Make those VAM steps count: Compete to be the meeting’s top walker

Any past VAM attendee knows he or she will put in a lot of steps on the way to educational sessions, the Exhibit Hall, receptions, plenaries and dancing the night away at the Gala.

This year those steps will count for more than just good health, with a competition to become VAM’s “Top Walker.” Register for the upcoming 2023 SVS Foundation’s Vascular Health Step Challenge and participate in two exciting challenges with just one registration.

“What better way to get people excited about stepping up to improve vascular health than during our annual meeting, where people are already logging thousands of steps?” asked SVS Secretary William Shutze, MD, an enthusiastic stepper himself.

Registration for the VAM Step Challenge, held from June 14 to 17, includes automatic registration for the Foundation’s second annual Vascular Health Step Challenge.

The Step Challenge – walking 60 miles to represent the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body – is held throughout September, National Peripheral Arterial Disease

(PAD) Awareness Month. This month-long campaign urges patients and supporters to get moving in order to improve their vascular health.

In 2022, the Foundation raised more than $90,000 from more than 450 walkers, walking both individually and in teams. Proceeds helped the Foundation amplify the impor tance of vascular health and promote healthy vascular health habits in communities across the country. “Last year was our inaugural challenge and we were pleased and proud of the outcome,” said Shutze. “We’re aiming higher this year, to raise more money and help more people develop the walking habit and improve their health.”

New this year is a “Pay-it-Forward” plan. Participants can register themselves and fund the $60 registration for a low-in come PAD patient to participate in the challenge as well. Top walkers and Pay-it-Forward registrants may be recognized at VAM 2023 and on SVS social media accounts.

VAM attendees can register at vascular.org/Step23 or at “SVS Central,” which will be located just outside the Exhibit Hall on the lower level. SVS Central will be open from 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Following VAM, registration will be open at vascular.org/Step23

Compiled by Beth Bales and Marlén Gomez

SVS Foundation: Gala offers early check-in option for guests

QUELL YOUR ANTICIPATION FOR the upcoming Great Gatsby Gala by skipping the registration lines Friday evening and heading straight to the night’s festivities. This year, the SVS Foundation offers guests early check-in for a no muss/no-fuss experience.

Registrants should already have received an email with check-in instructions, from live@classy-mail.org (check your spam folder!). Emails were sent to the registrant’s address. Those who did not receive the email and need it resent should contact kbrewer-smith@ vascularsociety.org

Guests must provide their cell numbers for updates and have a credit card number on file. This information will link guests’ registrations with their attendance. Those who do not want to provide their information will need to check on the day. Early check-in expires at 2 p.m. Friday.

Great Gatsby Gala announces After-Party

KEEP THE PARTY GOING AT THE Great Gatsby Gala after-party. New this year, enjoy two additional hours of Prohibition-era festivities by purchasing a ticket for $150. Gala tickets do not include access to the After-Party.

Also, get “Glam” before the Gala: The SVS Foundation is pleased to offer a limited number of hair and makeup sessions ahead of the Gala. Treat yourself to a pre-Gala makeover and champagne. Learn more and book your appointment by emailing crobb@ vascularsociety.org

Earn credits, contact hours at VAM, VQI@VAM and SVN meetings

ATTENDEES AT THE SOCIETY for Vascular Surgery Vascular Annual Meeting, the Vascular Quality Initiative meeting—VQI@VAM—and the Society for Vascular Nursing Annual Conference all can receive credits or project hours for their participation in the meetings.

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) has accredited SVS to provide CME for physicians. VAM has been designated for a maximum of 27 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. VAM also includes a selfassessment component. Claim by July 17.

Each plenary to end with “how-to” video

AT THIS YEAR’S VAM, ORGANIZERS have planned even more “how-to” videos. As always, videos take center stage during the “How I Do It” video session. That session will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday in Potomac D.

For this year, each of the eight plenary sessions, all in Potomac A/B, will end with a video presentation on performing a complex surgical procedure, said SVS Program Committee Chair Andres Schanzer, MD. They were selected from the approximately 50 videos submitted for consideration for VAM presentation. “These are all on different procedures and will be very educational to the audiences,” he said.

Topics include explant of an embolized left atrial appendage occlusion device and more. All sessions can be found on the Online Planner (vascular.org/OnlinePlanner23) and the mobile app, within each plenary description.