Get a jump start on planning your way through the Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) with the SVS Online Planner. It includes the entire VAM schedule plus those for the the Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN) Annual Conference, the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU) Annual Conference and the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) meeting, VQI@VAM.
While the planner (vascular.org/Planner21) is always available for viewing and browsing, by creating an account it also can be used as a scheduler and calendar. (This is not currently available, but will be before the meeting starts.)
Once signed in, simply mark a session you want to attend as a favorite. The planner will populate your calendar and set reminders. To create an account, log in with your SVS credentials. That “single sign-on” log-in and password credential is also used for registration and all ticketed events—such as breakfast sessions, workshops, postgraduate courses and special events—and will automatically transfer to the planner.
When the mobile app is available and downloaded, all Online Planner details will transfer and be available on your phone or other mobile device. Non-SVS members or VQI attendees will need to create a guest account in order to take advantage of this functionality.
Live streaming options
Those unable to attend VAM in person will have the opportunity to view programming in real time, courtesy of their computers. A handful of special sessions, the morning plenaries and international content will be streamed live, with up to 15 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits available.
A remote and online registration fee applies and is available via the online registration portal (vascular.org/RegisterVAM21). Additionally, most VAM sessions will be recorded and available in the new SVS OnDemand six to eight weeks after the event. Live-streaming sessions (all times are Pacific Time) are:
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 18
8 to 9:30 a.m. Plenary Session 1, William J. von Liebig Forum
9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Plenary Session 2
10:45 to 12:15 p.m. Crawford Forum, “The role of multispecialty practice in vascular/ endovascular surgery: Can we work together?”
1 to 3 p.m. International Forum
3 to 4 p.m. International Fast Talk
THURSDAY, AUG. 19
8 to 9:30 a.m. Plenary Session 3
9:30 to 9:45 a.m. Awards Ceremony
9:45 to 10:15 a.m. Roy Greenberg Distinguished Lecture, presented by Elsie Gyang Ross, MD
10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. Presidential Introduction and Address; address by SVS Immediate Past President Kim Hodgson, MD
1:30 to 3 p.m. International Chapter Forum
FRIDAY, AUG. 20
8 to 9:30 a.m. Plenary Session 4
10 to 10:20 a.m. Diversity, equity and inclusion invited speaker, Lee Kirksey, MD
10:20 to 11 a.m. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Special Scientific Session, abstract presentations
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Presidential Introduction and Address; address by SVS President Ronald L. Dalman, MD
1:30 to 3 p.m. International Young Surgeons Competition
SATURDAY, AUG. 21
8 to 9:30 a.m. Plenary Session 5
9:30 to 10 a.m. John Homans Lecture, presented by Jim Stanley, MD
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Plenary Session 6
Earn your CME, MOC credits
Physician registrants can get a big boost in collecting required CME and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Self-Assessment credits at VAM. The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Claiming of credits begins after the first plenary session on Aug. 18.
The SVS designates this live course for 35.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s), commensurate with the extent of a physician’s participation in the activity. Multiple sessions also permit the earning of MOC credits (16 available). See the adjacent list for credit availability. Participants must first complete session evaluations. Credits may be claimed through Sept. 24. Streaming sessions are eligible for a total of 15 CMEs. The sessions offering CME and MOC credits are:
- Postgraduate courses (CME+MOC)
- International Forum
- International Fast Talk
- VESS Paper Session
- Ask the Experts sessions 1–6
- Breakfast sessions 1–6 (CME+MOC)
- Concurrent sessions 1–6
- Von Liebig Forum (CME+MOC)
- Plenary 2–6 (CME+MOC)
- VRIC sessions 1–2
- Aortic Summit
- Crawford Forum
- Roy Greenburg Lecture
- John Homans Lecture
- RPVI Course (CME+MOC)
- SVS/AVF special collaborative session
- Outpatient-based lab program
- Physician assistant program
- “How I Do It Video” session
- Abstract invited sessions—COVID-19 and diversity, equity and inclusion sessions (MOC to be determined)
Focus on office-based care
This year’s VAM will feature a session geared specifically to clinicians who work in office and outpatient settings.
The Section on Outpatient and Office Vascular Care (SOOVC) will share the importance of office-based labs to vascular patients, payors and physicians. The special presentation will include tips on how to start an office-based lab, a business-pro forma for an office-based lab, coding and advocacy information, how to identify cases to avoid, and the feedback about how SOOVC can help advance individual practices at the SOOVC Business Meeting taking place Thursday, Aug. 19. The special sessions are:
THURSDAY, AUG. 19
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Section on Outpatient and Office Vascular Care (SOOVC) Business Meeting
3:30 to 6 p.m. “The OBL: A component of future vascular care that requires engagement from all vascular surgeons”
To register for VAM, visit vascular.org/RegisterVAM21. Registration for the SVN and SVU conferences are also available at this location.
VAM to host programming for physician assistants
Physician assistants (PAs) want to showcase how important they are to the vascular team and learn more about vascular disease and medical management. Lunch will be from 12 to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19. The educational program will follow from 1 to 4:45 p.m. The meat of the program will feature introductions and updates from Erin Hanlon, PA-C, co-chair of the SVS PA Section and a welcome from Matthew Eagleton, MD, SVS Program Committee co-chair.
Highlights include a 60-minute session from the SVU that will highlight carotid, venous, abdominal and arterial cases, a 60-minute session on the vascular PA in practice that will cover training new PAs in vascular, opioid prescribing, vascular inpatient management, PA utilization in venous procedures and PA utilization in outpatient-based facilities. Additionally, PAs can expect a 60-minute “Ask the Experts” case presentation that will review cases on lower-extremity amputations, TCAR updates, aortic diseases, vascular emergencies, hypercoagulable patient and team practice.
SVS has health and safety protocols in place
At this time, VAM attendees will need to provide either COVID-19 vaccine verification or a negative coronavirus test (within 72 hours of travel). This requirement may change as the meeting draws closer, with protocols constantly evolving. Stay up-to-date at our VAM Health and Safety Protocols web page, vascular.org/VAMProtocols.
