Corporate Partners

Provided by the
Society for Vascular Surgery®

General Guidelines

The interests and needs of the Society and its members will always be placed above those of the corporations. The sensitivities and perspectives of the membership will be respected.

A. The Society will have the ultimate responsibility for the planning and development of its programs, products and services. Corporate sponsors of Society programs will not influence its planning, content or implementation.

B. Support may not be accepted from those corporations that are embroiled in a controversy that may embarrass or damage the image of the Society and its members or whose activities or interests are counter to the interest of the Society and its members.

C. Corporate sponsors may not organize any functions involving attendees at Society programs that conflict with scientific sessions or social events. Corporate exhibits should enhance the scientific activities of the Society's programs and not interfere with the scientific program.

D. Corporate sponsors may not use the Society name or logo in conjunction with advertising or promotion without written permission of the Society.

E. Written or recorded details of any Society program may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Society.

F. Corporate sponsors may not offer direct payment to Society program organizers, participants, or attendees to cover travel, accommodations or honoraria, nor may such individuals accept payments if offered. Corporate support of Society programs shall be accepted only as sponsorship payment, a grant or as an exhibitor registration fee.

G. No corporate promotional materials may be displayed or distributed in the same room during presentation of single session meetings. In larger meetings with multiple simultaneous sessions, the access to promotional materials will be controlled by the Society in order to avoid any appearance of a direct connection between distribution of promotional materials and the scientific presentations.

H. Representatives of corporate sponsors may not engage in sales or promotional activities during scientific sessions, social events or business meetings.

I. While corporate sponsorship will be acknowledged through various recognition venues, no reference may be made to specific products of the corporation.

Guidelines for Research, Grants and Fellowship Awards

While corporate support for these awards will generally be through programs of the Society's foundation, these guidelines seek to ensure that their quality is determined by vascular surgeon experts.

A. Scholarships or other funds to permit medical students, residents, or fellows to attend educational events may be permitted provided that the selection of participants for these funds is made by their academic institutions or by the Society.

B. Selection of research grants and/or awarding of fellowship support by corporations will be made by the Society free of any influence from the corporation.

C. Corporate support for research may be recognized in the minutes of business meetings. However, corporate representatives may not occupy prominent positions at business meetings, scientific sessions or social events.

Activities Qualified and Unqualified for Support

Opportunities for corporate support will develop in response to expanded programming and strengthened corporate relations. Programs appropriate for sponsorship will be approved by the Board of Directors. These activities may include:

A. Separate and distinct social activities and meals held in conjunction with Society Board and Board committee meetings

B. Other social gatherings and meals

C. Continuing medical education activities

D. Annual Meeting exhibiting and associated activities.

E. Research, grants and fellowship awards

F. Public education

G. Clinical Trials

H. Publications, including books, periodicals, pamphlets and magazines

I. Electronic media, including teleconferencing, videotapes and online services including VascularWeb

J. Presentations and speaking tours

K. Award activities

L. Other activities not exempted outlined as follows

Activities not available for sponsorship include:

A. Society Board and Board committee meetings.

B. Society management meetings and other meetings concerned with go nance, planning and oversight of the Society.

C. Published materials related to the Society's membership recruitment, identity or governance.

Conflict of Interest

The Society will seek to minimize the potential for perceived conflicts of interest through the process of full disclosure and the proper structuring of the corporate sponsorship.

A. SVS program committee members may not be in a position of conflict of interest by virtue of an undisclosed relationship with corporations that fund Society programs or research activities.

B. Corporate support may not infringe on the independent identity,' policies or actions of the Society, its staff and volunteers.

C. No personal gain or financial payment shall be provided for any Society staff, representative or volunteer through the corporate sponsorship.

D. Society endorsement of the corporate sponsor or its products may not be stated or implied.

E. Presenters' lectures, posters or publications shall disclose, as part of their presentation, any corporate support related to the work being presented.

Corporate Sponsorship Rights

Sponsorship agreements will be prepared by the Society and will be signed by both the Society and the corporate fonder. The agreement will clearly present the purposes, terms and conditions of the funding relationship.

A. A set of benefits for the corporation will be mutually agreed upon.

B. Society staff and/or representatives responsible for providing benefits to the corporation will be indicated.

C. Key dates for deliverables and fulfillment of benefits from Society will be outlined.

Society for Vascular Surgery - 633 N. St. Clair, 24th Floor; Chicago, IL 60611; Phone: 312-334-2300 or 800-258-7188; Fax: 312-334-2320; Email: vascular@vascularsociety.org
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