National Meetings

PAD COALITION ANNUAL MEETING It was an exciting first annual meeting for the PAD Coalition! Thirty-eight organizations met to organize a plan so that millions of Americans will know about peripheral arterial disease (PAD), will learn what it is, and will seek diagnosis and treatment. The Coalition hopes that its efforts will lead to longer and healthier lives for millions of Americans through a major national campaign to increase awareness about PAD. This first meeting was held in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 11, 2005. Member organizations discussed strategies and plans for the professional and public awareness campaign as well as other upcoming activities. The highlight of the meeting was reviewing concepts and strategies for the campaign that are being developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The NHLBI will provide approximately two million dollars to develop and launch this national PAD awareness campaign, which is scheduled for national release in the fall of 2006.

At the meeting, officers and steering committee members were elected. Congratulations to the new leaders: Alan T. Hirsch, MD – chairman; Marge Lovell, RN, CCRC, CVN, BEd – vice-chairman; Joseph Caporusso, DPM – secretary; Michael R. Jaff, DO – treasurer. The new steering committee members include Peter Gloviczki, MD, Emile Mohler, MD, Timothy Murphy, MD, Gregory O. von Mering, MD, and Harvey Wiener, DO. Additionally, Gwen Twillman was announced as the Coalition's first executive director. After conducting a successful membership drive in August, the Coalition has grown from the 15 founding member organizations to a total of 42 member organizations, with more to come. The enthusiasm of the member organizations makes the PAD Coalition a truly collaborative effort that will bring greater awareness of PAD to both the general public and the health care community. The PAD Coalition Web site can be found by visiting www.padcoalition.org. The Web site will continue to be developed and plans are in the works to include a clearinghouse of PAD educational materials, a risk assessment tool, and more. Stay tuned to VDF and Keeping in Circulation as the campaign unfolds and the member organizations create and disseminate additional PAD information.

NATIONAL CORPORATE ADVISORY BOARD MEETS IN CHICAGO
The annual meeting of VDF's National Corporate Advisory Board was held in Chicago on November 3, 2005. The National Corporate Advisory Board is made up of respected business leaders from across the country. The Advisory Board members assist VDF in fulfilling its mission of reducing death and disability from vascular diseases through discussion of vascular health initiatives and strategies for increasing awareness about the devastating effects of vascular disease.

VDF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET
On November 4, the VDF Board of Directors held its bi-annual meeting. Agenda items included a review of the organization's bylaws and strategic plan as well as budgets and plans for 2006. VDF is fortunate to have a Board of Directors that includes vascular specialists from a variety of disciplines, all of whom volunteer their expertise and time to help VDF. Our Directors' leadership, their dedication to VDF's mission, and their considerable expertise keep the organization strong, growing, and successful. The Directors will meet again in May.