2007 SVU Awards Presented at 30th SVU Anniversary Annual Conference in Baltimore

LANHAM, MD, June 15, 2007 -- The Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU) presented the following awards at the 30th Anniversary SVU Annual Conference during the 2007 Vascular Annual Meeting, June 7-9, 2007 in Baltimore, MD.

SCIENTIFIC AWARDS

The Alex Chao, MD, Young Investigator's Award for excellence in a scientific research paper in vascular technology was presented to Andrew D. Dueck, MD, of Toronto, Canada, for his scientific paper on "Fishing for BASS: Surveying Primary Physicians in the Barriers to Aortic Screening Study." First presented in 2004, this SVU award is named in honor of Dr. Alex Chao, a vascular surgeon who died suddenly in 2003 at the age of 37 of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) acquired from a patient he had treated in Singapore. The Dr. Alex Chao Award was sponsored for a fourth year by Philips Medical Systems in Bothell, WA.

The D.E. Strandness, MD, Scientific Award for the outstanding oral presentation of scientific research in vascular technology was presented to Sheila Byrd-Raynor, PhD RVT, of London, United Kingdom, for her scientific paper on "The Relationship between Velocity and Cerebral Resistance during Vasomotor Reactivity Testing." Parks Medical Electronics, Aloha, OR, sponsored the 2007 D.E. Strandness, MD Scientific Award for excellence in research for a third year. This award was established in 1987 in honor of Dr. D.E. Strandness, the acknowledged "Father of Noninvasive Diagnosis," who died in January 2002.

Kathryn Busch, DIP APP SC, of Camperdown, Australia, received the Excellence in Oral Clinical Presentation Award for her presentation on “Ultrasound Detection of Intermittent and Position Dependent Endoleaks: Evidence for a Novel Mechanism”. Navix Diagnostix, Inc. sponsored this award.

Kristin Hansen, BS RDCS, of Phoenix, AZ, received the 2007 Member First-Time Presenters Award for her presentation on “Transthoracic Endocardiogram and Transcrannial Doppler Detection of Emboli Following Foam Sclerotherapy of Leg Veins”. Red River Valley Vascular Society (RRVVS) sponsored this award.

Douglas L. Wooster, MD, of Toronto, Canada, received the 2007 Physician Presenters Award for his presentation on “Use of a Structured Interpretation Report Audit in Vascular Ultrasound Quality Initiatives”. Surgisys, LLC sponsored this award.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

A 2007 SVU Honorary Membership was given to Frank D. Stoneburner, MD, of Virginia Surgical Associates, Richmond, VA, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in supporting SVU and its efforts in promoting noninvasive vascular technology.

POSTER AWARDS

There were three SVU poster awards given in Baltimore.

The 2007 Excellence in Case Study Poster Presentation Award was given to Janine Oliveri, Dallas, PA, for her case study poster titled "Unusual Representation of a Common Iliac Artery Double Aneurysm." Suncoast Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SSVU) sponsored this poster award.

The 2007 Best Student Poster Presentation Award was given to Jenavi A. Iida, Kahului, HI, for her case study poster titled "Spontaneous Regression of a Type I Endoleak: Documented with Duplex Ultrasound." American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) sponsored this poster award.

The 2007 Award for Excellence in a Scientific Poster Presentation was given to Lilja Asgeirsdettir, Kopavogur, Iceland, for her case study poster titled "A Comparison of IMT Measurements Between Acuson Sequoia and GE Vivid 7 US Systems." Vascular-Web.com sponsored this poster award.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

William W. Harkrider, MD RVT FSVU, New Iberia, LA, received a Distinguished Service Award for his dedicated and loyal service on the SVU Board of Directors for six years as the first elected Physician Director. The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1987 and recognizes meritorious service by any SVU member.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Jean F. Primozich, BS RVT FSVU, Seattle, WA, received a Professional Achievement Award in recognition of her lifetime of contributions in vascular technology research and education at the University of Washington for 30 years, and for her outstanding work as a vascular ultrasound author, lecturer and panelist. Zonare Medical Systems sponsored this award.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

The SVU Certificate of Appreciation is bestowed upon individuals or groups in recognition of creative endeavor or outstanding achievement in promoting noninvasive vascular technology.

A 2007 Certificate of Appreciation was given to Gail Size, BS RVT RVS FSVU, of Inside Ultrasound and the vascular-web.com website, Pearce, AZ, for her dedicated efforts to assist vascular labs to become accredited, and to provide and assist vascular technologists in accessing educational resources and obtaining CMEs through courses, books, meetings and online chats on the www.vascular-web.com website.

FIVE NEW SVU FELLOWS ANNOUNCED AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Fellows Subcommittee Chair Michel Comeaux, RN BSN RVT RDMS FSVU, announced the selection of three new SVU Fellows for 2007. Fellows are SVU members recognized for their many outstanding contributions to the Society as well as to the vascular ultrasound profession. They are considered a unique resource for the Society in terms on promoting the benefits of SVU membership to others in the vascular ultrasound profession, and in supporting the many other efforts of the Society.

New 2007 SVU Fellows are:

• Terrence D. Case, Med RVT FSVU
  Assistant Professor and Program Director, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Joanne E. Drago, LPN RVT FSVU
  Chief Vascular Technologist, Michigan Vascular Center, Flint, MI
• William W. Harkrider, MD RVT FSVU
  Medical Director, Noninvasive Vascular Lab, Inc., New Iberia, LA
• Courtney Nelms, BS RVT RDMS FSVU
  Senior Technologist, Vascular and Transplant Specialists, Virginia Beach, VA
• Melissa A. Vickery, LPN-B RVT FSVU
  Technical Director/Manager, Virginia Surgical Associates, PC, Richmond, VA

CHAPTER AWARDS

The 2007 SVU Outstanding SVU Affiliated Chapter Individual Recognition Award was presented to Jeanette R. Flannery, RVT RDMS, from Union, NJ, in recognition of her outstanding work as President of the North Jersey Vascular Association Chapter.

There was a three way tie for the 2007 Outstanding SVU Affiliated Chapter Recognition Award. The following chapters received recognition of their membership growth and for their continued support of SVU's membership efforts:

• North Jersey Vascular Association (NJVA) — Accepting for the NJVA was Chapter President Jeanette Flannery, RVT RDMS.
• Northeastern Pennsylvania Vascular Chapter (NEPVC) — Accepting for the NEPVC was Nancy L. Rist, RN RVT, Chapter President.
• Red River Valley Vascular Society (RRVVS) — Accepting for the RRVVS was Judy A. Fried, RN RVT CVN FSVU, Chapter President.

SVU looks forward with great anticipation to next year's Annual Conference on June 5-7, 2008 in San Diego, CA. For more information on SVU and its educational meetings, see www.svunet.org.