On Nov. 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) final rule.

In Memoriam Robert M. Blumenberg, 84, Dec. 2, 2018. Dr. Blumenberg treated combat casualties during the Vietnam War. During his surgical career, he was president of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, authored numerous clinical papers and wrote “Scalpel!: Memoirs of a Surgeon.”

Medical school and rigorous surgical training traditionally do not include advanced instruction in leadership skills, yet they are integral to achieving career success.

A new Quality Council. A new Appropriateness Committee. Task forces exploring workforce shortages in vascular surgery, burnout and wellness, and a vascular center verification program for inpatient and outpatient settings.

Registration is now open for The SVS’s Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC) 2019. VRIC will be held this year on May 13 in Boston, Mass., the day before the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Vascular Discoveries meeting (previously known as ATVB meeting).

This year’s Vascular Annual Meeting will have a new and elegant air about it, with the introduction of a Gala to benefit the SVS Foundation. It is replacing the traditional President’s Reception, at the request of SVS President Michel S. Makaroun. Dr.

As I reflect upon the past year, 2018 has certainly made a mark for addressing burnout among medical professionals, enforcing wellness, and targeting implicit and explicit gender bias in medicine and surgery.

 “The Truth About Leadership,” by Barry Posner and James M. Kouzes, describes 10 critical “truths” about leadership. In this latest column highlighting the evidence-based behaviors and attributes that define great leadership, we focus on “The Best Leaders are the Best Learners.”

To coordinate quality issues throughout the Society for Vascular Surgery, the SVS has created a new standing council: the SVS Quality Council.

SVS actively advocates on behalf of SVS members on issues that affect vascular surgery practices. Sometimes this brings positive outcomes for vascular surgeons, such as last month, when devastating cuts in the pricing for the vascular ultrasound room were avoided.