2021 EVS Trainee Traveling Scholarship Grid

Vascular surgery is an enticing field that encompasses pathology that covers all of the body’s organ systems. Vascular surgeons often work in interdisciplinary teams to take care of some the sickest patients. This field is also unique in that vascular surgeons can have a long relationship with their patients (eg, being there for them during the entire disease course of peripheral arterial disease). They take on some of the most challenging surgeries in the OR and operate on structures other surgeons avoid. Even the bread and butter of vascular surgery, angiograms and angioplasties, is exciting because no two angiograms are the same and each one is a different puzzle to solve with fluoroscopy, wires, balloons, and stents! I am interested in pursuing a career in vascular surgery, and this scholarship will help further my training by allowing me to network with professionals in the field and see the cutting-edge research.

I am a fourth-year general surgery resident interested in vascular surgery and just matched in vascular surgery fellowship for the year 2022. My understanding of vascular surgery continues to grow by leaps and bounds every year as a field that is continually evolving. Attending EVS annual meeting would allow me to expand my knowledge of all aspects of the field and familiarize myself in complex open and advanced endovascular techniques during simulation training that I would not be privy to in general surgery training. Not only will I improve my dexterity and add to my surgery skillset, I will also be able to deepen my understanding of the ongoing research and learn about the developing new and improved treatments for vascular diseases.

As a woman and minority, I want to also be part of the mentorship program and establish a relationship with a mentor to discuss career development, work-life balance and transitioning from a general surgeon to a vascular surgeon.

I’m currently a PGY-4 general surgery resident in Philadelphia. I was recently accepted into vascular surgery fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital starting in July 2022 with Dr. Calligaro! I have never attended a large vascular conference yet, and I’m eager to attend one! Over the past 1.5 years I have immersed myself in vascular societies and have become more active in the field of vascular surgery. I worked hard for a first author publication in Annals of Vascular Surgery that will be published within the next month. I’m a member of EVS, DVVS, SCVS, and my application for VESS is pending. Regarding leadership positions, I am a Social Media Ambassador for SVS and sit on the ACS Resident Board of Governors Newsletter Workgroup. Additionally, I have made great financial sacrifices since high school to achieve my dream and passion of becoming a vascular surgeon – currently $600,000 in debt (college, grad school, med school, plus interest). Put simply, I believe that my overall drive, perseverance, passion for vascular surgery, and goal of becoming one of the next best vascular surgeons makes me an excellent candidate for this scholarship, and that I will represent EVS well. This Trainee Travel Scholarship would mean very much to me – I would be humbled and privileged to receive it. Thank you.

As a rising second-year fellow, the ability to attend this conference would afford me the opportunity to learn from the best and brightest minds of our specialty in a way that can be easily integrated in my future practice. I found the scientific sessions and the trainee programs to be very helpful in solidifying my knowledge base prior to beginning my fellowship training when I previously attended this conference. Being able to attend in person this year would also allow me to network with potential future employers as I start seeking out job opportunities in anticipation of my graduation from my training program in a year’s time.

As a first year vascular fellow, my interest in vascular surgery has only strengthened during the past year. My initial curiosity in vascular surgery started during my first year of general surgery residency and by my second year, I was set on becoming a vascular surgeon. I shared this enthusiasm with my mentor Dr. Mutyala, who helped me pursue a career in vascular surgery and encouraged me during residency. Throughout my residency I attempted to scrub and observe every vascular case I could, learning along the way the basics of vascular surgery, but knowing there was so much more than what I was learning at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. As my education continued, I found both open and endovascular procedures equally enjoyable, but some of the most rewarding cases were the minimally invasive endovascular approaches. With the advances made and evolution of technology in endovascular surgery, it never ceases to amaze me how the field is changing. This scholarship will allow me to further my knowledge in both open and endovascular approaches, allowing me to appropriately choose suitable candidates for the various approaches. I believe it is important to have a wide breath of knowledge and tools at my disposal in order to provide the best care to my patients. In addition, I want to eventually pursue a career as teaching faculty in a fellowship program that would allow me to work with students, residents and fellows. I want to help others explore vascular surgery and educate the next generation of vascular surgeons as I have been grateful to have wonderful mentors over the years. For me, I see this conference as an opportunity to grow not only as a surgeon, but future educator.

Although I did not know much about the field of Vascular Surgery when I first started my surgical training, I quickly learnt that this specialty was the right fit for me. Vascular encompasses a wide variety of procedures, such as open and endovascular surgeries, meticulous anastomoses, as well as unrefined amputations. This diversity is what sets vascular surgery apart from other subspecialties.
Vasculopaths are some of the sickest patients admitted into the hospital, whether they are primarily admitted for vascular disease, or for a medical reason with a vascular complication. Having the ability to perform surgical procedures which will impact a patient’s quality of life remains a great privilege.
I believe that the EVS Trainee Traveling Scholarship would be of great benefit in regards to my initiation into the world of Vascular Surgery. This conference will primarily allow me to further my knowledge in evidence based vascular medicine, and expand my views on what vascular surgery entails. It would be of great honor to attend and learn from world renowned vascular specialists. This conference would also provide a great opportunity to network with diverse professionals in the field from around the world.
Having played a valuable role in two research projects being presented at this year’s EVS conference, I am greatly appreciative for your time in considering my application for the EVS Trainee Traveling Scholarship.

I will be a senior vascular resident this upcoming year, and I would like to attend the meeting to not only gain exposure to the state-of-the-art in vascular surgery but to network and make connections in preparation for my career as a vascular surgeon. I believe attending this meeting (in person) will have a significant influence on where I potentially end up taking a position after the conclusion of my training as well. I have attended the meeting once before I found it to be a great experience and would value the opportunity to go this year; which without this scholarship may not be possible due to institutional restrictions on funds for academic conferences.

My exposure to vascular surgery was not until the end of my second year of medical school, and again during my surgery clerkship. The beauty, precision, and creativity of the procedures, as well as the continuity of care and medical complexity of the core patient population, clarified my future career goal – to become a vascular surgeon. I have continued to take call with the vascular fellow I worked with in order to gain more exposure to all aspects of the field. My research has continued to morph alongside my academic passions and my focus on frailty in surgery has led to additional vascular-focused projects and clinical questions. After starting my acting internship in the field this month, my additional exposure to the breadth and depth of the field has only solidified my decision.

This scholarship would provide me with an opportunity to attend an incredible, collaborative educational experience. It would enable me to learn alongside some of the country’s leading minds in vascular surgery and meet others in the field outside of my home institution – bringing new perspectives to my training. My passion for the field of vascular surgery has grown with each additional step of my path so far, and I look forward to the ways in which my attendance at the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting does the same.

I would like to thank the Eastern Vascular Society for continuing to be a model for excellence in the field of vascular surgery, and the committee for accepting our work for oral presentation at the upcoming meeting and considering my application for a Travel Scholarship.

After graduating from medical school, I dove into research in cardiovascular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where I was exposed to a wealth of projects aimed at improving patients’ outcomes. A notable study that I worked on was comparing long term outcomes of EVAR to open AAA repair. This experience served as the basis for my interest to pursue a career in vascular surgery.

Upon beginning General Surgery training at Maimonides Medical Center, NY and working with Drs. Robert Rhee and Qinghua Pu, my interest in the field has strengthened significantly. Mainly through development of my clinical experience and continuous research work, one of which is set to be presented at the meeting.

However, since I am a trainee and given that our work is non-funded, it is rather difficult to cover conference expenses. Also, the committee may not be aware that after completing 2 years of surgical training in June 2020, I started a research fellowship in Evidence-Based Surgery at Oxford University, set to complete in June 2022. So, I will be travelling from England to the US for the meeting in September. As such, the cost of travel becomes more significant. Therefore, I am thankful for the opportunity of the scholarship.

I am very excited to be applying for a Vascular fellowship in a few years and I believe that the opportunity to meet and present our work to leaders in the field will be a significant facilitator of my future aim and a window to generate future research ideas.

I am currently a PGY-2 Vascular Surgery Integrated Resident at the University at Buffalo. An abstract I submitted was accepted for an oral presentation at the conference. Being able to attend would allow me to receive feedback on my abstract from a wider network of physicians. I would also be able to hear about the other research going on in the vascular surgery community and grow my understanding of the scientific process. The other programs afforded at the conference would be contribute to my vascular surgery education including radiation safety, simulation sessions, How I do it symposium and My Worst Complication and How I managed it. Lastly the networking opportunities at the EVS conference is something I am looking forward to as I continue my career.

