Ralph Clement Darling III, MD, a prominent leader in vascular surgery education, describes his journey into the medical field as “circuitous” and one that almost didn’t happen.
Bruce Perler, MD, MBA, from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, dreamed of becoming a surgeon since he was eight years old.
The 2025 SVS Foundation award recipients are:
2025 SVS Foundation and American College of Surgeons Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)
Mitchell R. Dyer, MD, MSc
Medical College of Wisconsin
Project title: Using novel RNA therapy to understand the role of fibrinogen in thromboinflammation in acute and chronic venous thrombosis
Clinical Research Seed Grant
Young Erben, MD
Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Project title: Integrating Biomarkers and Imaging for Early Detection and Risk Stratification in Carotid Artery Disease
James S. T. Yao Resident Research Award
Sunjin Lee, MD
Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident
Massachusetts General Hospital
Abstract title: FNDC1 is Implicated in Small and Large-vessel Arterial Disease and Induces Vascular Calcification via PI3K/AKT Signaling and the NAD Salvage Pathway
Mentor: Matthew Eagleton, MD
Vascular Care for the Underserved Project Grant
Olamide Alabi, MD
Emory University School of Medicine
Project title: Implementation of a Data-Guided “Circulation Health” Community-Outreach Initiative: Reaching People Where They Are
Vascular Research Initiatives Conference Trainee Awards
Tyler Bauer, MD
General Surgery Resident
University of Michigan Medical School
Abstract title: The Mll1/Jarid1C axis regulates fibrotic gene expression in diabetic wound healing
Mentor: Katherine Gallagher, MD
John Cabot, MD
Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident
Stanford University School of Medicine
Abstract title: Genome wide association study of lower extremity aneurysms reveals shared genetic architecture with abdominal aortic aneurysms
Mentor: Scott Damrauer, MD
Bryan Ho, MD
General Surgery Resident
Yale University
Abstract title: CCR4 Deficiency Decreases Arteriovenous Fistula Patency and Increases Venous Wall Thickness
Mentor: Alan Dardik, MD, PhD
Mandy Kunze Guo
PhD Candidate
University of Toronto
Abstract title: Leveraging a Transgenic Mouse Model to Study Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Atherosclerosis
Mentor: Kathryn Howe, MD, PhD
Student Research Fellowship Awards
Shria Bucha
Massachusetts General Hospital
Project Title: Understanding Intrapatient Variability in Platelet Response to Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Peripheral Artery Disease: A Longitudinal Study
Mentor: Anahita Dua, MD
Suchit Chidurala
University of Texas San Antonio
Project Title: Breaking the Blockage: Advancing Treatment Strategies for Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis
Mentor: Luke Perry, MD
Christina Glaser
Medical University of South Carolina
Project Title: SGK-1 dependent aortic pathologic markers colocalize to phenotypically switched aortic VSMCs in small AAA
Mentor: Jean Marie Ruddy, MD
Neha Gupta
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Project Title: Detection of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Those with Peripheral Arterial Disease
Mentor: Matthew Smeds, MD
Christopher Edward Holden-Wingate
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Project Title: Comparative outcomes of upper arm versus forearm arteriovenous fistulas in patients with diabetes
Mentor: Mohamad Hussain, MD, PhD
Judy Li
Yale School of Medicine
Project Title: Decision regret and patient-reported outcomes among elderly patients undergoing elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Mentor: Jonathan Andrew Cardella, MD
Samantha Nicole Machinski
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Project Title: The association between alcohol use disorder and major adverse limb events following lower-extremity revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia
Mentor: Katherine Moll Reitz, MD
Namratha Moses Nelapudi
University of Michigan Medical Center
Project Title: Epigenetic Regulation of Keratinocyte Function in Diabetic Wound Healing: Investigating JMJD3-Mediated Inflammation and Migration
Mentor: Katherine Gallagher, MD
Milin Patel
University of Toronto
Project Title: Risk Factors for Aortic Reintervention and Mortality After Type B Aortic Dissection with Malperfusion
Mentor: Thomas Lindsay, MD
Neha Hariprasad Shetty
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Project Title: The Association Between Rurality and Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presentation and Outcomes
Mentor: Nathan Liang, MD
Yiming Zhang
UMass Chan Medical School
Project Title: Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Vascular Surgery with Geo-Mapping and Mobile Multi-Disciplinary Clinics
Mentor: Tammy Nguyen, MD
Nika Zharichenko
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health System
Project Title: Patient Perceptions of AI-Driven Decision Tools in Surgical Medication Management: A Study in Veterans with Peripheral Artery Disease
Mentor: Edith Tzeng, MD
VOYAGE Scholarship
Amin Mohamed Ahmed, MD
Wichita Surgical Specialists
Coding and Reimbursement Workshop, Rosemont, IL, November 3-4, 2025
Roberto Aru, MD
Thomas Jefferson University
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Sidra Bhuller, DO
University of Michigan Sparrow Health
Coding and Reimbursement Workshop, Rosemont, IL, November 3-4, 2025
Joedd Biggs, MD
University of Kansas
Leadership Development Program (Cohort 6)
Tristen Chun, MD
Duke University
Complex Peripheral Vascular Intervention Skills Course (September 20-21, 2025)
Paul DiMusto, MD
University of Wisconsin
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Bryan Dieffenbach, MD
Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego
Coding and Reimbursement Workshop, Rosemont, IL, November 3-4, 2025
Emily Fan, MD
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Mallika Gopal, MD
Rutgers University
Coding and Reimbursement Workshop, Rosemont, IL, November 3-4, 2025
Oscar Hernandez, MD
Hospital Universitario San Ignacio
Complex Peripheral Vascular Intervention Skills Course (September 20-21, 2025)
Kara Hessel, DO
University of Kansas Medical Center
Complex Peripheral Vascular Intervention Skills Course (September 20-21, 2025)
Courtenay Holscher, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Caronae Howell, MD
Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Benjamin Jacobs, MD
University of Florida
Leadership Development Program (Cohort 6)
Patrick Jasinski, MD
NYU Langone Health
Coding and Reimbursement Workshop, Rosemont, IL, November 3-4, 2025
Young Kim, MD
Duke University
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Indrani Sen, MBBS
Mayo Clinic Health System
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Michael Siah, MD
UT Southwestern
Vascular Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 4-7, 2025
Caitlin Sorensen, MD
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Leadership Development Program (Cohort 6)
Dr. Prem chand Gupta, recognized as one of the leading vascular specialists in Hyderabad, India, has over 30 years of experience in vascular surgery and currently leads a team of 16 vascular specialists in his home country.
Dr. Gale L. Tang’s path towards medical school allowed her to meet many role models and mentors that solidified her passion for academic vascular surgery.
What is considered as a cliché to some was a moment of revelation for Dr. Qingwen Kawaji, where all the puzzle pieces came together to lead her down the vascular surgery path.
Dr. Ravi Rajani, who grew up in Southeast Michigan, charted his path to becoming a surgeon early in his career by attending medical school at the University of Michigan.
As the daughter of a cardiac surgeon and a drug and rehabilitation nurse, Dr. Kendal Endicott is well-acquainted with the hard work and determination required in the medical field.
Most people are uncertain about their future when considering what career they want to explore, as it was for Dr. Audra Duncan, who originally planned a career in pediatrics.
"The Adventures of a Middle-Aged Woman in Vascular Surgery" might sound like the title of a personal memoir, but Dr. Britt H. Tonnessen, FACS, uses it as her introduction on social media to succinctly summarize her life.