Another year, another successful VESS Winter Meeting! It was wonderful seeing so many of you in Breckenridge, with the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Personally, I was inspired by Misty Humphries’s insightful presidential address and am honored to serve as President for the next year. The meeting demonstrated so many of the strengths of the Society. Our didactic educational programs, including for Vascular Fellows (Adam Doyle), General Surgery Residents (Reshma Brahmbhatt), Early Career Faculty (Gabriela Velazquez), and Students (Genevieve Hayek) remain best-in-brand opportunities with more applicants than spots to fill. Thank you to all of the leaders who make these experiences meaningful. Our Technology Forum continued to grow under Michael Curi’s leadership. Most significantly, the scientific program, led by Bjoern Suckow, received yet another record number of submissions with a broad variety of topics from a wide range of institutions. To quote Misty, I think it’s safe to say that the Society is thriving.
Looking forward, I’d like to thank each of you who volunteered to serve on a committee. For newcomers, don’t be shy about using your voice to guide our future—you are the core of the Society, and we welcome you enthusiastically. Rather than “just attending” committee meetings, think about initiatives that are important to you personally. Look for a path towards implementation. Make them happen. And don’t hesitate to send me a line if you need help getting something off the ground.
Speaking of independent initiatives, Elizabeth Genovese and Jordan Stern have worked tirelessly on behalf of our Vascular Research Consortium and we close to the launch of our new VESS Research Fellowship. This funded opportunity allows a resident to perform two years of dedicated research with an experienced mentor as part of a multi-institutional collaborative. The inaugural umbrella topic is peripheral arterial disease, and I’m excited to see the work that is produced. Please encourage your trainees to apply for this wonderful opportunity to support young academic physicians.
Lastly, I hope everyone has already marked their calendars for the 2025 VESS Spring Meeting (June 4, 2025, in New Orleans) and for THE BIG ONE. Yes, next year the VESS turns 50 years old, and we will celebrate it in style from February 5-8, 2026, at the Everline Resort in Olympic Valley. Preliminary plans are already underway to make this a meeting to remember. If you have any interest in helping to plan the Golden Anniversary, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Looking forward to another great year.
Ravi Rajani, MD
Emory University
President 2025-2026