President's Message

Spring 2009 Message

Summer 2009 Message

Current Message

Winter 2009, Incoming President's Message

As incoming President, I am pleased to welcome you to our organization and encourage you to get involved during this very exciting time. Those of us involved in the ACP leadership realize that the progress of the organization depends almost entirely both on the volunteer commitment to continue, further refine, and expand the programs already in place, but also to identify and realize new initiatives that will carry the ACP to even higher levels of scientific and organizational contributions in the next few years.

Some of the most recent changes and advancements were realized during and since the Annual Congress in November at Marco Island. These include: expansion of the ACP Board of Directors from 11to13 members to allow more involvement by members willing to commit their time; newly adopted bylaws changes that now allow for full voting membership and eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors for members from the Nursing and Ultrasound sections; and one of the most exciting initiatives is the establishment of a Leadership Task Force to identify and enable new leaders from the membership.

Other goals that have been identified as the highest priority are: creation of guidelines of vein care for public, government, insurance, and professional sectors; acquisition of a seat on the RUC Committee of the AMA; increased awareness by health professionals of Phlebology in general and the ACP in particular; development of public awareness projects including print media, Internet,TV and radio PSA’s, and Free Screening Programs; development of special courses such as Duplex Utrasound, advanced-case discussion, and practice issues.

As you may know, the American Board of Phlebology will present the 2nd Board Certification Examination April 18-25, 2009, available at PearsonVue testing centers throughout North America, for licensed physicians from the U.S. and Canada. As a result of the first examination, there are now 248 U.S. physicians who have successfully achieved Board Certification status. The American Board of Phlebology is working towards allowing international physicians the opportunity to sit for the examination.

Within the ACP, two other exciting projects are emerging: the Ultrasound Section and the Nursing Section are both developing processes to establish Special Credentials in Phlebology.

This ACP website can be used by health professionals to find information about educational meetings and programs, practice guidelines and standards, and coding and reimbursement; access articles, case studies, and publications; order patient education materials; learn about research opportunities, fellowships, and scholarships, and more. It can also be used by patients to learn more about the field of Phlebology and to find a provider knowledgeable of venous disease.

Members of the College visiting this site for the first time should visit the Member Center to access all the “members only” areas and benefits including:

• Coding and Reimbursement Advice
• Articles
• Video Library
• Discounted Rates on Textbooks and patient education brochures
• Discounted Meeting Registration
• Phlebology Review Course
• And more!

Our site is constantly changing. Visit us often to take advantage of all this organization has to offer to you and the specialty of phlebology.

On a personal note, over the next two years I will work to encourage the participation in the College by more international members; provide broader advocacy for our patients and ourselves in the insurance and government realms; expand the Phlebology Fellowship program; continue to strengthen involvement of members from specialties newer to the College, such as interventional cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; and increase the amount and quality of research in our field not only from academic institutions, but also the important studies from private practitioners funded through the four research grants available to members

All of these initiatives will require commitment from an ever-expanding pool of volunteers within the College organization, and with the tremendous growth the College has experienced over the past few years, I am confident that we have the talent pool to make these goals realistically achievable.

We will need a good deal of time and effort from our membership, volunteering for those projects of interest to each. I and the Board of Directors realize that in order for the College to continue its success, it must be worthwhile to membership – you must feel a return on the investment of your time and money. And my promise to you, if you will join me in this effort, is to make sure that the leadership in the ACP is accountable to all of its members, that the ACP delivers what members want and need from their organization.

Again I wish to thank all of you for the great honor and responsibility you have given me. It is indeed humbling to stand with my predecessors, considering all that they have accomplished by volunteering their considerable time, energy, and talent to foster the great progress made in the field of Phlebology in general and the ACP in particular.

I look forward to working with those of you whom I already have met, and meeting others interested in seeing the American College of Phlebology continue to grow in importance for phlebologists here in the U.S. and internationally as well.

Nick Morrison, MD, FACS, FACPh

President, American College of Phlebology
Diplomate, American Board of Phlebology

 

Spring 2009 Update

 

President’s Summer 2009 Message to Members

During my inaugural as President of the ACP in Marco Island last November, I promised to work very hard to continue the work initiated by Past Presidents Robert Min and Steve Zimmet, to implement programs identified by membership surveys and funded by the ACP Foundation, and to develop new projects of importance to you. The foundation has stepped up repeatedly to fund programs. I can tell you that ACP committee members, chairs, Board members, and staff have all expended maximal effort to give members what they want and make membership in the ACP worth the time, effort, and financial commitment. In every organization there is a dedicated core that do the majority of the work, but everyone can add to this effort in less time-consuming ways by participating in one of the committees, supporting the ACP by attending annual congress and advanced courses, or even merely renewing membership so the money is there to carry on these projects and be sure that your ROI is what you expect.

