While the history of the Alabama Vascular Society is still in the making, the history of Vascular surgery in our beautiful home state is incredibly rich.   We are fortunate to practice in a community that is diverse in population, faiths, backgrounds and ideas.  But what ties all Alabamians together is a desire to be there for each other in good times and in bad.   Similarly, the academic and community vascular practices in Alabama rely upon each other to deliver quality care to our patients.    With the predicted boom in diabetes and peripheral vascular disease over the next decade, the cooperation amongst the care-givers in our state will be critical to helping our patients live longer, and better, lives.   There will be an dramatic increase in the demand for physician extenders, therapists, ultrasound and radiology technicians, and nurses dedicated to vascular disease.   It is in this spirit of cooperation and shared experience that I invite you all, on behalf of the Alabama Vascular Society membership,  to the Ross Bridge Resort this August to share in the caring of our wonderful community.

The theme of looking forward to the future of Vascular care in Alabama could not be better exemplified than in our planned Student Symposium and Simulation on Saturday.  The opportunity to interact with the best and the brightest doctors of the future is a singular privilege.   We are especially blessed to have as our Keynote speaker this year, Dawn Coleman, Program Director and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan.   Dr. Coleman is a national leader in surgical education and is the Society of Vascular Surgery champion of physician wellness.    In addition, Dr. Hazim Safi, perhaps the foremost complex aortic surgeon of the past 20 years, will be joining us in Hoover to give his insight into a career in Vascular surgery.

And while all of this sounds like more than one can hope for, I am, personally, most excited to welcome back home several of our residency and fellowship alumni who have agreed to come and participate in Mock Orals and the Student Symposium.    This opportunity to catch up with them and their wonderful families at the receptions, pool side, or during our golf tournament, will undoubtedly be the highlight of the meeting.

Thank you so much for your interest in this year’s Alabama Vascular Society meeting.

Sincerely
Benjamin J. Pearce, MD FACS
William D. Jordan, Jr, MD Endowed Professor of Vascular Surgery
Associate Professor and Program Director
Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy
University of Alabama-Birmingham
1808 7th Ave S, BDB 652
Birmingham, AL 35294