Vascular Techs + Vascular Surgeons/Interventionalists + Vascular Exhibition + Food & Drink = The perfect way to wind down after day 1 of the Annual Conference.

So last night after the first day of the 2010 SVU Annual Conference we all came together in the Exhibit hall for a little time to unwind and catch up with friends and colleagues!

The theme for the reception was the Tastes of Boston, and there was lots of great food and drink!  I visited with many exhibit representatives, caught up on the past year's happenings and new equipment, and caught up with past OIT classmates and vascular tech/physician friends from across the country.  I had fun visits with Jon Peters from Parks, Kyra Gray and Jesse Salom from Hokanson, Marge Hutchisson from ICAVL, Frankie Hamme at the SVU booth, Dr. Zwolak from Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and a bunch of other great people.  It was a wonderful time!

There was a violin duo wandering through the hall serenading us which was nice...until I became aware that they were constantly next to me.  I think they were stalking me...it was strange and a bit annoying after a while.  I spent the reception time fairly distracted, trying to keep moving so the duo wouldn't catch up to me.  Maybe it was all in my head.  Berkely College of Music is right outside the Hynes Convention Center...so at least the musicians were top-notch!!

There's never enough time to visit with people...I could have been there all night!

Kari

How did you get your poster to the SVU Annual Conference?

1.  In a poster tube. 

2.  Carried on to the plane, bus, subway, sidewalk...it can be a valuable tool for crowd-control.  Don't check it with the luggage...that's a disaster waiting to happen!

This year's poster session was a phenomenal showing of the past year's worth of diligent, exceptional work.  There are 25 posters in all, filling the room with colorful intelligent conversation pieces.  There are simply too many posters this year to post a picture of each, but here are some snapshots from the session:

Congratulations to all of this year's poster presenters -- Solid work!!

We're off to a great start!

Greetings from the Hynes Convention Center in Boston Massachusetts!  The 2010 SVU Annual Conference has officially begun! 

Wednesday: 

-  Pre-conference sessions "Strategies for a Profitable Vascular Lab" course, "ICAVL Accreditation Workshop", "Updates in Diagnostic Criteria: Vascular Interpretation", and the SVU Board of Directors Meeting were all hugely successful!

-  We had a wonderful time seeing old friends-- and making new ones-- at the SVU Member Meet and Greet Reception!

-   I personally had some of the very best sushi of my life last night with great friends that I haven't seen in way too long!  I haven't laughed that hard in years...my stomach aches today from it! 

Thursday:

-  Concurrent early morning tutorials:  "IMT Imaging", "Arterial Physiologic Testing", "Mapping for AVF" and "Imaging Calf Veins" were fabulous!  (To be honest, I could only be in one place at a time, so didn't personally experience each of these tutorials...but I gotta say, people looked really pleased as they spilled out of the room!)

- Poster Session begins today!!  If you are here at the conference, be sure to find your way to the room where the posters are displayed.  Not just because mine is there...there are 25 incredible works of science, and today at 10:00am (yikes...that's just 15 minutes from now!) the authors will be on hand to talk with you about them.  SVU's general session room is on the 3rd floor, rooms 304/306.  Continue down the corridor past the general session room to 309 and say "hello"!

- The opening general session was a huge success!  I am typing this as Dr. Joe Polak is finishing up his talk "Dealing with the funny waveform"...Fantastic!  The audience was also treated to lectures from experts Frank Miele, Terry Case and Bob Scissons.  Wow.  That's quite a few great minds in one room!  (And if you've been following this blog, you'll know that I am ready for my next student now!)

Other items:

-  I'm from Seattle, and if you know me, you'll know that it's rare for me to complain about rainy weather.  I kind of like the rain...that's what they make gear for.  I'm a total gear gal.  However, if I didn't know better I'd think I was home.  What is with this rain!?  Boston is a gorgeous city despite the drizzle...I'm just sayin' that the weather people lied.  I was pretty spoiled earlier in the week with gorgeous sunshine, but that was before the Annual Conference.  Keep your fingers crossed for great weather on Friday evening...I've got tickets to the Sox game with my buddies!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Okay folks, got to run, but stay tuned for another update soon!
Kari

TIP OF THE DAY for SVU Annual Conference Attendees!!

