Remembering Mel Rosenblatt, MD MARLIN SCHUL, MD, MBA, RVT, FAVLS PRESIDENT, AVLS
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t is with heavy hearts that we gather this year, missing our dear friend Mel Rosenblatt MD, FAVLS who passed away at the age of 60 following an 18-month battle with hepatic cancer. Mel was a giant in the field of venous and lymphatic disorders. He was humble, dedicated to faith and family, and an important visionary in the AVLS. Mel understood the importance of data collection in shaping care and establishing benchmarks. He created what has become the largest dialysis access registry and followed through on his knowledge in this space to support the ACP PRO 1.0 Venous Registry transition to AVLS PRO 2.0. Dr. Rosenblatt was boarded in Interventional Radiology and dedicated much of his career to the practice of venous and lymphatic medicine. Mel has been an active and integral part of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society for the past two decades. Mel joined the Society in August of 2002, served on numerous committees and eventually rose to the Board of Directors in 2008. In 2009, Mel was accepted as a Fellow Member of the AVLS. Mel’s service and dedication to the Society led to his election as President in 2013-2014. Following his Presidency, Mel became the Chairman of the Foundation for Venous & Lymphatic Disease in 2015-2016 and has since served on the Board of Directors of the Foundation. In 2017, Mel represented our society in Wave 2 of MACRA cost measure development, helping to build further societal awareness. In 2018, Mel was granted the position of Honorary Member of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society. Earlier this summer he took a role in reviewing the query engine platform of the AVLS PRO 2.0 registry and affirmed it has the tools to effectively address our needs. Most recently, Mel served as the Honorary Chairman of the New Horizon Capital Initiative leading the charge to develop funding to support the growing and expanding mission and vision of the AVLS. Mel lead our Society by example through giving his time to serve, selflessly volunteering his expertise and talents, and financially committing to the mission. He continually strove to see more members involved in the society and nurtured them to collectively achieve the goals and objectives that would advance the field for the benefit of our patients. The AVLS and FVLD will be planting a tree in memory of Mel in Israel. The family has asked that any contributions in his memory be made to the Foundation for Venous & Lymphatic Disease. As we all mourn the passing of a great human being, colleague, husband, and father, we should do so knowing we are all better off for having known and worked alongside Mel for these many years. Consider how you may best honor Mel’s memory by making a difference and simply “doing one more thing” for the Society and the Foundation. In these next pages, remember Mel as you read stories shared by colleagues and friends that reflect on all he accomplished and the great man that he was. 43