Beginning in my days as a pre-med student I have had a strong interest in vascular surgery that has persisted into my third year of medical school. Strong mentorship from Dr. Bryan Fisher in Nashville, TN helped establish my interest, and his willingness to allow me to be in the OR and to spend time with him in clinic has helped to make a potential vascular surgeon out of me. I have a long way to go before I can be in his position, helping to strengthen interest in and passion for this profession, but I can see myself going down that path. To that end, I will be attending EVS and presenting my recent research, and my hope is that this will allow me to continue to meet vascular surgeons with whom I may eventually work. This will be my first in-person vascular meeting and to be blunt, I am extremely excited for it. Perhaps most importantly it will give me the opportunity to see how new findings are presented and promulgated at the national level to keep the field ever growing and evolving. In my brief experience, the best things about vascular surgery are the abundance of new tools and techniques and the closeness of the community, and I am excited about how much I will learn and the types of people I will meet at EVS. Thank you for your consideration.

Vascular surgery is one of the most engaging, diverse, interdisciplinary, and unique specialties in medicine. Vascular surgeons bring science and technology together in the operating room. The mixture of open and endovascular procedures throughout the entire body allows for expanding creativity, unique cases, and interdisciplinary collaborations with other surgical specialties. Moreover, the pathologies in the vascular world permit long-lasting patient-physician relationships that will allow me to know my patients as a whole and provide excellent care. These are just a few reasons I decided to pursue a career in vascular surgery and apply to residency programs this upcoming application cycle. Attending the Easter Vascular Society Annual Meeting will allow me to expand my knowledge and continue exploring this remarkable specialty. The scientific sessions, issues panel, poster sessions, diversity panels, and the Young Vascular Surgeons program will serve as a foundation to continue my interest and spark my curiosity about the latest initiatives in vascular surgery. I will also have the opportunity to network with current and future vascular surgeons across the region. It will be an honor to attend this event as I continue my journey to become a vascular surgeon and grow as a leader in the field.

Prior to starting medical school, I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator within the Divisions of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. My interest in vascular surgery was first sparked when I was exposed to a complex aortic dissection case managed in a total endovascular manner. I also observed routine procedures in the OBL that introduced me to the longitudinal patient relationships that are intrinsic to the field. These experiences inspired me to pursue vascular surgery research during my first two years of medical school at UT Health San Antonio. Working under Dr. Mark Davies, I have led numerous studies examining online resources for patients with peripheral artery disease and chronic limb threatening ischemia. I believe that this work is extremely important because improving these resources will directly benefit thousands of patients. I was also fortunate to be elected Vice President of the Vascular Surgery Interest Group at my medical school. Despite setbacks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, I leveraged my position to facilitate vascular surgery exposure to my peers though guest lectures and research opportunities. I am strongly considering a career as a vascular surgeon because I am fascinated by the unique combination of technical skills, both open and endovascular, and the complex medical management of sick patients. I hope to receive the Trainee Travel Scholarship so that I can attend the Eastern Vascular Society 35th Annual Meeting to present my research to surgeons from around the country and to learn more about all aspects of vascular surgery.

Although my decision to pursue vascular surgery came late in my medical school training, I have taken the steps to assure myself that it is the correct path for me. As I learned more about the specialty and what it truly takes to be a vascular surgeon, my passion has only grown. I wish to become a safe yet efficient surgeon, with finesse and confidence becoming integral elements of my armamentarium. Additionally, I am attracted to the longitudinal care vascular surgeons provide their patients, with a blend of lifestyle intervention and medical management, in addition to surgical intervention.
I firmly believe that mentorship and furthering knowledge are some of the most crucial tasks a physician has, and I am extremely grateful for the guidance I have received from my mentors. Through them, I have taken my first steps into academic vascular surgery, including the honor of having my abstract selected for a poster presentation at this annual meeting of the EVS. I appreciate the opportunity to present the findings my team and I discovered concerning gangrene rates in patients infected with Covid-19 in our intensive care units. Additionally, attending the EVS annual meeting will allow me to meet with, and hear directly from the experts which issues are at the forefront of vascular surgery today, and which my peers and I will attempt to address throughout our careers. Receiving this support from the EVS would go a long way in reducing the financial burden that is already quite substantial during the residency application period, and would allow me to focus greater on propelling my training forward.

I was first introduced to vascular surgery while watching my father excise a neck mass that had wrapped itself around vessels that, having only just seen them for the first time, intimidated me. The thought that those vessels could be manipulated when needed was also intimidating, and that’s what sparked my interest. I found the challenge I was looking for. It occurred to me that the practice of medicine might not only give me the chance to relieve suffering, but that I might also learn to act decisively and deliberately at times when there is no alternative.

As an applied science, the practice of medicine is often thought to depend only on, well, the application of science. What is also important, though, is the pursuit of knowledge. As medicine ought to be defined no less by the pursuit of knowledge than the application of knowledge, research ought to be considered no less a part of medicine than the insertion of a catheter. In this sense, the challenge that first drew my attention in the operating room is the same challenge that draws me to this conference.

This scholarship is important to me for two reasons. First, spending time at an event that celebrates success in a field that I hope to enter will inspire me to achieve more. Some of the difference between success and failure comes down to a reinforced sense of purpose – something I would stand to gain by presenting at this conference. Second, having been introduced to the language of medicine over the last two years, I’ve discovered that it’s best to learn by full immersion. This conference will give me the chance to spend many hours learning about topics of interest, which will invariably contribute to my understanding of medicine as a whole.

I am a second year Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident at Maine Medical Center. I became interested in Vascular Surgery during my 3rd year clerkship rotations in medical school. I found myself drawn to the fine technical aspects of vascular surgery and was enamored with the innovation and creativity that the field has to offer. While the vascular surgical procedures initially drew me to the field, the vascular surgeons, research, and technology are what inspired me to ultimately pursue Vascular Surgery as a career. I have only been able to attend one regional conference since I first became interested in Vascular Surgery. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the landscape of networking and conferences the last year, so I have not been able to attend any conference as a surgical resident. I am ultimately interested in pursuing a career in academic Vascular Surgery and will be presenting a poster presentation at Eastern Vascular Society’s Annual meeting. I also look forward to building network and mentorship contacts via my attendance. This will be my first time attending an EVS conference and this scholarship will help support my professional goals outlined above.

In my first two years of medical school, I had the unique opportunity of being mentored by a vascular surgeon, who allowed me to further my knowledge of the field. Through this guidance, I developed a strong interest in the procedures involved in vascular surgery, including different innovations and technology. This mentorship also led me to create and execute my first research project on my own, which involved all steps from grant proposals, IRB submissions, data collection and finally article writing. This experience was enormously rewarding and it is with great pride that I present the project as an oral presentation at EVS this year. This scholarship would not only permit me to subsidize the costs of attending a conference as a medical student, but it would also allow me to fully benefit from all the opportunities the meeting has to offer. At EVS, I will be able to meet and discuss with other medical professionals in the field, attend a broad range of sessions, and explore emerging research. I am particularly excited about the chance of connecting with female vascular surgeons. Vascular surgery remains one of my top choices for residency and this scholarship would allow me to continue learning in this field that I am strongly considering as a future career.

During my two years in general surgery residency, I have been exposed to a robust and comprehensive vascular surgery service, which in my program, the general surgery residents cover completely. From elective microsurgical and minimally-invasive techniques, to urgent pathology of the great vessels, to emergency vascular surgery intervention for traumatic presentations, I have found a passion in vascular surgery.
My program is that in a public, city hospital, which is an incredible benefit due to large amounts of resident autonomy, and a wide variety of surgical cases. This, however, comes with a caveat, as we do not possess many of the new vascular innovations that I encounter during my studies. It is my hope that this opportunity will provide a community and mentors to assist in my journey towards a career in vascular surgery, and benefit maximally from the unique opportunities provided to me by being a surgical resident in the United States.

Blood vessels have always fascinated me. As a Harvard undergrad, I built a model of the blood-brain barrier for my thesis. I later spent a summer at Stanford through an NIH Grant, studying new diabetes technology. Delving further into the vascular complications of diabetes, I worked with Dr. Chaar in the Yale Vascular Surgery Department on novel treatments for peripheral artery disease and subsequently did a month-long vascular surgery clerkship. These experiences cemented my desire to be a physician-scientist in vascular surgery. I am taking a year out of my medical studies, starting in July 2021, to conduct basic science research in vascular biology, specifically how vessels remodel under stress in arteriovenous fistulae, with Dr. Alan Dardik, a vascular surgeon-scientist at Yale. As l look forward to pursuing residency in vascular surgery, my goal is to gain as much understanding of the field as I can, both in patient management and in research surrounding the dynamics of blood vessels.

