International Teamwork at the International Union of Phlebology

SERGIO GIANESINI, MD, PHD, FAVLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AVLS

August 30th, 2019 at the UIP Meeting in Krakow, Poland, the international venous community voted to support unity as representatives from the Canada, Mexico and the United States came together to make a continental bid for the International Union of Phlebology (UIP) Congress in 2023. An absolute majority of the General Council supported this vision, positively demonstrating the value of international teamwork.

The American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) reached out to the Canadian Society of Phlebology (CSP), the Academia Mexicana de Flebologia y Linfologia (AMFyL), and the American Venous Forum (AVF) this summer with the idea for the four societies to join together and make a North American, continental bid for the Congress with the goal proposed by Sergio Gianesini, MD, PhD, FACS of “Connecting the Continent, Welcoming the World.”

The meeting will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center September 17-21, 2023 and is expected to draw over 2,000 medical practitioners that specialize in venous & lymphatic medicine from all across the world. Miami is a city that is known for its diversity and represents a variety of cultures from around the globe. Miami is a globally connected city close to Central and Latin America and with plenty of direct flights connecting it to rest of the world.

“I must say that it is an honor for me to be a part of this historical World Congress in which geographic and societal boundaries are erased with the hope of together creating a memorable 2023 meeting, where all the world societies can equally provide their contribution,” said Dr. Marlin Schul, president of the AVLS.

“When the AVLS proposed a joint bid to the Canadian Society of Phlebology, I didn’t hesitate for a second,” said Dr. Pauline RaymondMartimbeau, vice president of the CSP. “The greatest good is always found in teamwork, never in individualism. Not to mention that the first aim of the UIP constitution is to ‘Strengthen the links between the societies or associations.’”

Although the meeting is still four years away, the leadership of the AVLS has already begun the preliminary planning, securing the various hotels required to support the attendees, outlining the overall scientific and educational program and planning the social events and venues associated with the World’s largest gathering of venous and lymphatic specialists.

“We all know Miami is a wonderful location,” said Dr. Javier Serralde, vice president of the AMFyL. “Indeed, Miami is one of the closest cities to Central/Latin America with one of the most connected international airports of the world, making it an important location for a joint meeting bringing the entire global venous and lymphatic community together.”

The UIP Congress convenes every two years to bring together all of the venous and lymphatic societies from around the globe to share the latest in scientific research and practical techniques for treating venous & lymphatic disease. The AVLS last hosted the UIP World meeting in 2013 in Boston, MA where over 1,580 medical practitioners represented over 70 countries.

“This continental teamwork shows that, in this globalized world, we enjoy and must support scientific, educational and social synergy,” said Dr. Tony Gasparis, vice president of the AVF. “The American Venous Forum is particularly focused on evidence-based data, and I’m delighted that the UIP Congress 2023 demonstrates that teamwork is possible.”

And so, we ask that you mark your calendars for both the next UIP 2021 meeting in Istanbul and UIP 2023 meeting in Miami Beach September 17-21, 2023 to be part of this historic meeting where we will Connect the Continent and Welcome the World! See you in Miami.