EVOLVING ANNUAL CONGRESS REFLECTS SOCIETY’S GROWTH

By Margaret Mann, MD, FAVLS • Co-Chairman Education Standing Committee

We are approaching the 36th Annual Congress of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society in New Orleans on October 13-16. I am amazed as I consider our Annual Congress’s transformation in just a few short years.

I was privileged to serve our Society and the field in general as the 34th Congress Chair in October 2020. During this unprecedented COVID pandemic, we pivoted from an in-person event planned for Washington, DC, to a 100% virtual Congress. Thanks to the foresight of our leadership and the herculean effort of our volunteers and Society staff, we made an amazing transition in a matter of a few months. We managed to keep the complete Congress program intact and even created a few social events to preserve the spirit and camaraderie, which so defines our AVLS Congress.

The final 2020 program had 658 participants logging in from the comfort of their homes or offices worldwide to watch our real-time broadcasting. For the first time, attendees had the opportunity with on-demand session recording to earn over 72 hours of CME and never miss a lecture occurring in one room while participating in a session elsewhere. There were undoubtedly some perks to a virtual congress. Nevertheless, I hope that I am the “one and only” Chair to ever reside over a 100% virtual Congress of the AVLS!

The AVLS Congress is such a comprehensive endeavor providing continuing education across all facets of venous and lymphatic medicine to all walks of life in our field. There really is “Something for Everyone!”

Physicians can learn the latest advancements in treating superficial, deep, and pelvic venous disease and how to incorporate the treatment and management of Lymphedema or leg ulcers in their practice. Attendees can learn and interact with the leading minds in our field from the US and the world. Additionally, our program continues to be inclusive of learning opportunities for our Nurse, Sonographer, and Therapist members and attendees, recognizing the holistic approach to treating and caring for our patients suffering from venous and lymphatic disease.

Now, thanks to the investments the AVLS made to achieve a fully virtual Congress in 2020, we have adapted to a hybrid format for future Congresses. Every attendee can avail themselves of every educational offering of the annual Congress, whether they attend in person or virtually. Our annual Congress went from a three-to-four-day event every October to a three-month experience.

I mentioned earlier I hope that I am the “one and only” Chair to preside over an entirely virtual Congress. I bring that up in closing as a reminder that there is so much more to an AVLS Annual Congress than just the lectures and presentations. So much of our learning experience comes when we interact with our peers from all around the country and world discussing various opportunities and challenges in the hallways, over lunch, dinner, or at the coffee pots during breaks.

In addition, there is so much we learn from the corporate participants and their teams. All this is lost when we participate remotely. And so, I encourage you to join us all in New Orleans this October, where we will all be able to celebrate the successes of the AVLS over the past five years, reconnect with old relationships, and begin developing new relationships that can alter our lives.

Dr. Chris Pittman has tagged this year’s Congress with “Veins & All that Jazz” to remind us that the Annual Congress of the AVLS is truly an event with something for everyone. There will be plenty of excellent education in the sessions or the latest in research at the “Space Forum” on Thursday evening, and the chance to engage with each other by exploring the city of New Orleans during the Foundation’s “Congress Expedition”, running (or walking) along the Mississippi River at the “Fun Run for Mel” or to celebrating on Bourbon Street Saturday night.

As we look to the future, it is exciting that the International Union of Phlebology selected us to host their 20th World Congress on September 13-17, 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida. We are looking to bring together over 2,000 medical professionals from around the globe to share the latest advancements in venous and lymphatic medicine. We will cohost the 2023 UIP World Congress with the American Venous Forum, the Canadian Society of Phlebology, and the Mexican Academy of Phlebology and Lymphology.

FUTURE AVLS ANNUAL CONGRESS EVENTS

2023 Miami Beach, FL (UIP World Congress)

2024 Chicago, IL

2025 Washington, DC

2026 Denver, CO

2027 Orlando, FL

The AVLS is truly a Society of individuals who have committed their life’s work to caring for those with venous and lymphatic disease. I cannot think of a better group of people to develop lifelong relationships with that all share my passion for being a better doctor and a better person by giving back to those that I have the opportunity to serve through the Society.

Thank you, Margaret