Interventional Radiographers Interventional
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Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers Interventional Winter 2014 President’s Message Izzy Ramaswamy MS, RT (R) (CV) through the practice of vascular and interventional radiology, What does AVIR membership mean to you? while providing leadership and the development of superior What does the AVIR membership do for education for its members. me? What are the advantages of belonging VISION: The Association of Vascular and Interventional to the AVIR? Who is the AVIR? As the Radiographers vision is to grow, advance, and continue AVIR leadership pondered, dissected, and education in the area of vascular and interventional radiology analyzed these very questions this year we and to promote professional growth and the socioeconomic came to a few realizations. This association is to interventional stature for AVIR members throughout the medical radiology techs what the Society of Interventional Radiologists community. (SIR) is to interventional radiology physicians. Yes, they can PHILOSOPHY: The Association of Vascular and belong to RSNA and we can belong to ASRT and yes we can Interventional Radiographers philosophy is to establish and be educated, informed, and organized there. So why do we maintain a high level of professional performance of medical (SIR and AVIR) exist? Well, the obvious answer is because we and ethical standards of all Cardiovascular Interventional are specialized and our fields are not well represented in those Radiographers, to provide, promote and maintain continuity forums. We provide specialized care, what does that mean? of and continuously improve patient care, to create a positive It means nowhere else in radiology do technologists do what working relationship among all facets of the medical profession we do; nowhere else in radiology do physicians do what our and to educate the public and allied health professionals colleagues do. Our IR physicians appreciated this a long time in skills and awareness of vascular and ago. RSNA was founded in 1915; twenty years after Roentgen interventional studies. discovered x-ray. A little over 50 years later in 1973 the Society of Interventional Radiologists was formed. Technologists have Two years ago, I had the privilege to meet been there from the beginning but AVIR wasn’t founded Dick Steuve, the technologist that worked until 1986. The purpose and the mission were clear then, but with Dr. Charles Dotter, the “Father of somehow became muddy. Now, here they are for your review: IR” and Melvin Judkins, as they developed from its infancy the specialty we call MISSION: The AVIR is a nonprofit, national organization interventional radiology. It was a true honor of radiologic technologists and allied health professionals and so great to hear the stories. It truly emphasized to me deeply committed to improving health and the quality of life the important role we as technologists played then and still continued on page 2 Inside Winter 2014 | David S. Douthett, RT(R)(CV), Editor 3 How Do You Adapt When Someone 16 2014 Fellowship Award Recipient 28 AVIR Fiscal State Moves Your “Cheese?” 17 Gold Medal Award 28 Getting tired of the same ol’ book? 4 AVIR Annual Meeting 17 Gold Medal Lecturer Award 29 2014 Spring Chapter Updates 5 Attn: AVIR Members And Guests 18 Radiologic Technologists: Health 31 AVIR Board of Directors | 2013 – 2014 6 AVIR Sponsors Professionals On A Mission 32 Editor’s Note 7 AVIR 24th Annual Scientific Meeting 23 AVIR Launches New Website 34 AVIR Local Chapter Has Benefits Schedule 25 Femoral Artery Access; The Past and 34 Attention All Writers 8 Interventional Radiology (IR) the Next Present 34 CIT Review Level 27 AVIR Past Executive Director Retires 35 Membership Application 11 AVIR Meetings 27 Continue your Education Continue your 36 What is AVIR? 15 2014 AVIR Award of Excellence Profession 2201 Cooperative Way | Suite 600 | Herndon, VA 20171 | 703.234.4055 | Fax: 703.435.4390 | email: [email protected] | www.avir.org do today. Although times have changed and technology has discussion of the hot topics, our LinkedIn page has over improved so must we evolve. On a side note, if you have the 1300 members and our Facebook page is a few hundred and chance, watch the made for TV movie Something The Lord growing. This year we discussed salaries, specifically how on Made, a story about the first heart surgery in America and call is paid, and I have to say, the variability was an eye opener. the relationship between Dr. Blalock and his assistant Vivean These discussions beckon your input, thoughts, and ideas. Thomas. I’m sure it will strike a chord for many of you as it We have also increased our partnerships and tied into IR did for