Three Endovascular Fellowships Announced - Placements Announced By British Society Of Endovascular Therapists

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 02 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The British Society for Endovascular Therapy (BSET) today announces the award of three Cook Medical sponsored endovascular fellowships to Mr. Matt Bown of The Leicester Royal Infirmary, Mr. Leith Williams of The Royal Liverpool and Mr. Mustafa Halawa of Guy's and St Thomas Hospital.

The three fellows in waiting will work with world renowned vascular surgeons at centres in Liverpool (John Brennan, The Royal Liverpool), Manchester (Ferdinand Serracino Inglott, Manchester Royal Infirmary) and London (Matt Thompson, St George's) respectively.

The fellowship programme is open to vascular surgeons and radiologists with the aim to bring the two specialities together, introducing trainees into a community that continues to advance the boundaries of endovascular techniques.

The scheme heralds a much sought after investment into this fast developing field of surgery and will allow for more minimally invasive vascular treatments to be carried out in the UK. Endovascular repair techniques are expected to become more widely adopted, given the current advantages over conventional surgery: currently, over 5 per cent of people over 65 will suffer from some form of aortic aneurysm.

Professor Matt Thompson, Secretary of BSET and Professor of Vascular Surgery, comments: "These fellowships will give trainees the chance to investigate the very latest procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair so they can provide safe and successful treatment to patients. BSET is committed to advancing techniques for AAA and TAA and by fostering these fellowships we're helping to advance techniques and technology for today and tomorrow's AAA and TAA sufferers.

The number of patients that require vascular surgery is likely to increase over the coming years, which can be partly attributed to the proposed AAA screening service for men over 65. At the moment the service is being piloted in five centres around the country and is due to be rolled out across the UK in coming years.

"Cook Medical's support of these endovascular fellowships demonstrates its ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes in vascular surgery," explains Phil Nowell, Global leader of the Aortic Intervention business unit of Cook Medical.

"Our aim in working with BSET is to better understand and treat AAA and TAA disease states. The goal is simply to help doctors improve patient care. It's in our make up to support initiatives that are likely to directly improve patient care and clinical outcomes. We place great emphasis on working alongside surgeons to advance technology. Sponsorship of these fellowships is a good example of our commitment to identifying the best possible treatment for today's patients, and to advance our understanding and treatment of patient conditions that are deemed untreatable today.

"The fellowships will give the country's brightest young surgeons the opportunity to work with some of the world's most experienced vascular surgeons."

Prof. Thomson concludes: "BSET was formed, in part, to advance cross-disciplinary working for those looking to specialise in endovascular treatment. The fellowships will ensure that future endovascular specialists are able to treat patients with the most innovative and reliable techniques."

About the British Society of Endovascular Therapy

The British Society of Endovascular Therapy (BSET) was launched by a group of vascular surgeons and vascular radiologists with an interest in endovascular surgery in early 2007, to promote endovascular treatment and support research into endovascular techniques in the UK. BSET has been primarily set up to create a forum for discussion and research and give support to consultants attempting to set up new endovascular practices within the NHS. The members aim to have an annual meeting at which trainees will be able to present endovascular research. All the current members are the main proponents of endovascular surgery in the UK.

British Society of Endovascular Therapy

About Cook Medical

With international headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, Cook Medical, the world's largest privately held medical device manufacturer, is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for radiology, cardiology, urology, critical care medicine, general surgery, assisted reproduction, gynecology and obstetrics, endovascular medicine, gastroenterology and endoscopy. Cook Medical was named the 2006 Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year by Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine.

Cook Medical