The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) continues to expand its global footprint through its 13 international chapters, fostering collaboration and visibility for vascular surgeons worldwide. With SVS members now in 59 countries, the International Relations Committee (IRC), formalized in 2005, remains committed to building bridges across borders.
Wei Zhou, MD, chair of the IRC, has worked with several chapters in highlighting their contributions. “It’s important to showcase the international members who have actively engaged with the SVS to forge a collaborative relationship,” said Zhou. For one, the Colombia chapter “has done a wonderful job energizing the local vascular surgery community,” she added.
Ana María Botero, MD, an IRC member and driving force behind the Colombian chapter, shared her experience in helping her colleagues get proper exposure in the vascular community.
“I’ve taken it as a personal mission to bring Colombian surgeons into the SVS fold,” she explained. “Each year at the Vascular Annual Meeting [VAM], I help colleagues prepare and present their cases to make sure they’re seen and heard.”
Botero emphasized the importance of visibility and mentorship, noting that SVS membership offers access to research, publications and scholarships.
The IRC plans to organize a webinar on Oct.15 to address issues focused on overcoming obstacles to international participation, including language barriers.
The SVS will also co-host an international congress in Cartagena, Colombia, Oct. 8–11, 2026. The event—in partnership with the International Union of Angiology, the Colombian Association for Vascular Surgery, and the American Venous Forum—will, according to Botero, chart the future of vascular surgery in Latin America and beyond.
To learn more, visit vascular.org/InternationalRelations.
