SVS & SVSF Celebrate Black History Month
The SVS and SVS Foundation join together to celebrate Black History Month. The SVS and SVSF have come together to create the Voices of Vascular Series to aid in the expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout each entity. Visit this webpage throughout the month of February to learn new facts and explore profiles of various Black SVS members.
BHM Member Feature- Daemar Jones, MS4
In the heart of Texas, Daemar Jones is carving a unique path through the world of medicine, leaving a mark not only as a fourth-year medical student at Texas Tech University but also as an involved member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). This Black History Month, Jones’ story emerges as an inspiring narrative of resilience, mentorship and a commitment to community well-being...
Sharee Wright, MD
Sharee Wright, MD, has a medical journey marked with triumph over adversity, dedication to community service and a genuine commitment to addressing health problems. As a pioneer in vascular surgery, she continues to inspire the next generation while advocating for equitable access to quality care...
Kevin Southerland, MD
Kevin Southerland's upbringing revolved around performing acts of service. Raised in Washington, D.C., he harbored aspirations of attending Duke University in Durham, N.C., from a young age. Between 2009 and 2018, he undertook his fellowship and residency at Duke, proudly identifying as a "Duke lifer..."
Jayne Rice, MD
Jayne Raven Rice, MD, stands out for her clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to addressing health disparities and advocating for underrepresented minorities in the medical field. As a resident at the University of Pennsylvania, she is a prominent voice in pursuing health equity, particularly in limb salvage and peripheral arterial disease...
2023 Voices
Read the features of the SVS Members who were featured throughout previous weeks.
2024 My Health Monday
Throughout February, visit this page each Monday for a new fact regarding vascular health for the Black population.
Week 1
59% of Black adults are affected by hypertension, the highest prevalence across all racial and ethnic groups.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. But some people face higher risks than others. Social factors impact these numbers. For example, people who lack insurance are more likely to have unmanaged hypertension. And people who face discrimination have higher blood pressure.
Week 2
Nearly 1 in 3 Black adults could face peripheral artery disease (PAD), surpassing the rates in Hispanic and white adults.
PAD disproportionately impacts individuals who are Black. Implementing routine preventive strategies, such as regular blood glucose testing, ankle blood pressure monitoring, and foot exams for high-risk individuals, may decrease the risk of PAD complications and improve outcomes, particularly among people from diverse racial and ethnic groups.
Week 3
Certain conditions heighten the risk of heart disease and stroke in Black women and men.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): It not only increases the risk but can cause irreversible heart damage. Check your blood pressure regularly!
Obesity: Being overweight raises the likelihood of diseases linked to heart issues. Prioritize a healthy lifestyle!
Diabetes: Another risk factor – stay informed and take charge of your health.
Week 4
Early detection and intervention of peripheral artery disease (PAD) among Black men is crucial in reducing health disparities. Black men in the United States have the highest rates of PAD, yet only 6% of Black Americans are aware of the morbid consequences of PAD.
2023 Black History Month - My Health Monday Facts
| Week 1 | Week 2 |
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Racial and ethnic disparities in major adverse limb events persist for chronic limb-threatening ischemia despite presenting limb threat severity after peripheral vascular intervention: In this review of collected Vascular Initiative data, they found that Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic patients have a higher associated hazard of major adverse limb events after peripheral vascular intervention for chronic limb-threatening ischemia compared with White patients, despite accounting for the WIfI (wound, ischemia, and foot infection) stage at presentation (Black/African American: subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.44; P < .001; Latinx/Hispanic ethnicity: subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-1.81; P < .001). |
The Epidemiology of End-Stage Renal Disease among African Americans: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) occurs almost 4 times more commonly in African Americans than in their white counterparts. Diabetes affects African American men at a rate nearly 50% greater than that of whites; for African American women, the rate is nearly 100% greater. |
| Week 3 | Week 4 |
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Poorer limb salvage in African American men with chronic limb ischemia is due to advanced clinical stage and higher anatomic complexity at presentation: African Americans (AAs) with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have been reported to have fewer revascularization attempts and poorer patency and limb salvage (LS) rates than Caucasians (CAUs). More than 8 million people in the United States have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a disproportionate number of whom are African Americans (AAs). AA patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) are more likely to undergo a primary amputation and are less likely to have revascularization. |
Race affects adverse outcomes of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and acute kidney injury in coronavirus disease 2019 hospitalized patients: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) was 8.7%. We found significant differences (P = .03) in the DVT and PE rates between Black/African American patients (16.2%), Asian patients (10.4%), White patients (7.5%), and patients of other races (4.4%). We found no racial differences in all-cause or venous thromboembolism-related mortality. Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, Black/African American patients were the most vulnerable to DVT/PE but had had no significant increase in venous thromboembolism-related mortality. |
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Your donation will be used to support the Mission of the SVS Foundation and will be used to fund activities in the following areas: Research & Innovation; Community Vascular Care & Patient Education; Disease Prevention and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.