Vascular Cures News

March 11, 2024 We are enjoying what is finally looking like increased interest in and attention to peripheral artery disease. Awareness is the first step toward change. ABC’s recent show “ Severed: Diabetes Denial and Mistrust ” was an excellent exposé of the concerning number of amputations in black men with diabetes that can result when bad circulation and plaque buildup are left unaddressed and develop into advanced peripheral artery disease/chronic limb-threatening ischem

February 9, 2024 为了进一步推动我们在促进多元患者参与研究方面的工作，我们很高兴地宣布，我们正在启动一个专注于华裔血管疾病患者人群的新项目， 并 此项目得到了患者中心结果研究所（PCORI）的资金奖励支持。我们正在与南加州大学、Casa Colina医院和医疗中心以及几个服务于 患有 华裔血管疾病 的华裔 患者的组织合作。这项工作将由患者伙伴兼血管治愈推进基金会董事会成员史蒂夫·汉堡（Steve Hamburger）领导，他对 包括 华裔 美国 患者伙伴在血管研究和参与中 的 充满了热情，他的倡导是这项倡议的重要推动力。此项目领导还包括 以及 基金会首席执行官伊莎贝尔·比约克（Isabel Bjork）、南加州大学的史 蒂夫 博士和Casa Colina的罗莎里奥博士 共同领导 。 这个项目的主要目的是推动和增加华裔血管患者 推动并最终 参与比较临床有效性研究（CER）的能力。通过加强对这类研究的参与，这些患者将有机会将他们的观点和偏好带入高产出、有影响力的研究中。这些研究结果最终能更好地满足这个独特人群的需求。...

February 9, 2024 For immediate release – The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is excited to announce the launch of a new project aimed at bringing greater health equity and improved research outcomes to Chinese-speaking populations in California.  In furtherance of our work to promote diverse patient engagement in research, we are excited to announce a new project focused on Chinese-speaking vascular patient populations and supported by a funding award through the Eugene

Feburary 1, 2024 We are excited to share that one of our patient partners, Jim Tietjens, has published a book detailing his decades-long health conditions and the hard work and engagement that has helped him work through these challenges, including Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia (CLTI). Jim has worked with us on different projects including the multi-stakeholder patient-focused CLTI Working Group (2021-2023) and was a celebrated speaker at our most recent Vascular Health I

November 30, 2023 Former first lady Rosalynn Carter was a pioneering advocate for mental health and caregiver support – two incredibly important issues that apply to individuals and families living with vascular disease. Vascular conditions more commonly affect older populations, who often rely on caregivers. This can impact mental health for both patients and caregivers, which in turn can impact their day-to-day life and overall health. Because of advocates and champions of

November 8, 2023 We are pleased to announce an invitation-only RFA call has been issued for pilot projects that address gaps in the field that were identified at the 2023 Vascular Health Innovation Summit : “Precision Medicine and Patient-Centric Vascular Health: Present and Future State.” Projects funded under this RFA will launch in April 2024 and are core components of the program’s objective to leverage existing datasets, biospecimens and imaging in new ways to address g

October 30, 2023 We are pleased to announce that recordings from the 2023 Innovation Summit, held on September 22 at the Mission Bay Conference Center, UCSF, are now available. This year’s summit, chaired by renowned experts Dr. Michael S. Conte and Dr. Manesh R. Patel, explored the advances in precision medicine and its impact on vascular health. Participants who want to revisit the powerful discussions on artificial intelligence, omics in vascular disease areas, and patient

October 11, 2023 Our Vascular Health Innovation Summit is an annual event that seeks agreement from leaders in the medical and research fields on areas that are seen as most pressing and most in need of accelerated attention in the vascular health space – always with the goal of innovating solutions that will improve patient lives. Co-Chairs Mike Conte (UCSF Chief of Division Vascular and Endovascular Surgery) and Manesh Patel (Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Co-Direc

October 2, 2023 Redwood City, CA – The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is proud to announce the addition of Kim Campbell to its distinguished Advisory Board. Kim’s personal journey with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and her dedication to advocacy, education and health equity positions her as a pivotal figure on the board. Hailing from Greenville, Mississippi, Kim’s advocacy for PAD awareness stems from her mother, Gertrude Campbell's battle with the disease. Gertrude's