My submitted abstract has been accepted for a poster competition at the 2021 EVS Annual Meeting, and the EVS Trainee Travel Scholarship would allow me to attend the meeting in person to present my work, participate in valuable simulations, and seek guidance through the networking events. While my mentors at Yale continue to provide invaluable guidance, the conference will offer a perfect opportunity for me to network with vascular surgeons and residents at other institutions to gain a holistic view of the field. I am also interested in seeking mentorship from women surgeon-scientists to gain insight and tips on having a fulfilling career. Attending this conference to learn new frontiers of vascular surgery while interacting with others who have similar interests will be an ideal stimulus for my aspiration to become a vascular surgeon.

My interest in vascular surgery began during my undergraduate years when I started shadowing in a rural hospital. At the time, I was interested in anesthesia, but when I first observed a carotid endarterectomy, I realized my interest in vascular surgery. This has only grown during my studies in medical school, as I have found myself fascinated with the anatomical intricacies of the circulatory system and its associated pathologies. Moreover, I continue to be drawn to the field as I learn more about the various therapeutic options available to vascular surgeons, whether they be medical, surgical, or endovascular. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to conduct clinical research over the past year, which I will be presenting orally at this year’s annual meeting. This scholarship would greatly assist me in traveling to share my work, learn more about new directions in the field, and meet potential mentors.

My name is Min (Michael) Choi, a 4th-year medical student at Jefferson. I want to attend the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting 2021 because I have a strong vascular research background and a passion for pursuing a career in vascular surgery.

I have a particular research interest in the field of angiogenesis. I have worked with Dr. Brian Annex, a cardiologist at the University of Virginia, who inspired me to pursue genetic and molecular research to better treat peripheral arterial disease. My desire to explore vascular medicine further solidified when I got to work hands-on with vascular surgeons, Dr. Abai, Dr. DiMuzio, and Dr. Savatore, during my surgery rotations in medical school.

The meeting will provide me an exceptional opportunity to delve deeper into modern vascular surgical technologies and dive into new innovative vascular research topics. I am interested in attending as many scientific sessions as possible to discuss and gain new knowledge into novel vascular interventions that are developing around the nation. Also, afternoon simulation sessions excite me to participate in hands-on vascular surgery techniques and experiences with colleagues who share the same passion for vascular surgery.

As the current Vice President of the Vascular Surgery Interest Group at Jefferson, I desire to grow in leadership skills by learning from the current leaders of vascular surgeons. I hope to be well-equipped to lead and guide junior students at Jefferson who are aspiring to become vascular surgeons. Therefore, I would like to make new connections with mentors who will help me grow in leadership and guide me in achieving my long-term goal of becoming a vascular surgeon. Lastly, I want to actively participate in the Young Vascular Surgeons Program to better understand vascular surgery as a career and how to build it well.

I am a MS4 medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University applying to integrated vascular surgery residency during the upcoming match cycle. I have been working closely with the faculty at my institution, namely Dr. Palma Shaw who has been a great mentor. She has expressed to me the fun nature and exciting events that occur at the EVS meetings as well as the robust opportunity to learn and interact with leaders in the field. This event seems like one I cannot miss, especially in the setting of upcoming residency applications. I will be attending the EVS 2021 annual meeting with the primary goals of networking with surgeons, program directors and fellow applicants, as well as learning more about the field of vascular surgery and enjoying the camaraderie at a meeting like this. This is a very exciting opportunity, and I am looking forward to speaking with some of the leaders and young stars in the field, as well as beginning to meet my future colleagues.

Although my initial interest in the cardiovascular system was formed during my preclinical years, I attribute a significant part of my deeper appreciation for the specialty to the several conferences I had the opportunity to attend as a medical student. By participating in the various sessions at these conferences, I was galvanized by the creative techniques and innovative research that has rapidly advanced the field and scope of modern vascular surgery practice. After attending the annual EVS meeting every year during medical school, I applied to vascular surgery residency looking forward to one day contributing to the creative and innovative solutions which have come to define the specialty.

The annual conference has always been an excellent venue where I could present my research and gain insight into current issues affecting the practice of vascular surgeons nationally. As I now enter my fourth year of an integrated vascular surgery residency, I am beginning to have greater independence in the OR which has highlighted to me the more subtle maneuvers and decision-making that is involved to successfully complete every case. I would like to benefit from the various education and scientific sessions where I may learn about techniques and methodologies other surgeons and trainees have found successful in the OR which I could then implement in my own training and future practice. Additionally, with the wide variety of novel technologies now available, I would like to take advantage of the skills and industry sessions to better understand how these devices are being applied to navigate through difficult cases. I greatly look forward to the informative sessions at EVS this year, and sincerely appreciate the Society’s consideration of my application for the travel grant.

As a third-year medical student at Jefferson whose research project was accepted for poster presentation at EVS this year, I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to fly into Charleston this year. During my third-year rotations so far, I have learned a plethora of new information and have been thrown into the clinical setting which has been a breath of fresh air as compared to the first two years. To have the EVS see the value in the research that I have worked so hard on means so much to me and I do not want to miss this opportunity to join the annual meeting this year. By attending the meeting, I will be able to connect with and interact with vascular surgeons throughout the country, find out more about their programs and why they decided to become vascular surgeons. It will be such an honor to speak with them about my research and to engage in insightful conversations. Medical school goes by quickly, and by attending this meeting I will be able to ensure that I meet with and connect with the country’s experts in vascular surgery. I am already so excited for all of the learning opportunities at the conference, from radiation safety lectures to simulations and the poster competition and reception, it will be a wonderful few days in Charleston!

My interest in vascular surgery began in my third year of medical school, when my vascular surgery rotation was the first clinical rotation I had scheduled. I was drawn to the wide range of endovascular and open procedures performed on the service, as well as the opportunity to help very sick patients with advanced medical issues. Additionally, I was inspired by the knowledge and skill of the vascular surgery residents, fellows, and attendings, and I aspired to work alongside them for my career. These feelings were solidified through my experiences with vascular surgery in my acting internship and in my first two years of residency.

As a junior resident thus far, my goal has been to familiarize myself with the standard of care for the wide range of pathology seen in general surgery residency. The next step of my education would be to familiarize myself with questions that remain unanswered in my field of interest. I think attending the EVS Annual Meeting would be a great opportunity to do just that. At the end of the meeting, I hope to have questions of my own to consider, and I hope these will inspire research projects down the line.

Finally, I had an abstract selected for the poster presentation at the annual meeting, so I plan to attend as a presenter. This will be my first presentation at a professional meeting as a resident, and I greatly look forward to the experience.

When I started my third-year medical surgical rotation, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard great things about vascular surgery from other medical students, but I myself did not know much about the field. When I chose my 6-week vascular surgery clerkship I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. I witnessed a variety of procedures and skills ranging from the finesse of an anastomosis to the creativity of a bypass. It had all the components I was looking for in a specialty. Particularly, I was drawn to the long-term relationships built with patients as well as the comprehensive management of their vascular health through both medical and interventional approaches. I was also excited by the high stake decision making that is required in emergency cases. Vascular surgery is an ever-evolving field with multiple opportunities for innovation and community engagement, both of which I hope to be a part of. I am interested in attending the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting to meet pioneers, mentors, and future colleagues who are pushing the field forward to improve patient outcomes. This scholarship will allow me the opportunity to learn more about the field of vascular surgery and shape my journey towards residency.

When I started my third-year medical surgical rotation, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard great things about vascular surgery from other medical students, but I myself did not know much about the field. When I chose my 6-week vascular surgery clerkship I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. I witnessed a variety of procedures and skills ranging from the finesse of an anastomosis to the creativity of a bypass. It had all the components I was looking for in a specialty. Particularly, I was drawn to the long-term relationships built with patients as well as the comprehensive management of their vascular health through both medical and interventional approaches. I was also excited by the high stake decision making that is required in emergency cases. Vascular surgery is an ever-evolving field with multiple opportunities for innovation and community engagement, both of which I hope to be a part of. I am interested in attending the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting to meet pioneers, mentors, and future colleagues who are pushing the field forward to improve patient outcomes. This scholarship will allow me the opportunity to learn more about the field of vascular surgery and shape my journey towards residency.

