A Message from SVS Foundation® Chair, Robert Zwolak, MD

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Dear Colleague:

To strengthen the Society for Vascular Surgery’s® (SVS) presence in advocacy and continuing education, SVS replaced its foundation, the American Vascular Association® (AVA), with the SVS® Foundation. The AVA’s accomplish-ments have been remarkable, and the new SVS Foundation will continue its mission by assuming all its activities.

Because of the generosity of vascular health medical professionals, industry, and affiliated societies, the AVA has helped some of the specialty’s current leaders advance their careers. Many of our most prominent surgeons have used their awards to conduct research that improves the health of vascular patients. We need to continue on this path.

Dr. Robert M. Zwolak, SVS Foundation Chair

Dr. G. Patrick Clagett, last year’s chair, succeeded in raising funds to present the K08, K23, EJ Wylie Traveling Fellowship Resident Research Price, and Student Research Fellowships to our specialty’s most promising future leaders this year. The awardees are featured (below) receiving their awards at the 2011 Vascular Annual Meeting®.

The SVS Foundation will continue to be the focal point for advancing the role of vascular surgeons in clinical and translational research, activities so often dominated by non-surgeons.

To ensure these important grants and scholarships are awarded annually requires the commitment of the entire SVS membership, industry, and affiliated societies. As a specialty, it is our responsibility to lead in vascular health management.

Your contributions fund clinical and translational research grants including:

PIClinical research seed grants provide direct support for pilot clinical projects which have potential to grow into larger studies fundable by industry or governmental sources.

PIA clinical study planning grant supports development of all the components necessary for a competitive, multi-center clinical trial application.

PIMedical student and resident awards stimulate development of research skills and exploration of investigative careers.

PIPartner grants with the National Institutes of Health, the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award and the Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, both directed at vascular surgeon scientists in the early stages of their careers.

I want to thank everyone, including our industry partners and generous affiliate societies, for their loyalty and commitment to our future. We ask for their continued support. For those of you who have not yet contributed, I encourage you to take this request seriously and make a donation to the SVS Foundation.

Your contribution is tax-deductable. Contributions may be made at www.SVSFoundationsite.org or by completing the contribution form included in this annual report.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Zwolak, MD

Chair, SVS Foundation

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