History of WVS

In 1986, an "Organizing Committee" arranged the first meeting of the Society at Dana Point. Dr. Wesley Moore had recognized that there were other regional vascular organizations from which excellent papers were being published in the major surgical literature. He believed that within the geographic area of the western states there was a group of highly productive vascular surgeons who would benefit from such a society, a society through which their vascular contributions could be channeled for publication. The Society has fulfilled Dr. Moore's expectations, with roughly 65% of its presentation going on to publication in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

The Society meets annually (in September). Its membership is limited to 120 Active members. Criteria for election include a history or a promise of academic productivity and certification by the American Board of Surgery or one of the national Colleges. Since 2000, the meeting of the Society proper has been immediately preceded by the half-day session of the Vascular Residents Forum. Invited guests usually contribute one or two "professorial" lectures. In 1990, Ronald Stoney, then President, presented to the Society its official gavel, named in honor of the late E. J. "Jack" Wylie, an important pioneer in the surge of modern vascular Surgery and mentor of many of the members.

The Society's meetings consist of three half-day sessions at which roughly 20 papers are presented with abundant time for discussion. Its relatively small size allows for the free discussion so difficult in the immense meetings that have become the hallmark of the national vascular societies. One evening is usually devoted to a "theme" party, the other to the President's Formal Dinner. A limited number of commercial representatives are invited to the meeting and provide generous support, but there are no commercial exhibits.

Previous Annual Meetings

Date	Meeting Site	President	Invited Guest Speaker
1986	Dana Point, CA	Organizing Committee	Emerick Szilagyi
1987	Tucson, AZ	W. Sterling Edwards	None
1988	Monterrey, CA	Robert B. Rutherford	James Stanley
1989	Kauai, HI	D. Eugene Strandness, Jr.	Brian Thiele
1990	Coronado, CA	Ronald J. Stoney	Frank Veith
1991	Rancho Mirage, CA	Victor M. Bernhard	Allan Callow
1992	Maui, HI	Wesley S. Moore	Malcolm Perry
1993	Sonoma, CA	John M. Porter	Norman Hertzer
1994	Santa Barbara, CA	Eugene F. Bernstein	Norman Browse
1995	Phoenix, AZ	Robert L. Kistner	Calvin Ernst
1996	Dana Point, CA	Jerry Goldstone	Anthony Whittemore
1997	Lana'i, HI	Richard L. Treiman	None
1998	Whistler, BC	Kaj H. Johansen	None
1999	Lake Tahoe, CA	Ralph B. Dilley	Jonathan Towne
2000	Coeur d'Alene, ID	Peter F. Lawrence	R. Thomas Grayston
2001	Santa Fe, NM	William C. Krupski	William Hiatt
2002	Newport Beach, CA	Cornelius Olcott, IV	Thomas Russell

Wiley F. Barker, M.D. ,Historian
Western Vascular Society