I am currently a vascular surgery fellow with a strong interest in academic vascular surgery. This scholarship would help fund my travel expenses and allow me to give two oral presentations as well as attend the numerous educational events EVS provides. I am very interested in attending this conference in person so that I could network with the leading academic vascular surgeons in the country. Furthermore as a trainee who is about to graduate and start practicing soon, I would greatly benefit from learning the latest technologic advancements and outcomes research that are presented at EVS.

After starting medical school from a remote setting in the middle of a pandemic, I arrived on campus at Mount Sinai a semester late with minimal clinical exposure. I quickly sought out opportunities to catch up for the lost time, shadowing numerous fields to try to gain a sense of what felt like the right fit. Upon shadowing vascular surgery, everything immediately clicked. I was enamored and exhilarated by the surgeries, soaked up the anatomy, and spent as much time shadowing as possible. The learning curve was steep, and my immediate interest in the field empowered me to continue to learn and see more.

I have recently started working on vascular surgery research projects, though I am beginning later than I would have liked as a result of the pandemic. My interest in vascular surgery extends beyond the clinic and operating room, as I have also found myself profoundly enjoying vascular surgery research. I have poured myself into several projects this summer, and I look forward to being able to share the product of my current and future work.

Because of my late start to research, I was not able to submit an abstract to the Eastern Vascular Society by the deadline. However, I strongly believe that the annual meeting is an excellent way to be introduced into all that is vascular surgery. Moreover, the annual meeting provides the opportunity to interact and interface with leaders in the field. For these reasons, I would love to be able to attend this year’s annual meeting.

Without the scholarship, I will not be able to financially attend the meeting. Given that I already have had late introduction to the field, I hope to use this scholarship to dive deeper into the vascular surgery community at the annual meeting.

I have seen the toll vascular diseases can have directly on my family from varicose veins to lower extremity edema. This led me to develop a strong interest in vascular surgery. I was first introduced to research in Vascular Surgery through my mentor, Dr. Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar, when I completed an MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology at Yale. I completed my Master’s thesis in vascular surgery outcomes research. I am now at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for medical school where I work closely with multiple mentors who have exposed me to a diverse array of vascular surgery procedures and clinical research areas. Shadowing vascular surgery cases in the OR has provided me with a deep appreciation for the essential role vascular surgeons play in providing comprehensive health care from complex abdominal aortic aneurysm repair to laser ablation procedures for varicose veins. Attending this year’s Eastern Vascular Society meeting will open the door to the vascular surgery community, especially those from the eastern United States and Canada. I hope to engage with the broader vascular community, learn from leading surgeons in the field, and meet with likeminded residents, fellows, and medical students. I also hope to learn about the latest innovations and research in the field to expand my knowledge and develop a deeper interest and appreciation for vascular surgery.

I am currently a 2nd year vascular surgery resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. My passion for vascular surgery has been confirmed during my intern year and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge and operative skills this upcoming year. The EVS Trainee Travel scholarship would allow me to participate in the Young Vascular Surgeons Program. This would provide the great opportunity to collaborate with and learn from residents from different institutions. Additionally, the simulation events would be a way to practice and improve my technical skills at the conference. I am also heavily involved in vascular surgery research and am eager to present my findings at the poster session at EVS. This scholarship would enable me to discuss my findings, receive feedback, and structure my results for tentative manuscript submissions in the future. Furthermore, the scientific sessions would allow me to see the current research and innovations in various vascular surgery topics. Overall, the EVS Trainee Travel scholarship would be an excellent opportunity for me to learn from colleagues, present my research, and expand upon my technical skills as a vascular surgery resident.

One thing which has been made abundantly clear to me since starting my journey through medical school is the importance of mentorship. Early on in medical school I sought out the advice and mentorship from the surgical faculty here at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Through their assistance, I was able not only find a specialty which I am extremely passionate about but also leverage that interest into a research project with one of those surgeons, Dr. Truong. We performed a retrospective study to examine the efficacy of various antiplatelet therapies following endovascular procedures. Through working on this project, I have not only expanded my knowledge of vascular surgery but also continued to grow my passion for the field. The prospects for additional mentorship and growth are the main aspects of attending the EVS Annual Meeting which I am most looking forward to. As someone who aspires to one day become a vascular surgeon, attending this conference will grant me the unique opportunity to not only present a poster displaying the research which I have been engaging in over the past year, but also connect with and learn from many of those whose footsteps I hope to soon follow in. Attending the EVS Annual Meeting will help me gain a more thorough understanding of the cutting-edge practices and research subjects which will help to shape the future of vascular surgery. The knowledge I gain will help me prepare to be the most competitive residency applicant that I can be. While it would certainly be possible to engage in many of the events offered at the conference virtually, I foresee that the ability to attend talks and symposiums alongside mentors–who will be able serve as a guide as I continue to delve deeper into this fascinating field–will be invaluable.

One thing which has been made abundantly clear to me since starting my journey through medical school is the importance of mentorship. Early on in medical school I sought out the advice and mentorship from the surgical faculty here at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Through their assistance, I was able not only find a specialty which I am extremely passionate about but also leverage that interest into a research project with one of those surgeons, Dr. Truong. We performed a retrospective study to examine the efficacy of various antiplatelet therapies following endovascular procedures. Through working on this project, I have not only expanded my knowledge of vascular surgery but also continued to grow my passion for the field. The prospects for additional mentorship and growth are the main aspects of attending the EVS Annual Meeting which I am most looking forward to. As someone who aspires to one day become a vascular surgeon, attending this conference will grant me the unique opportunity to not only present a poster displaying the research which I have been engaging in over the past year, but also connect with and learn from many of those whose footsteps I hope to soon follow in. Attending the EVS Annual Meeting will help me gain a more thorough understanding of the cutting-edge practices and research subjects which will help to shape the future of vascular surgery. The knowledge I gain will help me prepare to be the most competitive residency applicant that I can be. While it would certainly be possible to engage in many of the events offered at the conference virtually, I foresee that the ability to attend talks and symposiums alongside mentors–who will be able serve as a guide as I continue to delve deeper into this fascinating field–will be invaluable.

I am currently at PGY5 integrated vascular surgery resident at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. As I enter my final year of training, I hope that the opportunity to attend the EVS meeting will allow me the valuable experience of presenting some of our scholarly work at Mount Sinai and to receive feedback on both research concepts and academic presentation skills from mentors and peers. Furthermore, I believe that the opportunity to immerse myself in the latest work being done by vascular surgeons and groups across the region will allow me to form a better idea of what my next steps will be as I begin to think of opportunities post – graduation, as I very much hope to seek a career in academic vascular surgery. Finally, I think that attending the various sessions at EVS will allow me to broaden my base of knowledge in a way that I hope will have a positive impact on my ability to take care of patients. I hope to come away from the EVS meeting a more informed and inspired vascular surgeon!

Attending the EVS annual meeting is an important building block in my current training in vascular surgery as a first year fellow at The Mount Sinai Hospital. I enjoy the complexity of the vascular patients, the challenging disease processes, and the technically demanding and intellectually satisfying procedures. I am impressed with how the field of vascular surgery encourages creativity as we incorporate new advancements in technology while still applying the fundamental rules of vascular surgery. This scholarship would help me participate in the current discussions amongst vascular surgeons with all the advancing technologies and techniques. Also, meeting with experts of the field and connecting with other vascular surgeons in the region would be beneficial for my career. I am grateful for being able to attend the annual meeting this year, and I would greatly appreciate the support of this scholarship.

I’m a third year vascular resident, and will be presenting my first poster presentation. So far in my training, I’ve been able to develop clinical acumen and surgical skills, but the one area I haven’t developed as much as I would like is in research. EVS annual meeting will be a great spring board for me to become more active in the research arena. The ability for me to attend EVS will allow me to discuss current vascular topics and provide ideas for future research projects. It is also a great way to network with fellow trainees and attendings which will be paramount when the time comes for me to find a job after graduation. Overall, this will be a great opportunity for me to improve as a surgical scientist and this scholarship would be a tremendous help.

EVS will be my first conference since starting my surgical education. I have an abstract accepted for podium presentation, which is a humbling and exciting opportunity. I look forward to attending and learning from the area’s leading surgeons. This scholarship would greatly help defray the travel and lodging expenses, and would allow me to stay for the entire conference. Thank you for your consideration.

To EVS,

I am currently a PGY4 integrated vascular surgery resident at New York University Langone Health. I am scheduled to present on Sunday, 9/26 in the administrative database session.

I am passionate about vascular surgery since I was a medical student. I intend to work in an academic institutional when I graduate, be competent and confident to treat any pathology that comes through my door, but focus my niche and clinical research on the thoracic and abdominal aorta.

