Audible Bleeding

In this episode, we explore the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Quality Improvement (QI) Consulting Program, a free member benefit that supports vascular surgeons in designing, executing, and refining QI projects across all stages—from problem identification to dissemination.
We're joined by Dr. Samantha Minc, a vascular surgeon and faculty member at Duke University, and Dr. Ashley Vavra, an Associate Professor of Surgery at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and chair of the SVS Quality Improvement Committee. Both bring extensive experience in vascular care and quality-focused clinical practice.
Together, they break down how the QI Consulting Program helps clinicians:
Develop SMART goals and clear project aims

Identify stakeholders and select appropriate methodologies

Organize timelines and communication plans

Track process measures and assess intervention impact

Troubleshoot challenges and prepare presentation or publication materials

They also outline what the program does not provide—such as data analysis, formal instruction, or long-term mentorship—to help members understand its intended scope. The application process is straightforward: SVS members may apply during the first two weeks of each month, with up to five projects accepted per cycle.
This episode stresses the value of QI in vascular surgery and offers a practical, accessible overview of how the QI Consulting Program can support meaningful improvement efforts in vascular practices.
Learn more:
https://vascular.org/vascular-specialists/practice-and-quality/quality/quality-improvement-consulting-program
 
*Gore is a financial sponsor of this podcast, which has been independently developed by the presenters and does not constitute medical advice from Gore. Always consult the Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to using any medical device.

Audible Bleeding Editor and vascular surgery fellow Richa Kalsi (@KalsiMD) is joined by 4th year general surgery resident Sasank Kalipatnapu (@ksasank), JVS editor Dr. Audra Duncan (@ADuncanVasc), and JVS-VL editor Dr. Ruth Bush (@RuthLBush) to discuss two great articles in the JVS family of journals. Today's episode hosts Dr. Lowenkamp, Dr. Sridharan (@domenickna1), and Dr. Lin.
Articles:
Part 1:Female patients at increased risk for adverse outcomes after acute limb ischemia (Dr. Lowenkamp & Dr. Sridharan)

Part 2: Evaluation of factors underlying differences in venous thromboembolism rates between Black and White patients (Dr. Lin)

Show Guests 
Dr. Mikayla Lowenkamp - PGY4 Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident at the University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Natalie Sridharan - Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dr. Mary Lin - PGY3 General surgery resident at the University of Maryland School of Medicine applying into vascular surgery

Follow us @audiblebleeding
Learn more about us at https://www.audiblebleeding.com/about-1/ and provide us with your feedback with our listener survey.

In this episode, we spotlight editorials and abstracts from the Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases, Innovations, and Techniques (JVS-CIT). Editorials and Abstracts are read by Authors as well as members of the SVS Social Media Ambassadors.You can
 
Guests:
Grant Lewin, MD, PGY4 SLU
Postoperative changes of wrist-brachial index following arteriovenous fistula implantation correlate with steal syndrome, a prospective study
 
Early and late outcomes of patient-specific endografts with retrograde outer branches for complex aortic aneurysms involving cranially oriented target vessels
 
Early reintervention for hemostasis following open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using Ifabond surgical glue
 
Laser fenestration and shape memory polymer embolization of type II endoleaks
 
Thoracic aortic injury as a complication of spinal surgery: A new case and systematic review (1991-2024)
 
Benefit of virtual reality during visceral artery aneurysms open and endovascular surgery planning
 
Bioengineered human blood vessels to treat hospital-acquired vascular complications
 
Hosts:
John Culhane (@JohnCulhaneMD)
Follow us @audiblebleeding, @JVS-CIT
 
Learn more about us at https://www.audiblebleeding.com/about-1/ and provide us with your feedback with our listener survey.
 
*Gore is a financial sponsor of this podcast, which has been independently developed by the presenters and does not constitute medical advice from Gore. Always consult the Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to using any medical device.

Audible Bleeding editor Wen (@WenKawaji) is joined by 5th-year general surgery resident Sasank Kalipatnapu (@ksasank) from UMass Chan Medical School, and JVS editor Dr. Duncan (@ADuncanVasc) to discuss some of our favorite articles in the JVS family of journals. This episode hosts Dr. Newton and Dr. Goodney, the authors of the following paper.
 
Articles:
 
Association between imaging surveillance compliance and long term outcomes after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair at Veterans Affairs Hospitals

 
  
Show Guests 
Dr. Goodney- section Chief of vascular surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as well as associate Professor at Dartmouth. Chair of the research advisory committee within the SVS quality improvement program.

Dr. Newton- General Surgery resident at Dartmouth Health in New Hampshire. 

 
Follow us @audiblebleeding
Learn more about us at https://www.audiblebleeding.com/about-1/ and provide us with your feedback with our listener survey.

Jacob Soucy (@JacobWSoucy) hosts an inside look at one of the most active and collaborative vascular surgery research teams in the country, the Vascular Surgery Outcomes Research Team (VSORT) at Penn State College of Medicine.
 
VSORT is a dynamic academic group that brings together vascular surgery attendings, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and medical students to conduct impactful outcomes-based research. Meeting every Friday at 4 PM, the team has produced dozens of peer-reviewed manuscripts, podium presentations, and national collaborations, embodying the power of mentorship and structure in academic medicine.
 
In this episode, Jacob speaks with two of the key figures behind VSORT's success, Dr. Faisal Aziz and Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali, to discuss how the program was founded, how it operates, and what other institutions can learn from its model.
 
Show Guests
Dr. Faisal Aziz (@FA_VascularMD) is the Chief of Vascular Surgery and Program Director of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he also serves as the Gilbert and Elsie Sealfon Endowed Professor of Surgery. A nationally recognized leader in vascular surgery, Dr. Aziz has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and holds multiple national leadership roles. His work focuses on advancing surgical education, outcomes research, and mentorship within academic vascular surgery.

Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali (@ahsanzileali) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and a driving force behind VSORT's research productivity. A graduate of the University of Health Sciences in Lahore, Punjab, he has co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications and plays a central role in coordinating VSORT's data infrastructure, mentorship framework, and project pipeline. His passion for research efficiency and education continues to inspire medical students and trainees across the institution.
 
Resources and Social Media
Twitter: @VsortVasc, @PennStVascular
Instagram: @vsortvasc, @pennstatevascular
 
Special thanks to Dr. Faisal Aziz and Dr. Ahsan Zil-E-Ali for sharing their time and insight, and to the entire VSORT team for their ongoing contributions to vascular surgery research and mentorship.
 
Follow us @audiblebleeding for updates on upcoming episodes and new research features. Learn more about us at audiblebleeding.com/about-1 and share your feedback through our listener survey.
 
*Gore is a financial sponsor of this podcast, which has been independently developed by the presenters and does not constitute medical advice from Gore. Always consult the Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to using any medical device.