and care.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines on Popliteal Artery Aneurysms
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released a new clinical practice guideline to ensure that patients with aneurysms of the popliteal arteries (located behind the knee) receive appropriate treatment and care. Aneurysms of the popliteal artery are the most common aneurysms outside of the brain and abdominal aorta.
Exact Symptom Status Better Predicts Outcomes after Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting
Further stratification according to preprocedural symptoms in patients undergoing transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS) improves the preoperative risk assessment, a review of the Society of Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) data suggests.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Elects Joseph L. Mills, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine to 2021-2022 Officer Lineup
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the leading not-for-profit, professional medical society on establishing causes and treatments for vascular disease, today announced its officers for 2021-2022. Several officers shifted roles and Dr. Joseph L. Mills was elected vice president at the SVS annual business meeting held virtually on June 16, 2021.
VRIC comes to VAM
This year, the two major meetings of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) that involve the presentation of scientific research are being housed in one tent. The Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC), typically held in May and geared to translational research, will be held over two sessions Thursday and Friday at the 2021 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM). More than 25 abstracts will be presented in four sessions covering arterial remodeling and discovery science for venous disease; vascular regeneration, stem cells and wound healing; atherosclerosis and the role of the immune system; and aortopathies and novel vascular devices.
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.
Overcoming prejudice and uniting our diverse but vulnerable specialty
The United States has been living through some charged times recently. Our profession is not immune to these conflagrations. In recent times, minority members of the diverse specialty of vascular surgery have seen people who look like them come under attack. And there are politicians and other actors who make it their mission to try to divide us. Against this backdrop, I will relate a personal journey of confronting discrimination and, ultimately, of hope and acceptance.
Patient: ‘Whole body wellness includes the mind and body’
Kathryn Bowser, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, talks to Justin Michel, 29, who identifies as a non-binary trans masculine person, about the patient experience navigating medical care as an individual of minority sexual identity.
Selected content to be live-streamed at VAM
Organizers stress that the best way to experience the 2021 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) is in-person, surrounded by friends and colleagues, participating in small-group sessions and seeing all the devices and information available in the Exhibit Hall. All the abstract-based plenary sessions will be live-streamed, as will four international events, specialty lectures and the two presidential addresses. A total of 15 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits can be earned from among the streamed sessions.
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.
Recent Articles
Congress Failed Our Nation’s Health Care Providers by Allowing Massive Medicare Cuts to Take Effect That Will Harm Seniors
Continuing resolution to fund the government disregards need to protect patient access to care. WASHINGTON, December 2, 2021 – Congress is on the brink of allowing massive Medicare cuts to go into effect at the start of the new year based on the language of the continuing resolution
Study Shows Intraoperative Vascular Surgeon Consultations are Increasing at a Major American Trauma Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media ContactBeth Richmanbrichman1@gmail.com312-806-8999
Findings Reinforce Vascular Surgeons’ Value for Trauma Centers
Medicare Cuts to Vascular Surgery Ignore Realities of Pandemic and Will Harm Patient Care
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) urges Congress to stop the harmful Medicare cuts that will take effect in less than two months and will limit patient access to needed care; Majority of the U.S. House supports stopping the cuts.
More Than One Million Health Care Providers Tell Congress to Stop Medicare Cuts
Organizations representing more than one million physician and non-physician health care providers unite to protect care for the millions of seniors who rely on the Medicare program.
Study Shows Increase in Risk of Renal Failure Following Lytic Therapy for Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis
A large single-center retrospective study reveals the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) following pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a high as 22%.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines and Implementation Document on the Management of Extracranial Cerebrovascular Disease
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released updated clinical practice guidelines accompanied by an implementation document on the management of patients with extracranial carotid artery disease. Since stroke prevention related to carotid artery disease is of major interest to vascular surgeons, the documents aim to use the existing clinical evidence to ensure patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease in the carotid arteries receive appropriate treatment and care.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines on Popliteal Artery Aneurysms
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released a new clinical practice guideline to ensure that patients with aneurysms of the popliteal arteries (located behind the knee) receive appropriate treatment and care. Aneurysms of the popliteal artery are the most common aneurysms outside of the brain and abdominal aorta.
Exact Symptom Status Better Predicts Outcomes after Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting
Further stratification according to preprocedural symptoms in patients undergoing transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS) improves the preoperative risk assessment, a review of the Society of Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) data suggests.
The Society for Vascular Surgery Elects Joseph L. Mills, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine to 2021-2022 Officer Lineup
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the leading not-for-profit, professional medical society on establishing causes and treatments for vascular disease, today announced its officers for 2021-2022. Several officers shifted roles and Dr. Joseph L. Mills was elected vice president at the SVS annual business meeting held virtually on June 16, 2021.
VRIC comes to VAM
This year, the two major meetings of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) that involve the presentation of scientific research are being housed in one tent. The Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC), typically held in May and geared to translational research, will be held over two sessions Thursday and Friday at the 2021 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM). More than 25 abstracts will be presented in four sessions covering arterial remodeling and discovery science for venous disease; vascular regeneration, stem cells and wound healing; atherosclerosis and the role of the immune system; and aortopathies and novel vascular devices.
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.
Overcoming prejudice and uniting our diverse but vulnerable specialty
The United States has been living through some charged times recently. Our profession is not immune to these conflagrations. In recent times, minority members of the diverse specialty of vascular surgery have seen people who look like them come under attack. And there are politicians and other actors who make it their mission to try to divide us. Against this backdrop, I will relate a personal journey of confronting discrimination and, ultimately, of hope and acceptance.
Patient: ‘Whole body wellness includes the mind and body’
Kathryn Bowser, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, talks to Justin Michel, 29, who identifies as a non-binary trans masculine person, about the patient experience navigating medical care as an individual of minority sexual identity.
Selected content to be live-streamed at VAM
Organizers stress that the best way to experience the 2021 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) is in-person, surrounded by friends and colleagues, participating in small-group sessions and seeing all the devices and information available in the Exhibit Hall. All the abstract-based plenary sessions will be live-streamed, as will four international events, specialty lectures and the two presidential addresses. A total of 15 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits can be earned from among the streamed sessions.
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.