As your 2020 Pacific Northwest Vascular Society President I look back over the years as a resident presenter, member then Secretary Treasurer, and see the changes in our group. I am pleased to report that we are facing the future strong. With a diverse council in our corner we are set to bring forward future programs that are of value to the membership in both academic, technical and ethical balance.

For over three decades, the Pacific Northwest Vascular Society has focused on the mission laid out by the founders: To contribute to the understanding of vascular diseases by promoting the professional development of specialists in vascular disease. To maintain high standards in caring for the patient with vascular disease by providing a forum for the presentation of scientific information and the proposal of theories concerning vascular diseases.

PNWVS leadership at the council meeting decided to task you with the development of the future of vascular surgery that starts right in your office. Join us in taking steps to double the medical student attendance with more student stipends and programs. If you are working independent from academia, please bring one of your partners and help me grow our important aspect of the membership. If you are in academia, I am encouraging you to take the lead in your institution to mentor students to attend and use the meeting to enrich the dialogue towards vascular surgery as a specialty in US and Canada.

Please mark your calendars for the 2020 Pacific Northwest Vascular Society timeline. Abstracts open May 30 and close July 1 with the successful abstracts contacted on July 15. Our meeting is being held this year in Portland, OR at the Benson, October 29-30, 2020. It feels great to come back to Portland where I did my training in vascular to share with others the who, what and how of making this great decision.

The meeting kicks off Thursday, October 29, 2020 with our annual ePoster session. PNWVS was the first surgical society to use the digital poster kiosks in the Northwest and this has remained a technological highlight of the meeting. Immediately following will be the Welcome Reception with a chance to network with peers and industry partners. In the vascular surgery tradition of embracing technological advances, we will host a session with leading companies showcasing their products. On Friday, October 30, we will have a full day of dynamic scientific sessions featuring presentations of original research, interesting cases, debates, and expert panel presentations. If you have suggestions for the program features, please contact Dr. Matthew Sweet, Program Chairman. Local Arrangements Chairperson Dr. Amani Politano is working hard on coming up with a unique to Portland networking program. One thing will be sure… there will be voodoo donuts!