SVM joins newly formed coalition focused on DVT and pulmonary embolism awareness
The Society for Vascular Medicine believes in the "economies of scale" and "strength in numbers" of the Venous Disease Coalition
September 18, 2007--The Society for Vascular Medicine announced today that they have joined the newly formed Venous Disease Coalition (VDC). The VDC is a collaborative network of professional and public nonprofit organizations sharing the mission and vision to increase public and health professional awareness of venous disease, including DVT, pulmonary embolism (known collectively as venous thromboembolism or VTE).
The VDC and its member organizations, including SVM, will conduct its inaugural media briefing to discuss the dangers, risk factors, warning signs, and treatment options for VTE at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on September 18, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. Joining them and speaking at the event to help raise awareness about the need for more education and research to prevent and treat VTE will be, Susan Shurin, MD, Deputy Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Congressman, Ed Perlmutter (D), Colorado's 7th Congressional District, Massachusetts State Representative, Michael F. Rush (R), and Michael J. Hefron, DVT/PE Survivor.
VTE is the 3rd most common vascular disease after heart disease and stroke. It is a potentially life-threatening, but treatable and largely preventable disorder that includes two related conditions:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - Abnormal clotting of the blood in one or more veins, most commonly the veins of the leg; and
- Pulmonary embolism (PE) - Occurs when a DVT breaks free from its original site in a vein and then travels through the heart and then into the lungs.
This important media event will unite vascular healthcare professionals from North America to launch the Coalition. The briefing will include some of the nation's top physicians and nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing public and health professional awareness of VTE.
The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) has taken the lead in creating this unique coalition in partnership of 19 major national public health organizations and professional vascular societies. In addition to VDF, participating organizations include the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Phlebology, American Society of Hematology, American Thrombosis Hemostasis Network, American Venous Forum, Anticoagulation Forum, Hemophilia & Thrombosis Research Society, National Alliance of Thrombosis and Thrombophilia , North American Thrombosis Forum, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Society of Critical Care Medicine , Society of Interventional Radiology, Society for Vascular Medicine, Society for Vascular Nursing , Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society of Vascular Ultrasound.
About the Venous Disease Coalition
The Venous Disease Coalition (VDC) is an alliance of leading health professional societies and patient advocacy groups that have united around a common goal: to improve the survival rates and quality of life for individuals with, or at risk for, venous disease. The VDC plans to develop a national campaign to educate the U.S. public and health care professionals about venous disease. For more information, call 888.VDF.4INFO (888-833-4463) or visit our Web site, www.VenousDiseaseCoalition.org
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