A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
Dem physician candidates hope Trump backlash will sweep them to victory By Shefali Luthra Dr. Rob Davidson, an emergency physician from western Michigan, had never considered running for Congress. Then came February 2017. The 46-year-old Democrat found himself at a local town-hall meeting going toe-to-toe with U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, his Republican congressman of the previous six years.
“I told him about my patients,” Dr. Davidson recalled. “I see, every shift, some impact of not having adequate healthcare, not having dental insurance or a doctor at all.” His comments triggered cheers from the audience but didn’t seem to register with Congressman Huizenga, a vocal Obamacare critic. And that got Dr. Davidson thinking. “I’ve always been very upset … about patients who can’t get healthcare,” he said. But it never inspired him to act. Until this
June, that is, when the political novice joined what is now at least eight other Democratic physicians running in races across the country as first-time candidates for Congress. Democrats hope to gain control of Congress by harnessing what polls show to be voters’ dissatisfaction with both Capitol Hill and President Donald Trump. The president maintains MIDTERMS
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INSIDE The VEINS to hit Las Vegas Nov. 5-8 OPTALYSE PE trial shows therapy safe Stradis Healthcare facility earns ISO Management service for independent docs New facial veins book reviewed
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 Vol. 11, No. 5 VEINTHERAPYNEWS.COM
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An ACP recognized resource for news and information for and about the phlebology community
2018 ACP Annual Congress a fresh break from the past By Vanessa Salvia This year’s American College of Phlebology Annual Congress, the 32nd, promises to be the most comprehensive yet. Planners have incorporated an important international perspective, refocused established events and added new events to help turn this into one of the most well-attended and important meetings of the year. More than 1,000 are expected to descend on the Nashville Gaylord Opryland Resort and Hotel Nov. 8 for four days of educational content, exhibit hall demonstrations, events and society gatherings. All four days are packed with sessions, society events and activities including past favorites like the ACP Foundation Silent Auction and ACPF Annual Fun Run and Walk, as well as new events. “Raise Your Glass,” an ACPF toast, closes out the day’s sessions on Thursday and Friday, and the Venous and Lymphatic Village on Sunday represents a big change to the format of the Congress.
Different tables will cover chronic venous obstruction, compression and wound care, lymphedema, NTNT, pelvic venous reflux, sclerotherapy, superficial vein treatment and thrombosis. At each table, registered vascular technologists and company representatives will be on hand to provide expertise on devices and products – but not for a sales pitch. “It’s for industry experts to explain how the device was developed, how it works, how it was tested,” Dr. Gibson says. “We want industry to give the backstory about their products and provide an opportunity for hands-on experiences with the products, with no lectures.”
OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS Delta Atrium at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Hotel in Nashville
VENOUS, LYMPHATIC VILLAGE Kathleen Gibson, MD, a vascular surgeon with Lake Washington Vascular in Washington State, organized the village, which she says is
like a science fair for grownups. “We will have distinct areas devoted to different venous and lymphatic conditions, which we’re calling neighborhoods.”
ACP Congress Program Chair Stephen Daugherty, MD, FACS, FACPh, RVT, RPhS, a vascular surgeon at VeinCare Centers of Tennessee in Clarksville, Tennessee, has served on the ACP Board for the last six years. NASHVILLE
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Boston Scientific to acquire Veniti Boston Scientific has signed an agreement to acquire Veniti, a privately-held company in Fremont, California, which developed and commercialized the Vici venous stent system for treating venous obstructive disease. Boston Scientific has been an investor in Veniti since 2016 and owned 25 percent of the company. The transaction price for the remaining stake consists of $108 million up-front cash, as well
as up to $52 million in payments contingent upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the Vici stent system. Venous obstructive disease – instances of abnormal, blocked or damaged veins – affects more than 1.1 million people in the United States and Western Europe annually. Vein VENTI ACQUIRED
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