Vascular Surgery as a Primary Board: Debate over Specialty Status Continues

New York, NY: Dr. Frank J. Veith, The William J. von Liebig Chair in Vascular Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY) and Professor of Surgery, The Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY), and Dr. James. C. Stanley, Professor of Vascular Surgery, University of Michigan and Head, Section of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital (Ann Arbor, MI), will lead a discussion on the primary board status for vascular surgery, and recognition of such by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The discussion will take place at VEITHsymposium™, November 23, 2:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers (New York, NY). Over 1500 vascular specialists will attend this lecture.

"Primary board status for vascular surgery is a clinical imperative for our patients," said Frank J. Veith, M.D. James V. Stanley, M.D. added, "The issue of specialty status recognition has taken on a renewed urgency in the context of our American healthcare system."

The unique and specialized skills and competencies in vascular disease management and intervention have evolved rapidly over the past decade and now define and require a separate specialty. However, this evolutionary process has met with hostile opposition and rejection from The American Board of Surgery (ABS). Failure of the ABS and the Residency Review Committee for Surgery to recognize and respond to the evolution of new specialties by dramatically altering training paradigms and certification criteria have contributed to the decline of graduates enrolling in general surgery residencies with a further decline of applicants opting for vascular surgery training programs.

Because Americans are living longer, vascular experts anticipate an increase of aging patients who will require the services of a vascular specialist. Failure to recognize vascular surgery as a primary board may further complicate the delivery of healthcare in the United States.

The training period and skill set for vascular surgeons meets or exceeds that of many existing surgical and medical specialties. The ABMS had previously affirmed this in its review and approval of vascular surgery as a subspecialty of the American Board of Surgery, and by the decision of the ABS in regard to vascular surgery examinations and training. The separate and distinct status of Vascular Surgery has also been confirmed by the establishment of more than a dozen professional societies dedicated to this specialty, and the American College of Surgeons' equal recognition of vascular surgery with colorectal surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, urology and thoracic surgery, all of whom have primary ABMS boards.

Other vascular specialists contributing to this panel discussion include:

-- Thomas F. O'Donnell, Jr., M.D. Professor of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Andrews Professor of Surgery, President and Chief Executive Officer, New England Medical Center, (Boston, MA)

-- Robert W. Hobson, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Physiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Director, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-University Hospital (Newark, NJ)

-- Marshall W. Webster, M.D., Mark M. Ravitch Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Pittsburgh Physicians, UPMC Health System, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

-- Anton N. Sidway, M.D., Professor of Surgery, George Washington University, Chief, Surgical Services, VA Medical Center (Washington, DC)

Information regarding access to personal interviews, press guidelines and registration are available at www.veithpress.org.

About VEITHsymposium™: For nearly three decades, VEITHsymposium™ has been the epicenter of physician education for the global vascular community. This international congress attracts over 1500 thought leaders in the field. More than 150 international clinician/educators present the latest topics, advances and data and then validate concepts through the dynamic interactive faculty/audience exchange that ends each session. VEITHsymposium™ is sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY). CME credit is issued by The Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY).





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