THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING

By Steve Elias, MD, FACS, FAVLS, DABVLM

This seemingly nonsensical, contradictory phrase has been uttered since 1422 when the French king Charles VI died, and his son Charles VII took over. Le roi est mort, vive le roi. The words were spoken by the Duc d’Uzes as soon as Charles VI’s coffin was lowered into the ground. The phrase actually makes complete sense. It succinctly summarizes the transfer of sovereignty. One king is dead, another has taken his place, and long live the new one. Old and new flow seamlessly for the good of all.

That’s what AVLS has been doing for years regarding education and learning, always moving forward. The old style of only in-person education is dead but long live the new AVLS style: in-person and digital/remote. So, what does the new “king” offer?

1. AVLS Annual Congress – On-Demand: Congress is now a hybrid event where every session is recorded and made available to all registered attendees “on-demand” for a couple of months, enabling attendees never to miss a lecture or session. It also expands the available CME from the typical 21-23 hours to over 60 hours.

2. AVLS ePass – A new subscription service that o ers access to the digital library of AVLS educational programs. With a subscription, the individual can access the library and partake in as many or as few courses as desired. This resource is excellent for training new staff, nurses, PA’s, etc., where you can have them access a list of courses you require for your practice. Subscriptions will be offered on a monthly and annual basis.

3. AVLS Immersive Education – Experience new courses utilizing virtual reality technology that enables the learner to be transported into a clinical setting where they can observe procedures as if they were standing right next to the instructor. These courses provide clinical education and training without sending your team to various locations for in-person training. AVLS is introducing two new courses at Annual Congress, Sclerotherapy 2nd Edition and Introduction to Venous Insufficiency, which interchange virtual reality with two-dimensional didactic lectures. A series of additional courses are in development for future release, including thermal ablation, Varithena, Venaseal and pelvic venous procedures, including IVUS.

4. AVLS Presents – A series of webinars will be presented each month, focusing on specific educational or training topics in venous and lymphatic medicine.

5. AVLS Venous Classification Workbooks – The AVLS, in conjunction with the AVF, have developed two workbooks that help learners apply the venous classification systems for both lower leg (CEAP) and pelvic venous disease (SVP). Both workbooks take you through a series of case presentations where the learner is asked to classify each patient.

Even though there are many digital/remote offerings, AVLS is not proposing that in-person learning is dead. Unlike the attitude of France towards Charles VI, AVLS doesn’t only recognize the new king. There is so much value to in-person, in-the-flesh, I’m really alive learning: spontaneous peer-to-peer discussion, post-lecture hallway questions and answers, having a drink together, etc. AVLS offers the best of both worlds. COVID-19 has just accelerated an inevitable event. Because of this, AVLS learning and educational opportunities are better than ever.

AVLS is not dead. Education is not dead. Vive le AVLS, vive l’education. Take advantage of everything. Learn the best way for you. Bonne chance (Good luck).