Highlights From SVS Board Meeting and Planning Session

Several important vascular stakeholders participated in an SVS Board of Directors strategic planning retreat that was held in February.

The participants included representatives from national and regional vascular societies, as well as the four 2006 Platinum and Gold Circle corporate sponsors: Boston Scientific, Cordis, Gore, and Medtronic.

The Strategic Planning Session participants met to discuss collaboration and future directions in vascular surgery.

Several areas of common interest were identified:

• Improving public understanding of vascular disease and the specialty of vascular surgery.
• Providing training opportunities on new technologies and techniques to practicing vascular surgeons.
• Attracting the "best and the brightest" to the specialty.
• Advocating with policymakers on behalf of vascular patients and surgeons.
• Enhancing collaboration on clinical research and outcomes analysis.

The intent going forward is that invited individuals will serve in an advisory capacity to SVS task forces, work groups, and committees on these shared issues.

As part of this session, strategic goals and critical initiatives for 2006-2007 also were established.

For highlights of these, see SVS Critical Initiatives for 2006-2007