TIMOTHY F. KRESOWIK, MD, 2011-2012 PRESIDENT
I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as President of the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society this year. I have heard from many individuals from both the academic and private practice setting that the MVSS Annual Meeting is their “favorite” professional meeting. That has certainly always been true for me. My primary goal is to sustain and hopefully enhance that reputation. I attribute the success of past meetings to the optimal size of the audience as well as the collegiality of our members that together promote participation by all attendees in informative discussion of presentations. Program committees have had the foresight to create opportunities for both high quality research presentations as well as individual case reports. The MVSS has led the way in developing educational and hands-on training sessions for emerging technology that have become a national model.
The MVSS has also taken a leadership role in encouraging participation as members of the MVSS Associate Group by the allied health professionals that are essential members of the vascular team in the delivery of high-quality patient care. Beginning with our last Annual Meeting we have created a venue for presentations by, as well as interesting to, these individuals. Cost of care and efficiency are becoming increasingly important to practice success in this era of health system reform and provider-based accountable care delivery models. I believe the initiative of the MVSS to reach out and be inclusive will help position us to be a valued resource for our membership in practice optimization for both quality and efficiency. I urge Members to help up increase membership in the Associate Group by encouraging your mid-level providers to join the Society.
I hope that all of you will make plans to join us for the next Annual Meeting in Milwaukee September 6-8, 2012, as well as submit abstracts for presentation. I also encourage you to promote attendance at the meeting by your vascular nurses, physician assistants and vascular technologists.
We also strive for 100% membership in the Candidate Group by all vascular surgical residents in our region. We are initiating a “Mock Oral” board examination program for vascular surgical residents at the 2012 meeting. Membership in the Candidate Group requires only certification by the program director of residency status and is also open to all general surgery residents with an interest in Vascular Surgery. There are no dues for members of the Candidate Group and membership in the group streamlines the process of becoming an active member after attainment of Vascular Surgery board certification.
I thank you for your support of the Society and look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee in September.
Sincerely yours,
Timothy F. Kresowik, MD
2011-2012 President
Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society