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By: Kristin Spencer

The Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) networking event, SVS Connect@VAM – Building Community returns for its second year and will take place at the home of the Chicago

Bears, iconic Soldier Field. All VAM attendees are encouraged to attend on Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, families are welcome. The event is generously supported by Philips.

SVS Connect@VAM–Shuttle service will depart from the Marriott Marquis located across from McComick Place beginning at 6:20 p.m. The Philips-sponsored event will consist of tailgate-inspired games as well as food trucks, drinks, music and much more. This event will provide VAM attendees the chance to see the iconic Soldier Field before the home of the Chicago Bears is expected to move locations.

“This is a great opportunity for VAM attendees to take a break from education sessions, relax and connect with other attendees from around the world,” said VAM Program Committee Chair Andres Schanzer, MD. “Being able to bring the event to a famous location for attendees to enjoy is a new take on the already creative event. We hope that attendees will feel welcome to bring their families to enjoy all it has to offer.”

The networking event will also serve as the grand kickoff to the Vascular Health Step Challenge at VAM with a fifteen-minute walk to Soldier Field for those wishing to participate. The walk is a unique way for attendees to see the city of Chicago while increasing their step count, bringing them closer to being VAM’s top walker and winning the $100 gift card prize.

Those interested in attending the complimentary event are asked to indicate their interest by logging into the VAM24 registration site. Learn more at vascular.org/SVSConnectAdd.

Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM), VQI Annual Meeting, and SVN Annual Conference Family Policy 

All attendees and their guests must be registered and wear a badge while attending the VAM, VQI Annual Meeting or SVN Annual Conference. For VAM24 guests who plan to only attend the SVS Connect@VAM event on Wednesday, June 19, guest tickets may be added via the primary registrant and a separate guest pass is not required for this event. 

Children are permitted in the public and common areas of meetings, however, attendees under the age of 16 must always be accompanied by an adult. 

Due to the nature of the content that is being presented, we recommend that children under the age of 16 do not attend educational sessions.   If a child attends an educational session and is disruptive, the adult supervising the child will be asked to relocate outside of the session room to a public space.  

Children are not permitted in the exhibit hall unless given permission by SVS. Please contact meetings@vascularsociety.org to request access to the exhibit hall. 

Mothers Rooms/Lactation Rooms will be available onsite at McCormick Place West for VAM/SVN/VQI attendee usage.  

For further questions, please contact meetings@vascularsociety.org 

VAM4 Frequently Asked Questions – (FAQ’s) 

Where is the VAM24 location?
McCormick Place West Building
2301 S Indiana Avenue, Chicago IL 60616 

How do I secure a hotel room for VAM24? 
The official headquarters hotel of VAM24 is the Marriott Marquis Chicago. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Marquis and several other nearby hotels for VAM24 attendees and exhibitors. To secure a hotel room within the official VAM24 hotel block, you must first be registered for VAM24. Hotel reservation information will be made available after the completion of your registration. For information on rates and booking deadlines, please click here. 

How do I retrieve my login information while onsite at the VAM? 
If you do not remember your username and password, you can reset it. If you require further assistance, please contact membership@vascularsociety.org or visit the onsite Tech Help Desk located just outside the Plenary room (West Building, Level 3, Skyline Ballroom W375a).   

How do I log in to the mobile app? 
The Mobile App, sponsored by Gore & Associates, will launch two weeks prior to the meeting dates.  If you do not already have the mobile app, you can search “SVS Events” in the App Store or Google Play. Download the app to your device. Once it has downloaded, launch the app by clicking on it. The app will ask you for a username and password. This is the same username and password you use to sign on to your SVS account. 

What is the cost to attend VAM24? 
Please find a full breakdown of the VAM24 registration fees here. 

What other events are available for purchase outside of the VAM registration? 
The SVN Annual Conference and VQI Annual Meeting are available to purchase individually. Certain special events at VAM24 require a separate registration fee. Click here to register. 

What type of evening and social events are planned? 
For the second year SVS will host SVS Connect@VAM: Building Community, a casual networking event that will take place on Wednesday, June 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The opening Exhibit Hall reception takes place on Thursday, June 20 from 5-6:30 p.m. The SVS Foundation presents "A Night at the Museum—A Celebration of Science" on Friday, June 21 at the Museum of Science and Industry. For a full listing of events, please view the Schedule at a Glance. 

Will I need a ticket to attend certain functions? 
To streamline the registration process, SVS has eliminated printed tickets to many of the previously ticketed sessions and events that are included in the overall VAM registration fee, however we will track interest via the registration site. The only events that will have printed tickets are fee-based events/courses and the SVS Annual Business Meeting (open to SVS Members Only).  

What if I am attending the meeting for only one day? 
We do not offer single-day or partial registration for VAM. 

Will the Meeting be live-streamed? 
VAM24 and the SVN Annual Conference will NOT be live-streamed.  However, we will be recording all the presentations, and these videos will be available to all individuals registered for these meetings.  The VQI Annual Meeting will be live-streamed, and we will also be recording these sessions for all VQI registrants. 

Do I still have to pay for the event if I am just speaking at one session? 
Yes, all member faculty are required to pay the full VAM24 registration fee. 