With this scholarship, I will have enough financial support to attend the EVS to the fullest extent, gain insight to cutting edge technology and research in vascular surgery, as well as network to better prepare for a academic career in the near future. I really appreciate your consideration for this grant!

As a second-generation immigrant, I learned to take responsibilities for my family and myself from a very young age. I strove for excellence in all arenas and demanded nothing less of myself as my accomplishments were shared. On my journey to medical school I challenged barriers and exceeded expectations, learning diligence and resilience, among other valuable lessons along the way. These values have echoed throughout my medical education and fueled my passion for medicine. As a budding surgeon I looked forward most to the surgery rotation during clinical years. Vascular surgery places an emphasis on patient-centered care and outcomes as a means to promote patient health in an often high-risk and medically complex patient population. My experience on the vascular surgery service allowed me to combine my interests of serving underserved populations while providing both intervention-based and medical management. I pursued a one-year immersive research experience with the George Washington University Vascular Surgery department in order to further my understanding of vascular surgery and a surgeons role in academic research through clinical research utilizing national and institutional databases. I look forward to exploring the innovative research from leading minds in this constantly evolving field at the 2021 Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting and would be humbled to accept scholarship funding to attend and connect with mentors from all backgrounds.

My interest in Vascular Surgery started last year when I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Shaw who is the Fellowship director in my medical school. What fascinates me about Vascular surgery are the diversity of the cases, the technical skills required as well as the intellectual challenge pose by them. I hope one day to become a Vascular surgeon and provide my services to underrepresented communities where the most prevalent vascular diseases are seen.
As I am learning more about the field, I strongly believe that this scholarship will be a great opportunity to meet firsthand people who are already in the field. This will further enhance my passion for this field. All the activities planned for this annual conference provide an invaluable experience for students like me who are interested in Vascular Surgery, but without this scholarship will not have access to it.

Having rotated through multiple surgical subspecialties, I have found that my time in the OR on vascular surgery has provided the biggest bang for a buck. The skills I hone and practice, from using fine instruments to learning how to handle vessels and grafts, make me an overall better surgeon. I enjoy that it feels like there is art in our work; not only because the technique demands efficiency and creativity, but also because it affords me a greater understanding of anatomy and the relationship between the vessels, organs, planes, more so than other types of procedures. Indeed, I have always appreciated the procedures that required skills abstracted from vascular surgery.
I am excited to put this enthusiasm in the larger context of the field of vascular surgery by learning from experts and meeting likeminded peers and mentors. Attending EVS as a resident would also help me envision what my career could look like and start planning my future as a vascular surgeon. This scholarship removes a barrier to my attendance, and would ensure my part in this community and field.

Vascular surgery is a very interesting field with rapid advancement of technology and techniques. Going to EVS will allow me to learn more about vascular surgery as a career and network with current vascular residents and fellows. Additionally it will provide a better picture of where vascular surgery is going in the future.

Vascular surgery is at the precipice of a rapidly advancing medical field. Vascular surgeons currently serve as a keystone, bridging established open surgical techniques with minimally invasive endovascular procedures. This duality of treatment flexibility is unique to vascular surgeons and allows for the best consultation of treatment for patients. Additionally, vascular surgery is an exciting specialty that provides practitioners a wide variety of surgical procedures from fistula creation to neurological spinal access to aortic dissections. As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases progress, the need for vascular surgeons is more pressing now than ever. The multitude of operations complicated by vascular difficulty requires the expertise of a vascular surgeon. This allows for the collaboration of vascular surgeons with other specialties such as oncology, trauma, neurology, and cardiology. Vascular surgeons are an integral part of a holistic care system.

This scholarship will grant me the opportunity to learn more about vascular surgery and participate in current discussions furthering this practice of medicine. Due to the vast association vascular surgery has with other specialties, discussion with leaders in vascular medicine contribute to my development as a physician understanding the holistic picture of disease progression and association. Attending the EVS Annual Meeting allows me to dialogue with other vascular experts in the clinical realm as well as those innovating medical devices. Exposure and complete understanding of all parties responsible for the care of patients further enriches my development as a comprehensive health provider.

My time rotating with vascular surgery as a third year medical student fundamentally altered the course of my career. I entered my rotation expecting to continue developing my passions for geriatrics and palliative care through residency in internal medicine, however, everything shifted on my second day with the vascular team.

When I arrived that morning, my attending encouraged me to “eat a good breakfast” in anticipation for our major case that day, a neoaorticoiliac system procedure. Having spent no time in the OR previously, I thought that meant an extra granola bar. Despite my empty stomach, I couldn’t force myself to leave before we finished the operation. I was enthralled with the anatomy we encountered and the focus the surgeons showed during their detailed dissection. I admired their teamwork, some working in the patient’s abdomen and some dissecting out the femoral vein, but all simultaneously supporting the working surgeon to enhance the care of the patient. I also appreciated their collaboration with the rest of the OR team, from techs to nurses to other physicians who came by to offer support. When the clamp on the proximal aorta was removed and the femoropopliteal vein started pulsing in the place of the aorta, I was awestruck.

In vascular surgery, I found a field with a balance of maximally invasive and emergent procedures as well as more routine endovascular cases that can drastically improve a patient’s quality of life. My desire to care for older patients and for critically ill individuals makes vascular surgery a natural fit. Receiving this scholarship to attend the EVS Annual Meeting will help me to continue to develop my interest in the field, to connect with mentors who have shared research priorities, and to become a more active participant in the surgical community.

My desire to become a vascular surgeon stems from my life-long drive to service. As a captain in the US Army Reserve, I learned to emphasize the team over any personal glory in the pursuit of a common goal: make the world a better place. A career in vascular surgery allowing me to serve our military personnel and our communities is the ultimate embodiment of my core mission. I have personally witnessed and participated in vascular surgery interventions which have dramatically improved the lives of our veterans and their families, and there is no greater sense of accomplishment and joy than transforming these patients’ lives for the better.
I am currently in my third year of general surgery residency at SUNY Upstate University Hospital. I intend to pursue vascular surgery fellowship training postgraduation. Attending the Eastern Vascular Society annual meeting would enhance my exposure to cutting-edge techniques in this constantly evolving field. The chance to learn directly from experts in vascular surgery is an incredible opportunity that I am eager to pursue.
I strongly believe that I am a culture changer. I have been honored to receive the Gold Star Award on two separate occasions, which is a distinction that recognizes professional behavior and actions as a positive influence on the learning environment at Upstate. At every level of my career, I have proven that my leadership, approachability, strong work ethic, and commitment to a growth mindset has enhanced the well-being of my colleagues and improved the outcomes of patients.
I am confident that attending the EVS Annual meeting will teach me invaluable lessons which I can absorb, implement, and convey to our next generation of vascular surgeons. This scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to make that dream a reality. Thank you for your consideration.

My desire to become a vascular surgeon stems from my life-long drive to service. As a
captain in the US Army Reserve, I learned to emphasize the team over any personal glory in the
pursuit of a common goal: make the world a better place. A career in vascular surgery allowing
me to serve our military personnel and our communities is the ultimate embodiment of my core
mission. I have personally witnessed and participated in vascular surgery interventions which
have dramatically improved the lives of our veterans and their families, and there is no greater
sense of accomplishment and joy than transforming these patients’ lives for the better.
I am currently in my third year of general surgery residency at SUNY Upstate University
Hospital. I intend to pursue vascular surgery fellowship training postgraduation. Attending the
Eastern Vascular Society annual meeting would enhance my exposure to cutting-edge techniques
in this constantly evolving field. The chance to learn directly from experts in vascular surgery is
an incredible opportunity that I am eager to pursue.
I strongly believe that I am a culture changer. I have been honored to receive the Gold
Star Award on two separate occasions, which is a distinction that recognizes professional
behavior and actions as a positive influence on the learning environment at Upstate. At every
level of my career, I have proven that my leadership, approachability, strong work ethic, and
commitment to a growth mindset has enhanced the well-being of my colleagues and improved
the outcomes of patients.
I am confident that attending the EVS Annual meeting will teach me invaluable lessons
which I can absorb, implement, and convey to our next generation of vascular surgeons. This
scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to make that dream a reality.
Thank you for your consideration.

Attending the eastern vascular society meeting in my last year of training would help me to better network in the area that I wish to remain and practice within. I am originally from NYC and would like to remain in the tri-state area if possible for my first job as an attending. This conference would enable me to both connect with experienced surgeons as well as enhance my knowledge base for the future.

