Message from the President...
February 22, 2021
As the ongoing covid-19 viral pandemic continues and is expected to surpass over half a million deaths, we continue to hear of heartbreak and loss that pervades society. But we continue on, taking care of our patients, the veterans who have served our country so bravely and honorably. President Biden leads by example and we are already hopeful that new leadership will give a new approach to conquering the pandemic.
Our AVAS society continues to function and serve its membership, and the executive council has been working hard and continuing its duty. Most importantly, we are looking forward to our virtual meeting. Thank you to all of our members who have contributed and sent in abstracts in consideration to be part of the program. Our strong response in submissions is a testament to the ongoing fortitude of our membership as well as their optimism.
We are grateful to Brian Smith, chair of the Program Committee for an unprecedented second year in a row, for his leadership in creating the program for our virtual meeting. Thank you to all the hard-working members of this committee, Brian Smith, James Maloney, Lindsay Goldstein, Preeti John, Luke Brewster, Jacquelyn Quin, Danny Chu, and Jason Johanning. This year was challenging, but with each challenge comes another opportunity.
We also thank our sponsors, the companies who have stood by us through thick and thin. This year has been incredibly challenging for all business and we greatly appreciate the continued partnership and trust that sponsorship means.
This year we also welcome the Association of VA Anesthesiologists to our meeting. Our societies function in close collaboration to take care of our patients, and we hope that our scientific sessions will foster additional collaboration, education, and inspiration. We appreciate our ability to work collegially with President Brooke Albright-Trainer and Vice President Houman Amirfarzan on this important new initiative.
The AVAS virtual meeting is planned for Sunday April 25 and Monday April 26, 2021. We are not yet ready to travel, but optimistic that in-person meetings will happen sometime in the next few months. In the meantime, a full program is planned, including the resident competition, breakfast sessions, and even a Presidential address. We hope you block your calendar and attend; registration is free to remove all barriers to attendance. We hope that 2022 will bring us to Pittsburgh where we can see each other again and perhaps even give each other real hugs.
Thank you to every one of our members. Your continued support of the AVAS society is meaningful and speaks of courage as well as hope for the future. Let’s see each other in April 2021 and honor a year of struggle and never-ending optimism for a better future, for us as well as for our patients. It’s all about our patients.
Alan Dardik, MD PhD
AVAS President
As the ongoing covid-19 viral pandemic continues and is expected to surpass over half a million deaths, we continue to hear of heartbreak and loss that pervades society. But we continue on, taking care of our patients, the veterans who have served our country so bravely and honorably. President Biden leads by example and we are already hopeful that new leadership will give a new approach to conquering the pandemic.
Our AVAS society continues to function and serve its membership, and the executive council has been working hard and continuing its duty. Most importantly, we are looking forward to our virtual meeting. Thank you to all of our members who have contributed and sent in abstracts in consideration to be part of the program. Our strong response in submissions is a testament to the ongoing fortitude of our membership as well as their optimism.
We are grateful to Brian Smith, chair of the Program Committee for an unprecedented second year in a row, for his leadership in creating the program for our virtual meeting. Thank you to all the hard-working members of this committee, Brian Smith, James Maloney, Lindsay Goldstein, Preeti John, Luke Brewster, Jacquelyn Quin, Danny Chu, and Jason Johanning. This year was challenging, but with each challenge comes another opportunity.
We also thank our sponsors, the companies who have stood by us through thick and thin. This year has been incredibly challenging for all business and we greatly appreciate the continued partnership and trust that sponsorship means.
This year we also welcome the Association of VA Anesthesiologists to our meeting. Our societies function in close collaboration to take care of our patients, and we hope that our scientific sessions will foster additional collaboration, education, and inspiration. We appreciate our ability to work collegially with President Brooke Albright-Trainer and Vice President Houman Amirfarzan on this important new initiative.
The AVAS virtual meeting is planned for Sunday April 25 and Monday April 26, 2021. We are not yet ready to travel, but optimistic that in-person meetings will happen sometime in the next few months. In the meantime, a full program is planned, including the resident competition, breakfast sessions, and even a Presidential address. We hope you block your calendar and attend; registration is free to remove all barriers to attendance. We hope that 2022 will bring us to Pittsburgh where we can see each other again and perhaps even give each other real hugs.
Thank you to every one of our members. Your continued support of the AVAS society is meaningful and speaks of courage as well as hope for the future. Let’s see each other in April 2021 and honor a year of struggle and never-ending optimism for a better future, for us as well as for our patients. It’s all about our patients.
Alan Dardik, MD PhD
AVAS President
Society Affiliation
JAMA Surgery is pleased to be the official publication for the Association of VA Surgeons.