I am a poster presentation presenter; do I have to pay the VAM registration fee? 
Yes, if you are an abstract-based presenter, you are required to pay the VAM24 registration fee. For additional questions, please contact our VAM Education Team at education@vascularsociety.org. 

 Can I put my poster up early? If so, where? 
Yes. The poster area is located within the exhibit hall in McCormick Place West Building, Level 3, Hall F1 and opens at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 20. All posters must be ready for display prior to the start of your assigned poster session. As a reminder, all posters must be removed at the close of the show at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21, or they will be discarded. 

Are breakfast and lunch included in the registration? How do I obtain a ticket? 
At VAM24 we have several Breakfast and Lunch opportunities throughout the week. Some are offered at individual sessions and others are offered on the exhibit floor. You can elect to participate in the various meal functions. For a full listing of meal functions, please view the Schedule at a Glance. 

Are guests allowed at VAM24?  
Yes, paid registrants may add guests to their registration records. Guests 17 and over will be assessed a $50 registration fee. Children 16 and under are free. A VAM24 badge will be required for admittance to official VAM24 functions. For guests that plan to only attend the SVS Connect@VAM event on Wednesday, June 19, guest tickets may be added via the primary registrant. You must be 21 and older to enter the exhibit hall.   

 What does a Guest Pass allow access to?  
A guest pass allows access to any events in the Plenary Room and admission into the exhibit hall/poster area. Guest tickets to select events may be added to the primary registrant’s registration record, via the registration site. Tickets to the SVS Connect@VAM event on Wednesday, June 19, may be added via the primary registrant and a separate guest pass is not required for this event. However, to access any other official VAM functions, including the exhibit hall and the Women’s Leadership Dinner, guests will be required to be registered as an official guest and a separate event ticket may apply to specific events.   

I am registered for VAM24, how do I claim CE? 
You can claim CE two ways, via the online planner or through the mobile app. You will have to sign in using your SVS username and password. There will be a link on the online planner and in the Mobile app titled CME/CE and certificates. 

I am registered for VQI, can I receive CME credit? 
Yes, we will be offering CME credit for the VQI meeting. Please follow the directions on the online planner or mobile app to claim credit. 

 If I registered for SVN, do I have access to the VAM? 
You are required to register for the VAM if you wish to attend.  Additional fees may be required for select courses or events. 

 Can SVN registrants claim CE? 
Yes. Contact forms will be distributed at the SVN session or you may apply for a certificate of attendance through the CE application link found in the mobile app or on the SVS website (vascular.org). To claim CE for VAM, you must have registered for VAM24 in advance. 

 If I registered for VQI, do I have access to VAM24? 
No. A separate registration fee for VAM24 applies. Additional fees may be required for select courses or events. 

 Will I have access to the sessions after the meeting? 
Yes. Recorded sessions will be accessible via the online planner and mobile app. Recordings will be available to view within a week of the conclusion of VAM. All video recordings will be available to registrants for up to three years after the meetings. Presentations from VQI, VAM and SVN will all be recorded. 

 How do I sign up for the Mock Interview sessions? 
The Mock Interview session is an invitation-only event with limited seats. Please contact  education@vascularsociety.org if you are interested in participating. 

Where can I get a receipt? 
At VAM24, please visit the registration counter and request that one be emailed to you. You can also email vascular@vascularsociety.org to request a copy of your receipt. 

Attention VAM24 International Attendees

Part of the Society for Vascular Surgery’s mission is to elevate the practice of vascular surgery worldwide. To that end, the Society offers a registration discount to attendees in select countries based on the World Health Index. 

SVS is pleased to offer a discounted VAM24 registration fee for all international attendees representing countries that DO NOT appear on the list below. The discounted registration fee will automatically be applied to all online and faxed registration forms. 

COUNTRIES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE DISCOUNT INCLUDE:

International Invitation Letter 

SVS welcomes vascular team members from around the world to take part in our premier education event in the vascular surgery arena. To help secure your visa to Chicago, you can use our downloadable form to create a personalized invitation letter to the 2024 Vascular Annual Meeting. 

 As listed on your passport, please complete the following fillable boxes within the PDF form: 

• Date 
• Full Name of Attendee 
• Full Address 
• If applicable, include your company name in the address box. 
• Passport Number 
• Country of Issue 
• Expiration Date 

Please note: SVS cannot intervene with either U.S. embassies abroad or with the U.S. State Department. It is recommended that you bring this letter as well as your meeting registration confirmation to your visa interview. 

Download invitation letter

For questions, please contact vascular@vascularsociety.org. 

Hotel Accommodations

To secure a hotel room in the VAM24 block, you must first be registered for VAM24. Hotel reservation information becomes available after the completion of your registration.  

The Headquarters hotel for VAM24 is the Marriott Marquis Chicago, conveniently located across the street from McCormick Place West Building. 

All hotels in the official VAM24 room block are connected to the West Building via indoor sky bridges. No shuttles will be provided.  

Below is a list of our block hotels and negotiated discounted rates:  

Registration Coming Soon!

Registration for the RPVI Course will be included with all VAM registration fees. Proof of registration will be necessary to attend.