Do travel expenses for this year's SVU Annual Conference in Boston have you strapped for cash??

There is a huge, gorgeous grocery/supermarket adjacent to the Prudential/Copley mall just one block from the Westin Copley Place, SVU's official hotel!! 

There is also a Trader Joe's just across from Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street!!  I don't know about you, but T-Joes is my absolute fave.  Organic groceries and prepared foods...Awesome.

Pick up food staples, items you forgot at home and other goodies--and save yourself a little money. 

Have a great time in Boston and enjoy this incredible weather!!
Kari

The early bird gets the varicose vein (err- worm, metaphorically speaking)

Have you thought about attending an Early Morning Tutorial at the SVU Annual Conference this year?  It's not too late to sign up for one!  Don't let the words "Early Morning" scare you off...you'd get the freshest coffee!  I'm from Seattle, so I ought to know that coffee is not so good after it's been sitting around for a while.  These sessions are an exceptional way to earn extra credits with intensive instruction in specific areas, with the bonus of one-on-one interaction with the expert giving the lecture!! 

Just look at all of these options:

Sessions at 7:00am - 8:15am  Each Day


Thursday, June 10th
Concurrent Tutorials

(Separate registration and fee of $10 per tutorial required. Continental Breakfast provided for tutorial attendees)

■Tutorial #1: IMT Imaging
-- Douglas Jacoby, MD
** Sponsored by GE Healthcare **

■Tutorial #2: Arterial Physiologic Testing
-- Marsha Neumyer, BS RVT FSVU
** Sponsored by Unetixs Vascular, Inc. **

■Tutorial #3: Mapping for AVF
-- Joanne Drago, LPN RVT FSVU
-- Ann Inskeep, RVT
** Sponsored by Siemens Healthcare **

■Tutorial 4: Imaging Calf Veins
-- Steven Talbot, RVT FSVU
** Sponsored by Biosound Esaote, Inc. **

Friday, June 11th

Technical Showcase

Moderators: Judy Fried and Jeanette Flannery
** Sponsored by Biomedix, Biosound, CareFusion, GE Healthcare, Hokanson, Parks Medical Electronics, Philips Healthcare and Unetixs. **

Saturday, June 12th
Concurrent Tutorials

(Separate registration and fee of $10 per tutorial required and Continental Breakfast provided for tutorial attendees)


■Tutorial 5: Ergonomic Considerations in Vascular Ultrasound: Findings and Recommendations
-- Elizabeth Tucker O'Day, MD
** Sponsored by Sound Ergonomics **

■Tutorial 6: Vascular 911
-- Patrick Washko, BS RVT RDMS RT
** Sponsored by GE Healthcare **

■Tutorial 7: Visceral Vascular Assessment: Mesenteric and Portal Duplex Imaging
-- Anne Musson, BS RVT, and Jack I. Siegel, BA RVT
** Sponsored by Navix Diagnostix **

■Tutorial 8: TCD: Embolic Detection
-- Ajay Zachariah, BS RVT RDMS RDCS
** Sponsored by CareFusion **
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
GO.  You will be so glad I guilted-you-to-set-your-alarm-early to attend these.  I promise!!

Greetings from Boston!!

I am writing this blog from the inner courtyard of the Boston Public Library at Copley Square.  It has been a gorgeous day, with lots of sunshine, temperatures in the 70s and low humidity...Ahhhh.  What a perfect day to sit outside next to a fountain, garden and sculptures. 

I am not quite so much of an over-achiever to be here days early just for SVU Annual Conference.  Although SVU is worth that extra effort.  And so is Boston, for that matter.  I had some personal items to attend to, so have been hard at work-- with a little bit of relaxation.  Yesterday I went to my favorite museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum...amazing as always.  I am keeping my eye out for the Boston folks...Paula Walsh our fearless Annual Conference chair...Dr. Jaff, Dr. Polak...Kathleen Hannon and the folks at MGH...but then I remember, they are probably working (sorry guys...didn't mean to rub it in!).