Vascular surgery is challenging. That is why I love it. From the medically complex patients to operations in every part of the body to integrating real-time technology and imaging, these challenges have inspired me throughout my general surgery residency. I love drawing out the previous interventions in a complicated peripheral artery disease patient and planning their next bypass. I get to apply two-dimensional imaging to a three dimensional and, if I am successful, I can save someone’s leg and improve their quality of life. Building a creative surgical plan to overcome complex medical problems while building a life-long relationship with the patient is the whole reason I went to medical school.

The EVS Trainee Travel Scholarship will provide me with several opportunities during my fourth year of residency as I prepare to apply for vascular surgery. It will provide me with a way to build mentoring and networking relationships beyond my university-affiliate program. As I prepare to apply for fellowship, attending this conference will allow me to put faces to and learn about the programs and meet the people. Attending this conference will also allow me to gain a better understanding of current research and build my vascular surgery specific knowledge. Particularly, I am interested in participating in both the radiation safety seminar and the endovascular simulations/competitions as they will help prepare me for my first year of fellowship. This scholarship will make it possible for me to continue to learn about the challenges and the rewards this specialty holds and will inspire me as I pursue my fellowship application.

When I began medical school, I thought that I would be able to easily narrow down my specialties of interest however, I found the opposite to be true. Over the first year, I found myself fascinated by aspects of each of the systems we studied. I loved how logical the feedback mechanisms of the endocrine system were, I appreciated just how organized the anatomy of the human body was, and I developed a begrudging respect for the intricacies of the physiology of the cardiovascular system. Although grateful that the medical school curriculum aligned with my interests, I felt overwhelmed and fortunately, stumbled upon a research opportunity in my university’s Division of Vascular Surgery. Speaking with the vascular surgeon was the first time in my medical school journey that I had a clear idea of where my career as a physician was headed. Vascular surgery interests me because surgeons can operate throughout the body with a wide range of surgical and endovascular techniques, something that I feel is unique to vascular as a surgical subspecialty. The vascular patient also requires a physician that is able to address not only their vascular surgical pathology but also issues in the cardiac, respiratory, endocrine and renal systems. The multisystem approach to patient care is something that strongly resonates with me as someone who is interested in entering a surgical field that will allow me to adopt a holistic management of a patient’s medical care. As I begin clerkships in my third year, I have felt dismayed that I will have little to no time to explore vascular surgery outside of my current research due to the demanding nature of the third-year curriculum. This scholarship will further my training by providing me with opportunities for immersion in the vascular surgery culture, networking with vascular surgery professionals and fellow students and gaining insight into important areas of research in vascular surgery that will lead to improvements in patient care.

Currently, I am an incoming vascular surgery fellow at the Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. This scholarship would help make it possible for me to attend the annual EVS conference, allowing me to connect with other members of the vascular community in the region I would like to practice once I graduate. The EVS conference also has academic sessions which would help me learn about the latest technology and techniques to bring back to my fellowship training and enhance my career. Meeting with a mentor daily would help me navigate through the conference so that I could obtain the most benefit, as well as provide advice for personal and professional career. I would be lucky to benefit from this scholarship.

As the great poet Maya Angelou once said, “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This was never more apparent to me than when I was on the vascular surgery service. I went to examine a patient with amaurosis fugax, and instead of a surgical case, I met a brand new grandfather scared that an impending stroke would take him away from his grandson. During his operation, the beauty of the procedure struck me. What other specialty was brave enough to transect the carotid artery and significantly reduce a patient’s stroke risk? Moreover, this intervention meant this man was going home to play with his grandson rather than the tragic story we so often hear. And his gratitude for the simple act of holding his hand reminded me of Maya Angelou’s lesson. I emerged from the OR that day a future vascular surgeon. Once I found my passion in vascular surgery, I decided to take a research year in my medical education participate in impactful research. I have been actively involved in various projects with the vascular surgery division at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, which has resulted in 2 posters at this year’s EVS meeting. Nonetheless barriers exist, and as a first generation born to immigrant parents and the first doctor in my family, I hope this scholarship will further allow me the opportunity to network and gain further insight into the innovative field of vascular surgery. I hope to learn from fellow colleagues, meet new potential mentors, and create new long lasting professional relationships at this meeting. Ultimately, this scholarship will help shape a future surgeon ready to give back to her community and bring others up along with her.

I first became interested in vascular surgery after double scrubbing an open AAA repair, as an intern. It was the first major vascular case that I was able to scrub, and one of the few times that I was able to be operating instead of being on pager duty. I was enamored by the anatomy and the techniques used to get adequate exposure. My passion for vascular surgery grew after spending time in vascular clinic, where I was able to be involved in interpreting image studies and the surgical planning behind the procedures that we were performing in the OR. Although, at times I was intimidated by the complex medical histories of the patients we were going to treat; I was always excited to see what our outcome would be, which only propelled my interest even further. I spent the 2020-2021 academic year conducting clinical research in the department of vascular surgery, which only reaffirmed my choice. I spent a lot of time with patients in the outpatient setting, which allowed me to experience another aspect of the role of a vascular surgeon that I enjoyed immensely. Participating in EVS Annual Meeting 2021 will give me a chance to present my research from the past year, as well as network and identify potential mentors as I set out to apply to the vascular surgery fellowship this year. It is very important to me to familiarize myself with cutting edge operative techniques, research, and to meet prominent figures in vascular surgery while I am still a general surgery trainee so that I am equipped with the knowledge that I need to be a competent and well-informed vascular fellow.

I discovered Vascular Surgery through the research project that I will be presenting at the upcoming EVS meeting. Vascular has become my passion over the last two years. Attending the meeting will be an amazing networking opportunity as I will be applying to Integrated Vascular Programs for residency this fall. I also know that attending this meeting will expose me to a plethora of research ideas and new knowledge that will be valuable as I continue to develop research questions in the future. Thank you for your consideration for this scholarship.

It was my first laparotomy; I was a medical student and a young woman was attacked by her husband and sustained gunshot wounds to the face and abdomen. It was the case that revealed the beauty of surgery to me and truly peaked my interest. I watched as the trauma surgeon formulated a plan, standing at the foot of the bed calmly giving orders to the nurses and staff in preparation to take the patient to the operating room. However, when an inferior vena cava injury was identified, it was the vascular surgeon who was called in for assistance, taking control of the situation calmly and efficiently. During surgical residency, I was lucky to work with many great surgeons in several fields, but none represented a well-rounded surgeon more than a vascular surgeon. Vascular surgeons attend to a wide array of complaints that span the body entirely, ranging from extremity pain all the way to internal hemorrhage and stroke. Because of their versatility, I am committed to becoming a successful vascular surgeon who, through knowledge, experience and skill, improves the lives of my patients.

Vascular surgeons utilize their medical knowledge in concert with their technical skills to practice medicine in a problem-focused manner with the sickest patient. A vascular surgeon epitomizes everything that attracted me to a career in medicine, and represents exactly how I would like to be defined as a physician. I am devoted to train at a vascular surgery program that will give me the resources to achieve my goal of becoming the most talented surgeon with the highest level of clinical and surgical proficiency, ready to be called into the operating room for any vascular complication. I look forward to gaining the experience and qualities necessary to not only become a talented surgeon, but to become a teacher and a leader in the field.

In residency I was fortunate to have strong vascular surgeons as mentors who encouraged me to pursue a vascular fellowship and publish research. The small community hospital in which I trained had prepared me well for bread-and-butter endovascular and open cases and provided a good foundation of vascular knowledge. My experience now as a fellow at a high-volume tertiary care center encompasses more complex peripheral endovascular and aortic surgeries that demand collaboration and discussion with colleagues, continued education, and daily scientific inquiry which I believe are attributes fulfilled by the EVS Annual Meeting. While zoom lectures, virtual conferences, and podcasts have been useful tools for staying abreast with innovative techniques and research studies in my first year of fellowship, I would love the opportunity to attend an in-person conference and engage in the trainee-oriented events that EVS has to offer. In addition to the scientific sessions and the Young Vascular Surgeons Program, I am particularly interested in the hands-on simulation and competition. What I value most about our profession is that for a given vascular pathology or problem we as vascular surgeons have the skill set to offer multiple solutions. In order to uphold these skills and knowledge, we must stay active in the vascular surgery community and learn from the professional experiences of others. The EVS Annual Meeting provides an arena for networking and building camaraderie among vascular surgeons in the region. Lastly, as an applicant for candidate membership in EVS I would greatly appreciate the opportunity that this trainee travel scholarship would provide to actively participate in this society.

