Vascular Surgery Interest Group

Introduction:
The UMass Vascular Surgery Interest Group (VSIG) is dedicated to exposing medical students to the field of vascular surgery, and to providing professional mentors to those who are considering a career in vascular surgery. We also hope to connect interested medical students at varying levels of training to each other in order to provide multiple channels of advice and perspective. 

Programming & Opportunities:

• General Introduction: Each year, the VSIG hosts a panel of residents and faculty from the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery to introduce the field to medical students. This is a lively session, where questions are encouraged from any interested students. 
• Operative Shadowing: The VSIG is committed to involving interested students in vascular surgery operative cases that match their interest. Whether that interest is in cutting-edge endovascular procedures such as those carried out for the UMass Center for Complex Aortic Disease, or open operations related to limb salvage, dialysis access, carotid disease, and many pathologies, our aim is to provide those opportunities whenever possible. Students are paired with residents for these experiences; we promise you will learn a lot!
• Research Opportunities: The VSIG provides a formal mechanism for students interested in vascular research to connect with faculty mentors. The faculty ask that those who are interested please fill out the attached Word document. Additionally, the group's leadership will circulate scholarship and grant opportunities in vascular surgery to interested students.
• Surgical Skills Development: The VSIG hosts sessions in the Simulation Center's Surgical Skills Lab, where students have the chance to learn and practice hand tying, different forms of suturing, as well as endovascular techniques.

Contact:
VSIG leadership can be contacted at UMassVascularIG@gmail.com
Please reach out to us with any questions and to be added to our email list!

Leadership: 
Students: Ariana McFarland (Class of 2023), Chloe Young (Class of 2023), and Joseph LiCausi (Class of 2022)
Faculty Advisor: Jessica Simons, MD, MPH