The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation will formally establish the Enrico Ascher Vascular Innovation Institute as a new entity under its research and innovation portfolio, following generous support from the Ascher family.
Set to launch at the 2026 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in Boston, the institute will serve as a forward-looking platform for advancing pioneering ideas, technologies, and leadership in vascular surgery. The event will bring together innovators, mentors, industry partners and SVS leadership to celebrate and activate the program.
The creation of the institute follows years of strategic planning. In 2024, SVS made innovation a core focus by establishing the SVS Innovation Task Force.
This initiative was sparked by a proposal for a national framework to support surgeon-led innovation through education, mentorship and funding. With support from the SVS Executive Board, the task force was charged with defining SVS’s role in the innovation ecosystem and developing a roadmap for future investments.
“The leadership of the Society for Vascular Surgery has identified the topic of innovations as one of its important goals. I am humbled and honored by the fact that this new institute was named after me. I believe this institute will be enriched by great contributions from our members,” said Enrico Ascher, MD, clinical professor in the department of surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York.
In 2025, Ascher was honored with the Medal of Innovation in Vascular Surgery during the Society’s Annual Meeting.
“These contributions are not limited to new devices but include innovative open and endovascular procedures, new concepts in training paradigms, new concepts in the medical and surgical management of vascular diseases, and any innovation that contributes to the betterment of the vascular patient,” said Ascher.
The Enrico Ascher Vascular Innovation Institute aims to foster a culture of innovation within the vascular community and provide mentorship and guidance from experienced surgeon-innovators. It will also deliver educational programming on key areas of innovation, offer seed funding for promising ideas and cultivate a growing innovator community anchored at VAM. Planned components of the launch include an innovation competition, a keynote session under the Institute’s banner, a networking event connecting early-career surgeons with industry and funders, and educational content focused on entrepreneurship, technology translation and commercialization strategies.
The institute will also take ownership of the Roy Greenberg Distinguished Lecture, established in 2013 to celebrate innovation in vascular surgery. In further recognition of that legacy, the SVS plans to present the SVS Medal of Innovation in association with the Enrico Ascher Vascular Innovation Institute — directly linking the award to the program that embodies Ascher’s spirit of advancement and excellence.
“Creativity and innovations are essential goals of any medical or surgical specialty that wishes to prosper and lead,” said Acher. “It’s not a secret that we are facing increasingly strong competition from other specialties that manage patients with vascular diseases. While it’s perfectly fine to collaborate with our non-surgical colleagues, we need to continue to lead this race for creativity and innovations in this field.”
A critical element of the institute’s mission is preparing participants to evaluate market needs, navigate regulatory requirements and communicate their ideas effectively. The Innovation Task Force has identified this kind of training as essential, particularly in the early stages of innovation.
To meet this need, the SVS is exploring partnerships with providers of entrepreneurial training. One model under consideration includes a scalable online course covering the fundamentals of innovation and business planning, paired with individualized coaching to help participants prepare professional pitch presentations for review by business advisors or potential funders.
“Let us not forget that a single idea originating from any vascular surgeon can revolutionize our specialty,” Ascher said. “Recognize needs, trust your ideas, and believe you can contribute—no matter your role. If inspiration strikes, jot it down, and if it still makes sense later, pursue it with all your heart. Don’t give up. If needed, reach out to the newly formed Institute for Vascular Innovations.”
