News & Events

Vascular Surgery Receives Training Grant

The Division of Vascular Surgery received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) to fund its “Vascular Surgery Scientist Training Program.”  The training program addresses a growing need in American health care – the need for vascular surgeon-scientists who can develop new ways to treat the ever-increasing problem of vascular disease in America’s aging population.  The grant will fund eight two-year training positions over the next five years.  The first trainee (George Havelka) started work in Dr. Kibbe’s laboratory on July 1, 2009.

Dr. Kibbe Selected to Receive Presidential Early Career Award

Dr. Melina R. Kibbe is among 100 beginning researchers who have been named to receive the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on young professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.  Awardees were selected on the basis of their “pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and a commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.”  The awards will be presented in the fall at a White House ceremony.

International Visitors

Three doctors who received the International Scholars Award from the Society for Vascular Surgery to fund visits to major medical centers in the United States visited the Division recently.  Nora Elena Sanchez, from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico/Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos in Mexico City, Mexico, visited June 15-19.  Angel Flores, from the Hospital Virgen de la Salude de Toledo in Toledo, Spain, was here June 27-July 5.  Carlos Zuniga from Instituto Nacional del Corazon in Lima, Peru, was here July 13-31.  In addition, Dr. Ashraf Bin Md Razi from Hospital Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, arrived in late July to spend several months observing in Vascular Surgery.

Early Specialization Residency

The Division of Vascular Surgery has been approved for an Early Specialization Residency Program , which will provide more concentrated training in vascular surgery.  The first three years of the program will consist of a combination of general and vascular surgery one month rotations and the final 2 years will be the same as the two-year fellowship program, providing a total of 24 months of core general surgery rotations and 36 months of vascular surgery experience.  Upon completion of this program, a trainee will be eligible to pursue board certification in vascular surgery.  The first resident (Mila Ju) for this 0+5 training program started on July 1, 2009.