One thing which has been made abundantly clear to me since starting my journey through medical school is the importance of mentorship. Early on in medical school I sought out the advice and mentorship from the surgical faculty here at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Through their assistance, I was able not only find a specialty which I am extremely passionate about but also leverage that interest into a research project with one of those surgeons, Dr. Truong. We performed a retrospective study to examine the efficacy of various antiplatelet therapies following endovascular procedures. Through working on this project, I have not only expanded my knowledge of vascular surgery but also continued to grow my passion for the field. The prospects for additional mentorship and growth are the main aspects of attending the EVS Annual Meeting which I am most looking forward to. As someone who aspires to one day become a vascular surgeon, attending this conference will grant me the unique opportunity to not only present a poster displaying the research which I have been engaging in over the past year, but also connect with and learn from many of those whose footsteps I hope to soon follow in. Attending the EVS Annual Meeting will help me gain a more thorough understanding of the cutting-edge practices and research subjects which will help to shape the future of vascular surgery. The knowledge I gain will help me prepare to be the most competitive residency applicant that I can be. While it would certainly be possible to engage in many of the events offered at the conference virtually, I foresee that the ability to attend talks and symposiums alongside mentors–who will be able serve as a guide as I continue to delve deeper into this fascinating field–will be invaluable.

Upon entering medical school, my goal was to pursue a career in surgery which requires tactical and critical thinking skills while working in a team-based setting. During my first year at Upstate I had the opportunity to work with faculty in the department of vascular surgery including Dr. Palma Shaw and Dr. Michael Costanza. With their guidance I assisted with research projects and gained experience in the operating room. By immersing myself in the field of vascular surgery, I became increasingly more curious about the different disease processes and treatment plans for patients and gained an appreciation for how the field of vascular surgery changes constantly to find innovative ways to care for patients. Through research I examined the role of vascular surgeons in treating patients with pulmonary embolism and implementing PERT teams to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to better serve patients. I enjoy collaborating with a team doing investigative research with the end goal of providing better care for our patients. I am inspired to work towards developing my own research project to further advance the field of vascular surgery. Attending the Eastern Vascular Conference would allow me to explore new facets of vascular surgery and learn more about current and newly developing research. Connecting with professionals and being further immersed in the field of vascular surgery would be a wonderful opportunity to learn and better explore this area of medicine.

I am interested in vascular surgery as I believe it is a career that complements my greatest strengths – dedication to mastery, innovation, and a willingness to work outside the lines. As a medical student, I have been exposed to various aspects of vascular surgery, including clinic, emergent procedures, and planned interventions. Each is equally compelling, as they offer the opportunity to build longitudinal therapeutic relationships with patients and their family while also challenging the physician to work flexibly in both classic surgical interventions and device-driven, carefully planned procedures. This diversity of work and the challenge of always pushing the boundaries of what is the best intervention for a particular patient or problem is ultimately what drives me towards this career. As an academic-minded student who aims to have a career at a research institution, I would greatly benefit from this scholarship opportunity as it will allow me to expand my understanding of current innovations within the field as well as connect with mentors and fellow students. Ultimately, this experience and these connections will help to shape my understanding of how I can contribute to vascular surgery as I progress in my training. Mentorship and networking are two of the most beneficial aspects of attending conferences and they often greatly shape the trajectory of one’s career; I would be grateful for this opportunity if afforded to me through EVS.

Through my exposure to vascular surgery, I have found that the field is one of the most technically innovative, creative, and personally interesting surgical fields. While on surgery rotation in my third year, I had the opportunity to rotate on the vascular service. In this rotation, I was captivated by vascular surgery in its variety of procedures and dual skillsets of open and endovascular cases. I saw cases that showed me how the field is cutting-edge with its implementation of endovascular procedures on patients where it’s indicated. An aspect of vascular surgery that makes me want to pursue this field is that it is not limited by exclusively open or endovascular procedures, instead, the surgeon can choose what’s best to treat their patient.
In one case, a patient underwent open graft repair of an iliofemoral anastomotic aneurysm. The individualized process of this repair and being part of such a technically challenging case continued to cement my interest in vascular surgery. Two aspects of the patient’s case made it interesting to me. Firstly, the planning and careful skill was compelling in this surgery. The preoperational planning, going over imaging, selection of graft, the operational techniques used to achieve proximal control, and the placement of graft was incredible to see. Second the patient’s extended vascular history of an aorto-bifemoral bypass made her a good example of the type of longitudinal care and the longer-term therapeutic relationships that many vascular patients have with their doctors.
This scholarship and will help me in my pursuit of vascular surgery by expanding my view of the specialty and meeting and networking those within the field. Additionally, being able to see the research that is driving the field forward and attending the simulation sessions and meeting with a mentor will be of great importance to my training.

As a 5th year integrated vascular surgery resident, this travel scholarship will afford me the opportunity to explore and meet members of the EVS and industry with whom I hope to practice with in the future.

I am the first integrated resident in the new integrated vascular surgery residency at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell with primary training sites at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. I developed a passion for research during medical school at Saint Louis University under the guidance of my faculty mentor, Dr. Matthew Smeds. I hope to carry out further research during residency and hope to expand upon areas of research that I have already become interested in. The first area of interest I have is in database research. I became interested in this type of research while completing a project utilizing the GREAT registry to analyze outcomes of endovascular reintervention procedures. I hope to pursue further research projects in the future using a similar device registry, national databases such as VQI, or institutional based databases. Another research interest of mine is in vascular surgery educational research. I had the opportunity to conduct a research project where bullying among vascular trainees was analyzed. This project has made me interested in doing further research in vascular surgery education. Lastly, as a biomedical engineer by undergraduate education, vascular surgery was a natural calling since there are many new devices that are continually being developed. I hope to eventually become involved in research that involves analyzing the efficacy of these new devices and can ultimately lead to developing new treatment guidelines As the first integrated resident at this new program, I believe this scholarship would allow me the chance to network with other members of the EVS community and bring back valuable information from other programs to help steer my training in the right direction. It would also be important to establish connections with other residents early on for guidance as my training progresses.

Without the EVS, I would not be in my residency program today. Through EVS, I met and strengthened my network and relationships with mentors and colleagues in the field of vascular surgery. In October of 2019 when I first went to EVS, I was blown away by the talent of the young vascular surgeons, and aspired to have the same impact in vascular surgery as they have had. Likewise, the sessions that are usually held are helpful not only for me as I go through my residency, but also in setting up my career after residency. Between the simulation sessions, the young vascular surgeons talks, and then also getting to hear faculty from all over the east coast makes this such an important meeting for our academic growth in vascular surgery as trainees. Especially when looking for more training opportunities and jobs after residency, there’s no better time than now to continue networking. Learning the technology that is out there with each device company I find is also just as important. As a new resident just graduated form medical school with the debt that has been accumulated and taking out loans for relocating costs, any financial aid helps in being able to attend the meeting. In addition, I am a candidate member of the Radiation Safety Committee and will be participating in that session as one of the speakers which I am very grateful for. I would be more than grateful to be a recipient of the travel scholarship and thank you for your consideration!

Attending the EVS annual meeting is an important building block in my current training in vascular surgery as a first year fellow at The Mount Sinai Hospital. I enjoy the complexity of the vascular patients, the challenging disease processes, and the technically demanding and intellectually satisfying procedures. I am impressed with how the field of vascular surgery encourages creativity as we incorporate new advancements in technology while still applying the fundamental rules of vascular surgery. This scholarship would help me participate in the current discussions amongst vascular surgeons with all the advancing technologies and techniques. Also, meeting with experts of the field and connecting with other vascular surgeons in the region would be beneficial for my career. I am grateful for being able to attend the annual meeting this year, and I would greatly appreciate the support of this scholarship.

I am attracted to the field of vascular surgery due to its versatility, wide breadth of cases, and diverse patient population. Vascular surgery is a dynamic and challenging field that focuses on very delicate details in vasculature throughout the whole body. I am fascinated by the prospect of performing such surgeries and I believe my desire to have a hands-on approach that is both focused and large scale matches well with this field.

Moreover, as a person interested in both long-term patient relationships and surgery, vascular surgery blends these principles seamlessly. Specifically, you can work closely with patients and tailor procedures to their situation, which is a unique and refreshing approach to surgery. Ultimately, performing surgeries that can save limbs or reduce risks of stroke or aneurysm rupture, puts the goal of improving patient quality of life at the forefront. In terms of research, vascular surgery has incredible potential, especially related to technological advances that are continuously changing the field.

