The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Resident and Student Outreach Committee (RSOC) is accepting applications through Jan. 8, 2024, for the Diversity Medical Student Travel Scholarship. The award aims to provide aspiring vascular surgeons from underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities with the opportunity to attend the 2024 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in Chicago.
Scholarship recipients will receive financial assistance for travel expenses and complimentary registration for VAM. In addition to scientific sessions, VAM will offer medical student sessions, a mock interview session, a Residency Fair, SVS Connect@VAM and the VAM Mentoring Program.
Carlo Angello Sánchez Montaño, MD, a previous scholarship recipient, shared his experience as the only Mexican resident from his program to receive the award for VAM 2023. He emphasized the significance of the opportunity, expressing his gratitude for the chance to connect with professionals and participate in the Vascular Health Step Challenge at VAM.
Applicants currently enrolled as medical or pre-med students must have an active SVS account before submitting their applications. Although not eligible for the monetary travel award, local applicants are encouraged to apply for complimentary registration by selecting “local student/resident” on the application form.
“My advice to future applicants is never to surrender, do your best, be a good person and pursue what you’re passionate about. If you don’t get selected the first time, don’t lose faith,” said Sánchez Montaño.
Learn more at vascular.org/DiversityVAMTravel.
VAM 2024 also includes the General Surgery Resident/Medical Student VAM Travel Scholarship for aspiring vascular surgeons. This scholarship includes a financial award for travel expenses and complimentary VAM registration for medical and pre-med students, as well as general surgery residents. Local applicants can apply for complimentary registration. Learn more at vascular.org/VAMTravelScholarship.
Meanwhile, several SVS and SVS Foundation Awards and Scholarships are now available for 2024.
SVS awards
James S.T. Yao Resident Research Award: Apply by Jan. 10, 2024: This award motivates early-career physicians to pursue research in vascular disease and translational therapies. The recipient receives $5,000, a one-year complimentary subscription to the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the opportunity to present his or her research at VAM (vascular.org/YaoRRA).
SOOVC Presentation Award and SOOVC Research Seed Grant: Apply by Jan. 15, 2024 for two SVS Section on Outpatient and Office Vascular Care (SOOVC) opportunities to engage in clinical research within office-based labs (OBLs) or ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
The SOOVC Presentation Award (vascular.org/SOOVCPresentationAward) recognizes three outstanding projects, offering recipients the chance to present their research and receive recognition. Additionally, the SOOVC Research Seed Grant (vascular.org/SOOVCResearchGrant) provides three grants of $10,000 each, renewable for a second year, to support data analysis for actionable insights, quality improvement and patient care.
Excellence in Community Practice Award: Apply by Feb. 1, 2024 for this award (vascular.org/CommunityPracticeAward), which honors a practicing vascular surgeon who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within their community.
Lifetime Achievement Award and Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery: Nominate by March 1, 2024 for these honors. The Lifetime Achievement Award (vascular.org/LifetimeAward) is the highest accolade bestowed by the SVS. It recognizes an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to the profession and the Society, and exemplary professional practice and leadership.
The Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery honors individuals whose transformative contributions have had a profound impact on the practice or science of vascular surgery.
SVS Foundation awards
Apply by March 1, 2024 for the SVS Foundation Clinical Research Seed Grant (vascular.org/ClinicalResearchGrant) to encourage clinical investigation in vascular disease. There is a Feb. 1, 2024, deadline for the Student Research Fellowship (vascular.org/studentfellowship), which supports laboratory and clinical vascular research by undergraduate and medical school students.
Trainees should apply by Jan. 10, 2024, for the Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC) Trainee Award can receive this award (vascular.org/VRICTraineeAward). VRIC fosters collaboration and encourages interest in research among aspiring academic vascular surgeons.
