Celebrating Dr. Leigh Ann O’Banion and Her 2026 Vascular Career Advancement Award
The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is thrilled to celebrate our Board Member, Dr. Leigh Ann O’Banion, recipient of the 2026 Vascular Career Advancement (VCA) Award, presented through a collaboration between the VIVA Foundation and the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC). This prestigious recognition celebrates her contributions to vascular care and her commitment to advancing the field.
Dr. O’Banion’s work reflects the kind of leadership that moves vascular health forward, not only through clinical research and medical education, but by bringing prevention and early detection directly to the communities that need them most. As an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF Fresno, she is dedicated to training future physicians and advancing research in limb preservation and outcomes for patients facing major amputations.
Her impact extends far beyond the clinic. As the founder and Medical Director of CHAMPIONS (Comprehensive Heart and Multidisciplinary Limb Preservation Outreach Networks), an initiative of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures, Dr. O’Banion is helping expand access to free vascular screenings, health education, and connections to follow-up care. Through CHAMPIONS, her vision is translating into action, helping communities identify vascular risk earlier and empowering individuals to take steps to protect their health and limbs.
Dr. O’Banion’s dedication to this mission was also recognized when she received our 2024 Vascular Hero Award. Her leadership continues to strengthen our work and advance our shared vision of a future where everyone is free from preventable vascular disease.
This latest honor from VIVA and LINC is a meaningful recognition of a career dedicated to improving vascular health and patient outcomes. We are incredibly proud to have Dr. O’Banion on our Board of Directors and grateful for the expertise, passion, and vision she brings to our mission.
Congratulations, Dr. O’Banion, on this well-deserved and prestigious recognition! Your leadership is making a difference in vascular care and in the lives of the patients and communities you serve.
