SVS Communications Committee Reaching Out, Establishing Contact

Medical Student Outreach

One of the major goals of the Communications Committee is to attract medical students to vascular surgery, and current activity in attaining this goal includes:

• Integrated Recruitment Campaign: A high-quality DVD featuring interviews with SVS members discussing why they chose and enjoy the field of vascular surgery will be unveiled at the 2006 Vascular Annual Meeting. Highlights include the versatility of the field, relationships with patients, research opportunities, and the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The campaign will include brochures and an exhibit promoting careers in vascular and endovascular surgery.
• American Medical Student Association Residency Fair \& Specialty Showcase: The SVS exhibited at the March 31, 2006 showcase. Dr. Mark Morasch attended the event and answered medical students' questions about the field of vascular and endovascular surgery. An ad in New Physician magazine promoted SVS participation in the showcase.
• American Medical Association-Medical Student Section 2006 Medical Specialty Showcase: On June 10, 2006 SVS will exhibit at the AMA Medical Student Section. Dr. Carlo Dall'Olmo will speak to the students about advantages in the field of vascular and endovascular surgery.
• Medical Student Externships/Subinternships: Students report that having one-on-one contact with a vascular surgeon is important in deciding whether or not to choose vascular surgery as a specialty. The Committee is devising tactics to develop relationships with students, including offering externships and subinternships in vascular surgery. This mentoring offers students first-hand experience in the field and opens their eyes to the exciting career or vascular surgery. Programs for mentoring opportunities will be developed in the upcoming months.

Increased Recognition for Vascular Surgeons

The Communications Committee recognizes the need to promote the leadership and expertise of vascular surgeons.

• Primary Care Physician Referral Campaign: The committee drafted a sample letter that members can personalize and send to physicians to remind them that vascular surgeons are the experts they should contact for patient referral. The letter should be sent with a brochure. Response to the campaign has been very positive. Members can access the letter and order the brochures through www.VascularWeb.org.
• Vascular Health Speakers Bureau: A pilot program offering speakers for grand round presentations has been launched. The Speakers Bureau consists of 40 SVS members in leadership roles who are interested in educating hospital staff about the advancements in vascular disease treatments.

Media Activity

The committee has launched an aggressive media campaign to promote SVS research, outreach, and activities. It has developed new press kit materials being distributed to key press. Releases announcing newsworthy articles published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery are distributed monthly. The Vascular Health Speakers Bureau was announced to the media in a release. Media alerts and press releases promoting the presentations scheduled for the Vascular Annual Meeting are being distributed. Information is available on www.VascularWeb.org.