The ACP staff and leadership are working to communicate with membership about ongoing projects without overburdening members with too much electronic information. Some of these projects are listed in the Table.

 

ACP initiatives under development or completed

Full partnership of sonographers and nurses in ACP.

Development of an Advanced Practice Nurses & Physician Assistants Section.

Development of phlebology ultrasound credential.

Task Force to battle insurers’ efforts to limit patient access to venous care.

Current ABPh-certified physicians – 412.

Position on the international stage of Phlebology: One of the very few Board certification examinations in Phlebology in the world

ACP Board of Director positions are more reflective of diversity of membership

Leadership training: Engage, educate, and use talents of potential leaders among individual members

Develop/Implement huge public awareness campaign regarding venous disease – roll out 1st quarter 2010

Since the 2008 Annual Congress, support for the ACP Foundation continues to grow with over $50,000 raised in new member commitments, $150,000 in new corporate contributions, and over $100,000 raised in special events through our Silent Auction and Golf Outing efforts.  To date, the ACP Foundation has secured over $5.5 million to advance the specialty from over thirty (30) corporate sources and the collective support of 175 personally invested medical professionals.

Advanced Sclerotherapy Course

Board Certification Review Course

Hemodynamics Conference

Aesthetics Course – Annual Congress

 

One of the very most important goals identified by member surveys has been recognition of the field of Phlebology. To that end the AMA does now indeed officially recognize this field as one with which members can identify themselves. Further, one of the most important things the AMA can do for the ACP is advocate with government and insurance entities for adequate reimbursement for the care we provide patients with venous disease. In order to “have a seat” at that negotiation table, a seat in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) will allow the ACP access to the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) of the AMA which is responsible for reimbursement policy. I am pleased to tell you that the ACP has been approached by the AMA to make early application for a seat on the HOD to be eligible this fall. Charles Rogers, our newly appointed representative to the AMA is committed to being a strong voice for us at the AMA so that we have a powerful partner in our battles with insurers and, increasingly government, as advocates on behalf of our patients.

I promised to hold ACP leaders accountable to the membership to be sure we achieve the goals identified by you. I do believe we are headed in that direction, but we need you to continue your time and financial commitment to the ACP by renewing membership and bringing in new members. All of these projects cost money, and even in these tough financial times, the important things still need to be funded. In working through this year’s budget, the ACP staff has already had to postpone some projects we expected to fund this year because of insufficient working capital. While we have placed a tremendously increased workload on the ACP staff, we have not added new staff, so I can assure you that the ACP staff is functioning with great efficiency. While dues have not been increased in 4 years, a modest increase in dues is being considered. The major source for working capital within the ACP is the revenue from dues, so if you want the ACP to continue to work on your behalf, and more importantly if you think your dues investment is being used wisely to advance your goals, please step up and renew your membership and recruit a new member or two.

WINTER 2010 Message

As the first year of my term as President comes to a close, it is worth reflecting upon all of the work that has been accomplished by volunteer members of the ACP.

I believe you will be as impressed as I am at the number and diversity of our members actively working to advance the mission of the ACP.

Listed below are these accomplishments, with the responsible committee or entity:

• In-the-Vein – A Monthly New Update compiled by the ACP HQ Communications Department

  New Member Benefit:

 

• Patient Treatment Pads

  New Member Benefit:

Public Education Advisory Committee
Melvin Rosenblatt (C) Norman Chideckel Boyd Erdman Ted King	Michael Krusch Sanjoy Kundu Robert Reese

• 2009 Phlebology Review Course – Dallas

Program Chair	Neil Khilnani
Faculty
Nancy Cantelmo Stephanie Dentoni Mark Isaacs	Sanjeeva Kalva Sanjoy Kundu Kenneth (Trip) Todd, III

• Venous Hemodynamics Course Parts I and II – Scottsdale

Program Chair	Nick Morrison
Program Co-Leaders
Massimo Cappelli Claude Franceschi	Fausto Passariello Paolo Zamboni

• Advanced Sclerotherapy Course – Las Vegas

Program Chair	Marlin Schul
Faculty
Thomas Eaton Jean-Jerome Guex Lowell Kabnick	Ted King John Mauriello Mark Meissner

