The Vascular Disease Foundation's (VDF's) strategic goals include advocacy for research in vascular disease and providing evidence-based information to health care providers. Through its annual awards program, the VDF is able to make progress toward these goals and is proud to recognize vascular disease research and excellence in care efforts for patients. Thirteen individuals or programs are recognized at the VDF Annual Awards Dinner for excellence in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) research, in venous disease research, and through extraordinary volunteer and leadership efforts. Nominations for the different awards are open to all, and selection is conducted by multidisciplinary committees. The VDF hopes that its awards convey the significant achievement each recipient deserves for the outstanding work and research conducted. For full details of the awards and criteria, visit www.vdf.org.

The 2010 Best PAD Research Awards
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  • Diane Treat-Jacobson, PhD, RN
  • Treat-Jacobson D, Bronas UG, Leon AS. Efficacy of armergometry versus treadmill exercise training to improve walking distance in patients with claudication. Vascular Medicine. 2009;14:203-213.

Category: Epidemiology & Prevention

  • Professor of Medicine Curt Diehm
  • Diehm C, Allenberg JR, Pittrow D, et al. Mortality and vascular morbidity in older adults with asymptomatic versus symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Circulation. 2009;120:2053-2061.

Category: Vascular Interventions

  • Joseph Feinglass, PhD
  • Feinglass J, Sohn MW, Rodriguez H, et al. Perioperative outcomes and amputation-free survival after lower extremity bypass surgery in California hospitals, 1996-1999, with follow-up through 2004. J Vasc Surg. 2009;50:776-783.

The 2010 Venous Disease Coalition Research Awards (for publications between July 2009–June 2010)
Category: Basic Science

  • Peter J. Pappas, MD
  • Pappas PJ, Lal BK, Ohara N, et al. Regulation of matrix contraction in chronic venous disease. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2009;38:518-529.

Category: Research Related to Quality Improvement and Implementation of Best Practices

  • Alpesh N. Amin, MD
  • Amin AN, Stemkowski S, Lin J, Yang G. Inpatient thromboprophylaxis use in U.S. hospitals: adherence to the seventh American College of Chest Physician's recommendations for at-risk medical and surgical patients. J Hosp Med. 2009;4:E15-21.

Category: Clinical Outcomes Research

  • Russell D. Hull, MBBS, MSc
  • Hull RD, Pineo GF, Brant R, et al. Home therapy of venous thrombosis with long-term LMWH versus usual care: patient satisfaction and post-thrombotic syndrome. Am J Med. 2009;122:762-769.e3.

Stay in Circulation Community Service Awards
The Stay in Circulation Community Service Awards recognize collaborative programs focused on increasing awareness about peripheral arterial disease (PAD) to high-risk populations, patients, and/or the health care community.

National Award: WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is receiving the Stay in Circulation Community Service Award for its efforts to educate highrisk women about PAD through a multifaceted partnership to reach women at the community level.

Local Award: Parrish Medical Center, Titusville, Florida
Parrish Medical Center is receiving the Stay in Circulation Community Service Award for its efforts to build a local PAD network. This multidisciplinary collaborative has coordinated approximately 100 PAD awareness presentations since 2005 to hospital staff, local clinicians, city employees, and a variety of other audiences. Community access to free, year-round PAD screenings provides a tool to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and PAD.

The President's Awards aim to recognize individuals who have made a difference in the lives of those living with vascular disease or have assisted the foundation in accomplishing its mission in various categories.

President's Award for Inspiration
Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health in the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services.

President's Award for Leadership
Marge Lovell, RN, Chair, P.A.D. Coalition and Clinical Trials Nurse London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario.

President's Award for Partnership
Division of Blood Disorders/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

President's Award for Vision
Michael H. Criqui, MD, MPH, Professor and Chief Division of Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego.

Julius H. Jacobson II, MD, Award for Physician Excellence
The Julius H. Jacobson II, MD, Award for Physician Excellence is a prestigious annual award that recognizes outstanding contributions to physician education, leadership, or patient care in vascular disease. The recipient is one who has made significant contributions that have advanced the science or clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease or who has made exceptional contributions to vascular education programs, either to health professionals or patients and must be a person of recognized personal and professional integrity. This award is endowed through a donation from Julius H. Jacobson II, MD.

2010 Honoree
Jack L. Cronenwett, MD
Professor of Surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center