As an underrepresented minority in medicine, having the opportunity to be a scholarship recipient would broaden my opportunities to meet a mentor and to meet other students, residents, and faculty whom I can learn from. I look forward to getting mentorship support while also learning more about vascular surgery, and innovating research and projects. Furthermore, receiving this scholarship would create the perfect scenario to both consolidate knowledge about vascular surgery as a whole, and to get the necessary support to learn how to reach my dream of becoming a vascular surgeon.

As a new first year fellow I am eager to attend the EVS annual meeting and feel that it will be a considerable addition to my early fellowship training. Vascular surgery is constantly evolving, and I am excited to be exposed to the latest research and innovations that I will soon be using in practice. I also believe that I would benefit from the multiple endovascular simulation sessions that the meeting has to offer as I am just beginning to develop my endovascular skill set.
I also previously attended the virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series which I found to be extremely insightful and meaningful. It was nice connecting with other female and minority surgeons in the field and discussing similar challenges and rewarding experiences. I hope to continue to participate in such sessions.

After completing a Vascular Surgery Selective at Northwell during my third year of medical school, I was completely captivated by the field. Not only was I fascinated by the extremely varied and complex procedures performed by Vascular surgeons, but was also captured by the patient population and the very difficult and often chronic illnesses they were struggling with. I have since completed my third year of medical school, and am now dedicating this upcoming year to research in the field of vascular surgery with Dr. Etkin as my mentor. I am thrilled to be spending this year immersing myself in the Vascular Surgery literature, and look forward to developing my clinical skill set as well. Attending the Eastern Vascular Society Meeting this year would be an amazing opportunity to learn about the most recent research being done in the field, to network with seasoned as well as aspiring Vascular Surgeons, and to engage in fun hands-on skill building activities. Attending the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting would be an exciting step towards my career in Vascular Surgery.

During my 3rd year as a medical student at the Chicago Medical School, I completed a two-month surgery rotation which entailed a two-week elective in vascular surgery. While I had no prior exposure to vascular surgery, the two weeks I spent observing, learning from, and eventually assisting in surgical procedures very quickly cemented my interest in this field. During my rotation, I came to appreciate vascular surgery as a means to provide patients who endure life-long chronic diseases with direct forms of intervention that have highly tangible results. I affirmed the importance of advocating for and building relationships with a patient population that often struggles with medical compliance. While I am motivated to further my involvement in the field of vascular surgery, CMS lacks specialized vascular surgery advising and its own department. By attending EVS, I hope to both broaden my understanding of vascular surgery practices and research as well as develop connections with those working in this field. As a female medical student, I would particularly value the chance to learn from women working in vascular surgery. Lastly, I will not be able to attend the SVS Vascular Annual Meeting this year due to scheduling conflict with my fourth year surgery sub-internship. Despite this absence, I hope to connect with the larger vascular community at EVS – one that I currently lack at my current medical school program. This scholarship would provide me the financial support and opportunity to do so.

The plan was never vascular surgery. I decided to enter the field after a chance encounter as a new postgraduate intern who wasn’t sure whether to still strive for neurosurgery or change gears and try something else. As often is the case in life, a seemingly random series of events led to the best decision I ever could have made. I found I loved the problem solving that goes into helping vascular patients. Unlike many other fields, vascular surgery involves being the primary care surgeon essentially for vascular pathologies. And, as such a young specialty still, vascular surgery has many areas that surgeons and scientists can continue to improve on and change paradigms. This grant helps to allow me to continue that passion that I have for this specialty. Specifically, I have an interest in pursuing a career that is heavily focused on clinical research and education. I have a passion for proselytizing anyone who is undecided or doesn’t know about what vascular surgery has to offer. There is so much clinical work still to be done as well to establish standards of practice for the continually evolving field of endovascular therapies as well. Being able to hear what the giants in the field are saying about the specialty and the issues facing us today I think will make me a better surgeon and advocate for my patients as well. Finally, as a result of this meeting, I believe that I’ll have a greater sense of the newest advancements in vascular surgery which will directly translate to better patient care.

Opportunities that provide a challenge and the potential for growth have always attracted me. In my early years of residency, Vascular Surgery represented a field that was simultaneously intuitive and evolving. That impression has only deepened as my years in training have progressed. As a specialty, it provides a constant stream of new advancements, both in open and endovascular surgery, that makes it a subspecialty that inherently drives innovation. However, it also maintains the elegance, exposure, and technical skill of its early surgical techniques, such as its open abdominal aortic aneurism repairs and carotid endarterectomies. Vascular Surgery provides unique breadth and depth of skill and knowledge relevant across all fields of surgery.
To clarify, I am an active duty Navy general surgery chief resident (PGY-5), but my application for vascular fellowship would be to start a year after residency (2023) at the very earliest. In the interim, being able to attend conferences such as EVS allows me a wide breadth of exposure and networking possibilities.
Further, the mentorship aspect of the scholarship would allow me to develop a relationship with someone that has experience and a sense of what should be prioritized as I look forward to fellowship training in the coming years. Getting to develop a relationship and ask questions regarding the more nuanced considerations of a vascular surgery practice would provide a framework to help guide decisions about how best to optimize and maintain a well-rounded vascular practice.

I have been accepted to present a case report under my mentor Dr. Genovese; I will additionally be presenting a case report on behalf of my previous co-resident, Ryan King at the annual meeting. This meeting marks a special milestone for me in that it will be my first conference presentation since starting residency. I am extremely excited to finally have the opportunity to demonstrate my research productiveness in residency. My ultimate career goal is to graduate into academic vascular surgery and this marks the beginning of my journey in dedicated vascular research. Additionally, I hope to benefit from the trainee-focused sessions, networking opportunities, and snapshot of the state of vascular surgery that attending this conference will offer me. I benefited greatly from conference scholarships as a medical student as they offered me a financial guarantee that I could attend a conference; attending conferences as a medical student was how I ultimately found my fit in vascular surgery. Additionally, at the conference I attended, I made invaluable relationships with mentors in the field that I would like to think connected me with my current mentor and program director, Dr. Veeraswamy. Thank you all again for the opportunity to present at your conference; I look forward to attending in September.

As an aspiring vascular surgeon, the Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting is an event I have long hoped to attend. For background, I have finished 3 years of medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and am currently starting my scholarly year dedicated to research in vascular surgery. I hope to use this increased experience in both the clinical and research realms of the field and I believe that some of the best education I could hope to obtain during this year will undoubtedly take place while attending such preeminent conferences as the EVS annual meeting. Attending the EVS conference will give me the opportunity to meet and hear from experts in the field and learn from their research.
In addition to this, I have applied for the EVS Research Seed Grant and would appreciate the opportunity to expand my ideas for my upcoming project on iliac vein disease at the conference of the very society who would be funding my research. Lastly, the vascular surgery research team of which I am a part of will be presenting research which I am a co-author on, and it would be a great experience for me to be there when our research is presented.
Getting this scholarship would enable me to pursue my academic goals more robustly by attending the conference and being able to accommodate my travel fees, thus enabling me to stay for the entire duration of the conference and learn as much as I possibly can. I would be honored to attend the conference and even more so to be able to do so under the generosity of this EVS trainee travel scholarship.

We stood in sterile union, cloaked in the haze of Bovie smoke and the scent of iron. The source of which – a pulsing wellspring – speckled the lenses of our protective eyewear in defiance before being cinched closed. A femoral endarterectomy set the stage; I brandished a 6-0 prolene in the beak of a “Castro” needle-driver. With the slightest turn of my wrist, I took my first, tentative bite through the wall of the femoral artery. From that day on, I would grow increasingly enamored with Vascular Surgery. I was enchanted by the technical challenge of the procedures, and even by the routines of the service: lower-extremity amputations, management of diabetic foot wounds, and even troubleshooting wound VAC placements. The specialty’s comprehensive approach to patient care left the greatest impression on me: its practice spanned the full spectrum of prevention – from primary to quaternary. It was a surgical subspecialty that offered me innumerable opportunities to address the healthcare disparities that initially drew me to medicine. Vascular Surgery draws into sharper focus the kind of clinician that I’ve always envisioned myself becoming.

I believe that attaining this EVS scholarship will help me gain the necessary exposure I need in order to successfully match into Integrated Vascular Surgery, thus drawing my vision into even sharper focus. After going unmatched in Vascular Surgery last year, I now occupy a position as a preliminary General Surgery resident. Going unmatched turned out to be a career milestone for me, as it was the beginning of my maturation as both a surgeon and a Vascular Surgery applicant. The EVS scholarship is yet another tool that can help me mature as an applicant, and gain access to more resources through which I can successfully pursue entry into this specialty.