So are YOU ready for the meeting?  Dry cleaning retrieved, bags packed, all of those ridiculous 3oz. bottles stored neatly away in your 1 quart ziplock bag?  Slides ready for presentation?  Poster printed?  Don't forget pins!!  Walking shoes?  Thinking cap? 

I've been looking through the schedule and realized I missed a whole plethora of SVU Annual Conference sections to brag on!!  So here are some more:

Friday June 11th, 8:45am -10:15am
--What an amazing session!!

GENERAL SESSION: Scientific Session

Moderator: Mark D. Iafrati, MD RVT

■Differences in Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness May be Linked to Advanced Imaging Presets
-- Jean Alessi-Chinetti, BA RVT RDMS

■Timeliness in Notification of Critical Vascular Laboratory Test Results is Part of Quality Assurance
-- Dennis Kiser, BS RVT

■The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Against Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid
-- George S. Lavenson, MD FACS RVT

■Possible Association Between Scan Quality and Pain During Ultrasound Scanning: Results from the SVU 2009 Survey on Ergonomics
-- Joseph F. Polak, MD MPH

■Ankle Brachial Index Assessment: Does It Matter How Arm Pressures Are Measured?
-- John Matsuura, MD

■Does Distal Venous Hypertension Affect Lower Extremity Venous Pulsatility?
-- William B. Schroedter, BA RVT FSVU

■Traditional Peripheral Arterial Doppler Waveform Descriptors: Are They Still Worth Teaching?
-- Robert P. Scissons, RVT FSVU

■Twins Lead to the Prevention of Artherosclerosis: Findings of Internation Twin Study 2009
-- Adam Tarnoki, MD

Friday June 11th, 10:45am -12:15pm
--Very interesting topics!!

Case Study Presentations

Moderator: Ann Marie Kupinski, PhD RVT FSVU
■Bilateral Subclavin Steal Syndrome & Heart Failure
-- Reza Amini, MD

■Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm
-- Kathryn Ayoub, RVT

■Profound Calf Muscle Dysfunction Following Hip Dislocation Monitored by Air Plethysmography
-- Nichole K. Baker, RVT

■Isolated Dissection of the Superior Mesenteric Artery With Associated Median Arcuate Ligament
-- Travis J. Bille

■Duplex Diagnosis of Muscular Entrapment of Lower Extremity Bypass Graft Complicated by Severe Aneurysmal Disease
-- Amber L. Clay, RVT FDCS

■Schwannoma of the Posterior Tibial Nerve: An Unusual Finding During Arterial Ultrasound Examination
-- Miguel O. Maia, MD RVT

■Anomalous Vascular Blood Flow in the Presence of Right-Sided Aortic Arch
-- Carol Miranda, RVT RDMS RDCS FSVU

■Successful Thrombin Repair of Giant Pseudoaneurysms Without Compressive Neuropathy: A Report of Two Cases
-- Joddi M. Neff, MD

■Application of Duplex Ultrasonography in the Mid-Aortic Syndrome
-- Stephanie R. Wilson, BS RDMS RVT

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wow...all of that information in just one morning! 
Seriously, 17 top-notch lectures in the time it would take to do:
-- 2 bilateral varicose vein studies...
-- or 3 difficult renal exams...
-- or 3 bilateral upper and lower extremity venous exams in the ICU...

Solid work SVU!!  (Thanks for getting me out of all that work for a day!!)

And now, a shameless plug for my own presentation at the SVU Annual Conference:

Koffee and Kases with Patrick and Kari

There is no one better than Pat Washko at putting fun into a powerpoint presentation that's teeming with vascular disease.  This picture is proof he's got a fantastically unique sense of humor!  (The prom picture was Pat's idea, but I have to admit, it's pretty funny!)  And people: This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The population in the General Session room for the last session of the last day is notoriously sparse.  I'm not judging...I'm just sayin'.  That's why we're "bringing it" at 3:30pm on Saturday June 12th.

If you think you've seen it all, think again!  If you anticipate snoring through another worn-out case study session, guess again!

We will send you out into the world from this year's 2010 Annual Conference a little smarter--and with a heckuva lotta laughs.  (Oh...and did I mention the FREE GIVAWAYS for a few lucky audience members??  No, I'd better not...Pat and I don't want to seem desperate.)