About
"Your" Vascular Surgery Future. Can You Envision What It Will be Like? An ABVS-ABMS Board Will Protect "Our" Future
ABVS Mission and Objectives
The American Board of Vascular Surgery is established for the purpose of: developing, elevating and advancing the standards, teaching and practice of that branch of medicine which deals with diseases of the arteries, veins and lymphatics and which is known as Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Furthermore, it shall serve the public, physicians, hospitals and medical schools by preparing and publishing or causing to be published lists of specialists and practioners who have been certified by the Board as competent to practice Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.
History of the ABVS
The American Board of Vascular Surgery (ABVS) was created in 1996. During that period of time, the Board of Director’s were charged with exploring pathways to an Independent ABVS-ABMS affiliated Board.
The political climate of that era, however, lead to a deterioration in rapport between previously collegial organizations and amongst vascular surgical colleagues, and the pursuit of board independence was halted.
Nevertheless, several significant accomplishments resulted from their efforts. The most important of these was the establishment of the Primary Certificate in Vascular Surgery, acknowledging the distinct training of vascular surgeons. The hope was that this would be a steppingstone to board independence. However, here we are 20 years later and unfortunately, Vascular Surgery has yet to become an independent, ABMS member board.
Justification: If Not Now, When?
In 2018, the ABVS was re-established under a new 501 (c) 6. A new executive board and Board of Directors was formed. Today the ABVS is charged with continuing the hard efforts of the previous ABVS Board and will continue to seek pathways to establishing an independent ABVS-ABMS member Board.
If Not Now, When?
The current objectives of the new Board are to protect our specialty now and in the future by by providing the tools for its survival and growth. Key to this goal is the ability to control all aspects of our training programs through a Vascular Surgery only RRC. Currently, vascular surgical training programs are reviewed and accredited by the RRC of our parent organization, the American Board of Surgery (ABS). All new programs and or any changes to current vascular training paradigms must be approved by the entire ABS RRC. The RRC is comprised of 16 surgeons of which only 3 are vascular surgeons. One can envision how this might be problematic. There is no good reason why vascular surgery, a specialty which is so differentiated from general surgery, should not have its own RRC. Clearly, the APDVS with the support of the SVS leadership thought this was the case or they would not have applied to the ACGME twice (and rejected twice) for a separate vascular surgery RRC. Having the capability to create new programs and models for training our residents and fellows, unfettered and in an expeditious manner in order to meet the needs of our specialty will be to the advantage of all vascular surgeons and help greatly in attracting medical students and surgical residents to our field.
A great deal of information is available to all practicing American vascular surgeons and you are encouraged to get involved in understanding how you can be a part of this process. We need your support.
Public's Perception and Knowledge of Vascular Surgery
The ABVS encourages the study of the circulatory system which includes arteries, veins, and lymphatics (known as Vascular Surgery).
In addition, training and Board certification of vascular surgeons is a testimonial to the public, physicians, hospitals, government agencies, medical schools that vascular surgeons have met all educational and training criteria.
For these reasons alone, it is imperative that Vascular Surgery moves forward to independence.