September 27, 2023 September 27, 2023 — Isabel Bjork, CEO of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures has been appointed by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) as a member of its Advisory Panel on Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science. Bjork will join other members of the panel in applying her experience and expertise to helping PCORI refine and prioritize the research it funds. She will also ensure that the research PCORI supports centers on the ou

September 20, 2023 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition affecting millions of Americans. Understandably, there are a lot of different products out there to help treat symptoms, manage the disease, and assist with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. And we’re lucky to have so much available to us through the Internet - thousands of products, devices, and services are available at the click of a button! One of the hardest things to do when yo

September 15, 2023 In October 2022, Shirley started to feel pain in her left leg when she walked more than a few kilometers. Expecting to find out about an injury that would require physiotherapy, she was surprised when her doctor asked her to take off her shoe and sock to feel the pulse in her foot. Her doctor booked her a vascular ultrasound appointment, and Shirley was diagnosed with moderate PAD.  One major thing Shirley learned when she was doing her research on PAD was

September 12, 2023 The upcoming Vascular Health Innovation Summit is set to explore the revolutionary potential of precision medicine. The primary aim is to enhance the patient experience, especially in the crucial juncture between risk identification, treatment, and outcomes. The summit will delve deep into the burgeoning fields of data-derived phenotyping, artificial intelligence, and various omics. These areas are heralded as the future of medical research, and their poten

September 8, 2023 In March 2023, at 44 years old, Jason started having calf and thigh pain. Within days, his toes became cold, his toenails turned purple, and his foot was pale. He went to the ER, where he received an ultrasound on his veins, leading to the discovery of a large clot. When Jason asked how this kind of clot could have formed, his surgeon guessed that Jason probably tore his popliteal artery years prior, thinking he had just pulled a muscle. Jason has been a fir

August 15, 2023 You may not know it, but for a week every August, communities across the country celebrate a big source of quality, accessible care: Community Health Centers! August 6 - 12, 2023 is National Health Center Week: a chance to think about how you and your loved ones benefit from health centers (or can benefit more, if you aren’t familiar with them). Community Health Centers are hubs for a lot of different services and resources, and are especially important for pe

August 8, 2023 I am Genice, and this is my journey with PVD, or Peripheral Vascular Disease.  I live in Mississippi. My search for a healthy life has been challenging, time-consuming, and sometimes very informative. Due to the health difficulties related to Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), I have many questions that need answering. Since I am unaware of my family's medical history, I thought that would be a great place to start.   As I continued my research, I began calling

July 15, 2023 We need a patient-centered approach to patient care and research – now. The New York Times published an important article today, “ They Lost Their Legs. Doctors and Health Care Giants Profited ,” highlighting the need for careful attention to the patient experience in the treatment of peripheral artery disease , also known as PAD. In May, ProPublica published a groundbreaking story about the problem: In the “Wild West” of Outpatient Vascular Care, Doctors Can Re

July 11, 2023 This July, we want to take time to mark National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month . According to the Office of Minority Health , the lack of access to quality care that burdens minorities does not stop with physical health. It affects mental health resources as well. We invite you to think about this issue throughout the month and to take steps towards improving your mental health and looking out for the people in your life. Not everyone has access to the

June 29, 2023 From the desk of our CEO, Isabel Bjork: I am in awe of the phenomenal patients and caregivers who joined the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures on June 8th in San Francisco. The patients and caregivers were highly motivated and invested in their own health. Two had written a book; one patient spoke of publication in a journal; and a caregiver spoke passionately about the need to campaign and raise awareness within her community. Across all participants, there

June 15, 2023 June 10th was Family Health and Fitness Day - a chance to celebrate the benefits of enjoying sports, outdoor activities, and exercise with your loved ones. Check out this month’s patient community newsletter to learn more! The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is excited to mark Family Health and Fitness Day, and encourages our community to take the month of June as an opportunity to think about your family’s health. Whether it’s teaching young children the i