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Sex discordance and postoperative outcomes: We should be vigilant of a real disparity in health outcomes
The recent JAMA Surgery publication “Association of surgeon-patient sex concordance with postoperative outcomes” is a population-based, retrospective cohort study of more than 1 million patients that concluded “sex discordance between surgeons and patients negatively affected outcomes following common procedures.”1 Furthermore,…
Diversity efforts while in training: Is it just another box to check?
2020 was a herald year. It ushered in a global pandemic and a reckoning with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our workspaces. Vascular surgery, by nature of the diseases we encounter and our longitudinal relationship with our…
A balance is required with non-compete agreements in surgical practice
Unless prohibited by state law, most physicians employed by hospitals or physician groups are required to sign non-compete agreements (NCAs). A recent survey of 2,000 primary care providers (PCPs) in five states, 50% of office-based and 37% of hospital-based or…
Corner Stitch: From intentions to gratitude in 2022
A time of transition, like the dawn of a New Year, usually commences the mass drive for New Year’s resolutions and intentions. Many of us have had the pleasure of covering the New Year’s call shift, and it was also…
VESS: A society primed for young vascular surgeons, trainees and medical students
Welcome to December where the calendar is filled with abstract and registration deadlines to various meetings through the summer of 2022. In this month‘s column, we are highlighting the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS). Formerly known as the Peripheral…
VSIGs increase early exposure to vascular surgery in med school
This month, we are focusing on medical student recruitment into vascular surgery. In many medical schools, students do not get any exposure to the field of vascular surgery (or to vascular surgeons) during the preclinical years, and even during the…
‘Do not blame the legal system for the present state of medical malpractice’
I read with both interest and disappointment Dr. Andrew J. Meltzer’s guest editorial regarding medical malpractice published in the October issue of Vascular Specialist. He unfortunately chose the often traveled, but dead-end road of blaming the legal system for the…
Journey of a trainee surgeon-scientist: Mentorship, passion and the importance of parallel projects
In August, University of Michigan general surgery resident W. James Melvin, MD, picked up the coveted Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation Resident Research Award for work investigating the role of the enzyme SETDB2 in diabetes patients infected with COVID-19.…
Prediabetes screening: ‘Target of reducing disparities should be geared towards advocacy’
On Aug. 24, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published the newly updated recommendations regarding screening for prediabetes and type-2 diabetes mellitus.1,2 The recommendation has been graded B, which translates to at least fair evidence to suggest that…
Six top tips to help navigate interview season
Ahh October… The air is a bit cooler; pumpkin spice is in everything; and leaf colors are more dazzling. It’s interview season! If you’re an applicant to vascular surgery residency programs, this month’s writeup is for you. There is such…