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2019 President's Message<< Back to President's Message Listing
The 2018 Annual Meeting at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona was a resounding success. The accommodations were wonderful and the aesthetics of the venue were spectacular. Local Arrangements Chairman, Thomas Bergamini, along with April Abenilla from PRRI orchestrated a tremendous social program that provided fantastic opportunities for fellowship and networking for our members and families. With guidance from our 41st President Eric Endean and his wife Deborah, we even enjoyed the first ever SAVS sponsored bike ride through the hills of Arizona which was a fantastic and well received success. The Scientific Program was outstanding and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Program Committee Chairman, Bill Marston for another plenary program that demonstrated the tremendous ongoing quality of scientific activity occurring amongst our membership and throughout our specialty. The SAVS continues to have one of the highest acceptance rates for publication in the Journal of Vascular Surgery amongst all of the regional and national Vascular Surgery Societies, a distinction of which to be proud. Not to be outdone, Continuing Medical Education Chairman Jean Panneton and his Committee put on one of the best reviewed and best attended postgraduate courses in our meeting's history. This rapid-paced session addressed all major areas of our specialty with a focus on case-based learning drawing from the tremendous expertise within our membership to provide a broad and deep educational experience for practicing Vascular Surgeons. Recorder, David Cull also flawlessly executed another SAVS Mock Oral Exam exercise for 30 Vascular Surgery trainees to help prepare them to join our ranks. Our mock oral exercise remains the largest such mock oral examination endeavor in the country and it could not go on without the continued support of our membership. Thanks again! A true giant in our field, Dr. William Baker, delivered the Jesse Thompson Distinguished Guest Lecture. Dr. Baker presented on the history of Vascular Surgery focusing on the leadership and technical advances provided by the renowned Master Surgeons and Educators, Jesse Thompson and Jack Wylie and challenged all of us to continue to aspire to similar greatness in our careers. President Eric Endean then delivered his Presidential address on Emotional Intelligence, a critically important topic in the ever changing and rapidly diversifying environment that is modern healthcare. As President, and having previously served the SAVS as Recorder, I am all too aware that the heaviest lifting in our organization is performed by the Secretary-Treasurer, Will Jordan. Will executed another flawless meeting and I would ask that you join me in thanking Will for his tireless service to our great organization. As I reflect upon my introduction to the organization in 2002 by our past President Kim Hansen, I can say without hesitation that the SAVS is the most important Vascular Surgery group to me, both professionally and personally. I have made innumerable friendships at our meetings and each year I look forward to learning from my peers and without fail, I leave our meeting energized and full of new ideas to improve the care of my patients and to improve our research and educational missions at home. I am honored beyond works to serve as the President of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery at the 2019 Annual Meeting and I am supremely confident that the meeting will continue to reach the bar of excellence set previously. Please mark your calendars for the 2019 annual meeting. We will convene at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Boca Raton, Florida from January 23-26. I hope to see you there. |
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