me. meetings around the US like ISET in Miami and the GEST Under the current leadership AVIR is evolving. We are meeting this year being held in San Francisco. Thanks to transitioning from a membership based organization to a IR physicians who truly understand the importance of our subscription based organization. What does this mean? Well role like Dr. Katzen and Dr. Haskal, and so many others it changes our focus to provide to our members that which is that we all work so close with, we have been able to partner most important to them; Education. From this year forward up at these meetings and offer significant discounts to our we will keep a revolving 12 field relevant directed readings on subscribers. our member page. We will also provide quarterly webinars on Bill Gates said: current and budding technology. Our annual meeting will “ We will always provide at least 24 credits each year and include important overestimate topics such as radiation safety and vascular interventions board the change in review. We will continually provide updates on evolving and two years and controversial topics such as Renal Denervation and CCSVI, underestimate the change in ten” I look forward to 2014, and make sure we cover all the basics for the new and budding under Rob Sheridan’s guidance, I believe the Association of technologists in our field. We will also record many of our Vascular Interventional Radiographers will take some giant lectures from the annual meeting and post them on the website leaps forward and forge some new ground well into our so those of you that were unable to attend can still take part in future. We as technologists have a lot of work to do at the the education that was presented there. With the subscription, local level to help the leadership get the message out. Please our education will be easier to get reimbursed through go to your chapter meetings, and attend the angioclubs your education funds available at your workplace and if belonging docs have invited you to, be a part of the bigger picture. It’s to a professional organization is relevant to your career ladders, more than just a job; it’s a life in one hand and our pride in maybe you can ask your leadership to cover the subscription the other. I leave you with these throwback pictures from my fee as well. AVIR will not look or feel any different but we NY days, I miss them even though they just point and laugh are changing how we present you with the information and as I tried to teach them and sometimes they just don’t want opportunities. The new website transitions are complete and to hear it. I also want to give a shout out to my BCVI team we are ready now with a strong foundation for growth. We will of techs, nurses, and physicians; they have been so great and keep the 30 day promotion alive so your colleagues can try us supportive, our Miami Chapter president Roberto Telleria has out; let’s get the word to them. really taken charge of the local arena and we have had regular meetings with growing interest and attendance all around, I am very fortunate to be part of them. Let’s all make it a great year AVIR – CHEERS!!!! Wait there’s more: (sound like an infomercial?) AVIR is on the web, in the social setting through our blog LinkedIn, Facebook, and twitter. These forums really allow real time 2 | Winter 2014 | Interventional Informer www.avir.org How Do You Adapt When Someone Moves Your “Cheese?” By Dana Bridges Have any of you read “Who Moved My I’ve heard it said many times that the only thing constant is Cheese” by Dr. Stephen Johnson? It’s a story change so what can you do to look at change, understand it & about four individuals (two simple mice and ultimately embrace it? If you work in the healthcare industry in two little people) who run through a maze just about any capacity then change is inevitable. In fact, one in search of cheese (which is a metaphor would think that we would be surprised if our “cheese” actually for whatever it is that people want to stayed in the same place. In my opinion, healthcare “cheese” pursue in life which they believe will make them feel happy has been moved and changed more in the last few years than and successful). Life is cruising along just fine until one day any time I can remember. The real question is what do you something changes … the cheese is missing. How each of the need to do to move and adapt to that change? four characters reacts to this change is what makes this simple Throughout the book, Dr. Johnson offers several ways to story very enlightening. embrace change including laugh at yourself, change your Sniff & Scurry, the two mice, put on their running shoes attitude, and appreciate that doing something new can make and jogging outfits and head back out into the dangerous you feel young.