• Annual Congress (New Sessions) – Palm Desert, California

Program Chair	Lowell Kabnick
Program Committee
Catherine Burdge Kathleen Gibson Sanford Greenberg Ted King John Mauriello	Melvin Rosenblatt Marlin Schul Julianne Stoughton Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Interactive debates
• Oral poster presentations
• New symposia
  • Procedural Complications
  • Adding Cosmetic Procedures to Your Practice
  • International Symposium (Pauline Raymond-Martimbeau)
  • Venous Hemodynamics Symposium (Nick Morrison)

• ACP Symposium at UIP World Congress – Monaco

Program Chair	Nick Morrison
Faculty
John Bergan Lowell Kabnick John Mauriello Terri Morrison Diana Neuhardt	Pauline Raymond-Martimbeau Melvin Rosenblatt Steven Zimmet Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Standardized Phlebology Codes

Coding & Reimbursement Advisory Committee
Peter Benson (C) Gary Cunningham Kimberly Dickerson Kenneth Harper James Heinz	Bruce Hoyle Ronald Kolgraff Michael Krusch Frederick Schuler Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Joint project between the SVU, GE Healthcare, and the ACP to produce ultrasound educational DVD’s

Ultrasonography Section	Distance Learning Task Force
Diana Neuhardt (C) Tracie Dauplaise Paula Heggerick Barbara Pohle-Schulze Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.	Richard Vazquez (C) Jeanette Ashby Lawrence Mueller Diana Neuhardt Saundra Spruiell William Torres

• Development of an ACP Phlebology Preceptorship Program

Preceptorship Advisory Committee
Steven Elias (C) Maria Atkins Kenneth Harper Phillip Hertzman	Normand Miller Primepares Pal J. Gordon Wright

• Creation of a new Section for Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants

Advanced Practice Nurse & Physician Assistant Section
Elizabeth Coll (C) Karin Augur Joyce Jackson Tom Tran

• New Web Pages for each Special Interest Section

ACP HQ Membership Department

• Member Photos Added to Website

ACP HQ Membership Department

• CORE CURRICULUM FOR PHLEBOLOGY NURSES MANUAL

Core Curriculum Co-Chairs	Barbara Deusterman Terri Morrison
Contributing Authors
Andrea Brennan Catherine Burdge Elizabeth Coll Barbara Deusterman Elizabeth Hall Terri Harper Marresa Houle Christine McGreevy	Kathy Melfy Janice Moreno Terri Morrison Sharon Olbert Jacqueline Pal Mary Sieggreen Michelle Vecchione

• Resident Training Scholarship Program – 40+ attending the Congress this year

Recruitment & Retention Advisory Committee
Marlin Schul (C) Stephanie Dentoni Kenneth Harper Diana Neuhardt	Melvin Rosenblatt Michael Traurig Satish Vayuvegula

• ACCME Accredited Provider Application Process – Spring/Summer of 2010

CME Advisory Committee	CME Outcomes Task Force
Neil Khilnani (C) Harry Agis Steven Elias Gregory Hamon N. Scott Howell Eric Mowatt-Larsen Diana Neuhardt Lisa Pavone Melvin Rosenblatt	J. Gordon Wright (C) Nickolas Collucci Samuel Coor Richard Vazquez

• High Definition Video Editing of existing footage for on-line educational programs

Distance Learning Task Force
Richard Vazquez (C) Jeanette Ashby Lawrence Mueller	Diana Neuhardt Saundra Spruiell William Torres

• Development of a consensus document on Foam Sclerotherapy

Project Chair	Suman Rathbun
Research Programs Advisory Committee
Raghu Kolluri (C) Sandra Dickerson Clint Hayes Robert Kiser	Primepares Pal Neil Sadick Carolyn Semrow

• Education grants for Insurance Medical Directors to attend the Congress

Coding & Reimbursement Advisory Committee
Peter Benson (C) Gary Cunningham Kimberly Dickerson Kenneth Harper James Heinz	Bruce Hoyle Ronald Kolgraff Michael Krusch Frederick Schuler Joseph Zygmunt, Jr

• Research Grants Programs

Research Programs Advisory Committee
Raghu Kolluri (C) Sandra Dickerson Clint Hayes Robert Kiser	Primepares Pal Neil Sadick Carolyn Semrow

• Research Trainee:
  Dr. Jovan Markovic (Topic: Genomics of Primary and Chronic Insufficiency)
• Jobst Award:
  Todd Berland, MD (Topic: Compression Stockings vs. No Compression Stockings After Endovenous Ablation of the Greater Saphenous Vein)
• de Groot Travel Scholarship Awards:
  Katelijne Derveaux, Belgium; Markiyan Soloviy, Ukraine; Charles Tejedor, France

