Hear from LEARN's newest faculty members

This year's LEARN meeting features nine new faculty members. Interviewed by Dr. Bret Wiechmann, see what some of the first year faculty members have to say: 

 

Erika J. Ugianskis, MD

Dr. Wiechmann:  What do you feel is the best way to educate future vascular specialists in current PAD and CLI treatments?  How does LEARN fit into this plan?

Dr. Ugianskis: Forums like LEARN allow IRs to immerse themselves in a particular service line. With regard to LEARN, the meeting gives IRs the opportunity to learn about the multitude of available endovascular devices and techniques, and to have collegial discussions with fellow IRs as to specific tips and tricks on how to use them and thereby expand their respective practices to treat PAD/CLI. To see more from Dr. Ugianskis, click here. 

 

Mark L. Lessne, MD

Dr. Wiechmann: Give me your perspective on practice building activities regarding PAD referrals.  Are you a “lunch & LEARN” guy (no pun intended), “referral dinner” guy?  What works for you and your practice?

Dr. Lessne: A mentor of mine once described me as having the most “shotgun” approach to practice building he’s ever seen: I try everything and see what sticks. I have given grand rounds to internists, podiatrists, endocrinologists; spoken at regional wound care and podiatry meetings; routinely meet with referring doctors during the day and after work; publish educational articles in other specialists’’ journals; host educational seminars for the public. For me, educating providers (and patients) about vascular disease prevention and management is as much a part of the work as obtaining referrals: well-informed physicians and patients translate to lives and limbs saved! To see more from Dr. Lessne, click here.

 

Kumar Madassery, MD

Dr. Wiechmann: In your opinion, what are the biggest breakthrough technologies and/or promising technologies in the peripheral world?

Dr. Madassery: The biggest breakthrough technologies for some time had been the emergence of several drug coated technologies, which most felt helped improve outcomes in our patients, however as we know is been fraught with controversy as of late. There is great promise in the lithoplasty balloons, which can help us tackle the ever-challenging heavy calcifications that many of our patients have, which prevents optimal revascularization. The upcoming tibial-indicated self-expanding drug coated stents soon to be available have potential to help us improve patency as well. Part of the future will be improved monitoring and predictive technology, which will also include AI incorporation, which can give us better feedback and data to understand endpoints, healing potentials and future planning. Other technologies will also focus on the below the knee and below the ankle space, which we have a limited armamentarium of presently. To see more from Dr. Madassery, click here. 

 

Timothy E. Yates, MD

Dr. Wiechmann: What do you look forward to most about participating in LEARN?

Dr. Yates: I've been included in a team of all star IR's dedicated to keeping our skills and practice at the forefront of PAD medicine. We only improve by surrounding ourselves with a Mastermind group of people better than us. I hope we can inspire attendees to push limits with us as we move forward. To see more from Dr. Yates, click here. 

 

To see all of the faculty interviews by LEARN program director, Dr. Bret Wiechmann, follow the link below!

Full Interviews