Awards Advisory Committee
Ted King (C) Mark Isaacs Julianne Stoughton

• New Public Awareness Campaign

Public Awareness Task Force
Diana Neuhardt (C) Anabel Castro Angela Diamond Scott Howell Raffy Karamanoukian	J. Michael Leary Terri Morrison Lisa Pavone Azita Reger Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Phlebology Sonography Credential

Ultrasonography Section
Diana Neuhardt (C) Tracie Dauplaise Paula Heggerick	Barbara Pohle-Schulze Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Blue Cross / Blue Shield Task Force to address Massachusetts Ablation Reimbursement Policy and Insurance Denials in general

BC/BS Task Force
Julianne Stoughton (C) Diana Neuhardt (C) Armen Roupenian (C) Steven Elias Lowell Kabnick John Mauriello	Robert Min Nick Morrison Neil Sadick Marlin Schul Robert Weiss Joseph Zygmunt, Jr.

• Expansion of the ACP Board to include non-physicians

ACP Board

• Inclusion of Non-Physicians as voting members

ACP Board

• 2013 World UIP Congress in Boston, MA

ACP Board

UIP 2013 Task Force
Nick Morrison (C) Jean-Jerome Guex Lowell Kabnick John Mauriello	Melvin Rosenblatt Armen Roupenian Neil Sadick Julianne Stoughton

• Election to UIP Council as Vice President - Nick Morrison
   
• AMA HOD seat effective June 2010

ACP Board

AMA HOD Task Force
Saundra Spruiell (C) Stephen Daugherty Helane Fronek Jean-Jerome Guex	Charles Rogers Armen Roupenian Marlin Schul

• Specialty Recognition by state medical societies

Specialty Recognition Task Force
Saundra Spruiell (C) Boyd Erdman Lindy McHutchison	Richard Owens E.J. Sanchez Marcus Stanbro

• ABMS recognition of Phlebology Board Certification

American Board of Phlebology: Steven Zimmet, President

The 23rd Annual Congress in Palm Desert was greatly successful. There were 1267 attendees, down just slightly from last year, which speaks well for the viability of the ACP in this economy. Among the attendees were 50 physicians from around the world who were awarded scholarships to attend the meeting, funded by the ACP Foundation (Steven Zimmet, ACPF Immediate Past Chairman; Mark Forrestal, ACPF Chairman).

The Keynote Address, The Evolution and Critical Evaluation of Less Invasive Treatments for Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Implications for Future Technological Development, by the renowned Dr. Tom O’Donnell of Boston was enthusiastically received. Professor Ken Meyers of Australia, who for many years has contributed greatly to the scientific reporting on venous disease, was given the ACP Honorary Member Award.

The ACP Board of Directors thanked Trip Todd for his service in the ACP and on the ACP Board, and wished him well in his work on a new humanitarian foundation. The Board also welcomed Mark Isaacs of Walnut Creek, CA, long-time ACP member and active contributor, as a new member of the Board.

The 23rd Annual Congress Scientific Abstract Awards were as follows:

PLATINUM ABSTRACT AWARD
Diana Neuhardt, RVT and Nick Morrison, MD, FACS, FACPh (Arizona, USA)
Comparison of Transcranial Doppler Hits Detection During C02-02 vs. Air-Based Foam Sclerotherapy of Superficial Veins of the Lower Extremity

GOLD ABSTRACT AWARD
Sylvain Chastanet, MD (France)
Hemodynamic and Anatomic Modifications on a Refluxing Great Saphenous Vein After Isolated Phlebectomy: A Prospective Study

BRONZE ABSTRACT AWARD
Felizitas Pannier, MD (Germany)
Incidence of Chronic Venous Insufficiency in Germany-Results from Bonn Vein Study II

The 23rd Annual Poster Awards were as follows:

1ST PLACE POSTER ABSTRACT AWARD
David Wright, MD (UK)
Polidocanol Microfoam Does Not Cause Remote Sclerosis in the Lung

2ND PLACE POSTER ABSTRACT AWARD
Marresa Houle, BS, RVT (Arizona, USA)
Differences in Saphenous Vein Reflux Detection According to Patient Positioning

3RD PLACE POSTER ABSTRACT AWARD
Elizabeth Pocock, MD (California, USA)
Collective Experience in the United States with Foam Sclerotherapy

So I think you will agree that 2009 was an incredibly productive year for the ACP. I want to personally thank the many volunteer members who made such remarkable progress possible. I would also like to thank the entire ACP HQ staff responsible for allocating the limited resources of the ACP and implementing all of our ideas. Without them, we would be just another floundering medical society instead of one of the most dynamic and productive phlebologic societies in the world. My multiple hats are off to Bruce Sanders, Dana DePonzi, and the entire staff for all of the hard work. (Oh, and BTW, more work to come!)