West Virginia Vascular/Endovascular Surgery Symposium

Program overview and objectives

The world-renowned faculty of the West Virginia Vascular/Endovascular Surgery Symposium will present an update on vascular/endovascular topics. This program is designed for general surgeons, vascular surgeons, interventional vascular radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists, internists, family practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals interested in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with vascular disease as well as the management of common vascular disorders. No prerequisites are required. 

The latest concepts, methodologies, and techniques in the surgical and percutaneous management of patients with vascular disease will be explored through presentations and panel discussions.

After completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain various topics in vascular surgery for the primary care provider, including the basics, current trends and treatments in cerebral, aortic, and peripheral vascular disease.
• Review the use of interventional radiology in treating gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Discuss the value of vascular surgeons to hospitals.
• Review current treatment with statins in vascular medicine.
• Explore adversity and success in the vascular surgery field.
• Explain the role of renal denervation for resistant hypertension.
• Discuss current carotid guidelines and the future of stenting.
• Review venous ulcer management, including treatment and outcomes.
• Review surgical treatment for access-related hand ischemia.
• Examine current procedures for aortic aneurysms and dissection.
• Discuss surgical procedures for popliteal artery entrapment syndromes in athletes.  

Presentations on challenging cases by vascular residents and fellows will end the meeting on Sunday. Nationally and internationally known speakers will serve as faculty.

By focusing on real-world examples, this symposium aims to enhance participants' abilities to approach and manage complex vascular cases effectively.

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:

• Analyze complex vascular cases: Identify key diagnostic and management challenges presented in unusual or complicated vascular scenarios.
• Assess indications and risks of surgical procedures: Understand the rationale and potential complications associated with open and endovascular interventions for complex vascular conditions.
•  Relate clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and treatment interventions to potential patient outcomes in complex cases.
• Provide a multidisciplinary approach: Understand the importance of and collaborate with other specialties in managing challenging vascular patients.  

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The conference fee includes a credit processing fee, conference materials, continental breakfast and a box lunch. 

Agenda 

Saturday, Oct. 18 - Crystal Room  

7:30 a.m. | Registration/Continental Breakfast

8 a.m. | Welcome / Introductions / Opening Remarks - Ali F. AbuRahma, MD, Program Director, and Glen Crotty, MD, CEO, Vandalia Health CAMC

Session I: 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

Vascular Surgery for the Primary Care Physicians and Other Vascular Providers

Moderators: Mohammad Eslami, MD; Chris Cook, MD; and James Campbell, MD

8:15 - 8:25 a.m. | Microplastics: Does Coastal Proximity Play a Role? - Adham Abou Ali, MD

8:25 - 8:35 a.m. | Performance of Academic Vascular Surgeons and Large-Language Model Artificial Intelligence on Billing and Coding for Endovascular Procedures - Andrew Lee, MD

8:35 - 8:45 a.m. | Vascular Surgery Among Octogenarians: Trends and Outcomes - Mohammad Eslami, MD

8:45 - 8:55 a.m. | Validation of Duplex Ultrasound Interpretation Criteria for Renal Artery Stenosis - Zachary AbuRahma, DO

8:55 - 9:05 a.m. | No Anesthesia, No Problem: Deep Sedation with Ketamine in Vascular Surgery - Amy Deipolyi, MD

9:05 - 9:15 a.m. | Cerebral Protection Strategies in Aortic Arch Surgery - Chris Cook, MD 

SESSION II: 9:15 - 10:05 a.m.

Cerebrovascular Disease

Moderators: Ali AbuRahma, MD; Frank Veith, MD; and Bruce Perler, MD

9:15 - 9:25 a.m. | Management of Carotid Injuries in an Austere Environment - Paul White, MD

9:25 - 9:35 a.m. | Open Carotid Endarterectomy, TFCEA, TCAR for Symptomatic Disease Current Indications - Ralph Darling, MD

9:35 - 9:45 a.m. | Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome Following CEA: Seventy Years of Dogmas and Very Little Understanding - Enrico Ascher, MD

9:45 - 9:55 a.m. | Unusual Indications for Carotid Intervention and Stroke Prevention: Shaking Limb Syndrome and Carotid Webs - Bruce Perler, MD

9:55 - 10:05 a.m. | Is Carotid Artery Stenting Better with a MicroNet Mesh? - Patrick Muck, MD

10:05-10:35 a.m. | Coffee Break

SESSION III: 9:15-10:05 a.m.

Aortic Aneurysm (Thoracic/Abdomen) and Aortic Disection/PVD

Moderators: Ralph Darling, MD; Frank Arko, MD; Gilbert Upchurch, MD                                

10:35 - 10:45 a.m. | Global Vascular Guidelines for the Treatment of Claudication Are Not Being Followed. Epidemic of Aggressive Interventions for PAD Continues Unabated. - Dipankar Mukherjee, MD

10:45 - 10:55 a.m. | An Endovascular Approach to Acute Limb Ischemia (ALI) Should be the First Choice - Frank Arko, MD

10:55 - 11:05 a.m. | Medical Management of AAA: What’s Real, What’s Coming, and What’s Just Hype? - Behzad Farivar, MD

11:05 - 11:15 a.m. | How Our First US EVAR Helped to Bring About the Endovascular Revolution - Frank Veith, MD

11:15 - 11:25 a.m. | An Update on Hybrid Repair for Complex Thoraco/Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Gilbert Upchurch, MD

11:25 -11:35 a.m. | Incorporation of the IMA in Complex Endovascular Aortic Repair - Joshua Adams, MD

11:35 - 11:45 a.m. | Total Arch Endovascular Repair. Single Branch Versus Dual Branch. What are the Pros and Cons? - Frank Arko, MD

11:45 - 11:55 a.m. | Outcomes of Patients with Acute Type B Aortic Dissection and High-Risk Features - Gilbert Upchurch, MD                                

Noon -1 p.m. | Lunch (provided)

SESSION IV: 1 - 2:20 p.m.

Venous / Miscellaneous

Moderators: Enrico Ascher, MD; Keith Calligaro, MD; Anton Sidawy, MD

1 - 1:10 p.m. | A Review of DVT Thrombectomy. Where Does the Data Currently Put Us and What Devices are Available for Treatment - David Dexter, MD

1:10 - 1:20 p.m. | Duplex Scan is a Unique and Sometimes Irreplaceable Tool for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Arterial Ischemia - Natalie Marks, MD

1:20 - 1:30 p.m. | What are the Symptoms and What is Current Open Surgical Treatment for Nutcracker Syndrome - Keith Calligaro, MD

1:30 - 1:40 p.m. | Preventing Large Bore Arterial Access Complications-Comparative Analysis of FDA-Approved Devices - Michael Singh, MD

1:40 - 1:50 p.m. | Working with Other Specialties to Expand the Scope of Vascular Surgery: Good for the Patient and the Bottom Line - Ralph Darling, MD

1:50 - 2 p.m. | Surgeons as Hospital Administrators: An Opportunity for Mid/Late Career Correction and Benefit for the Health Care System - Bruce Perler, MD

2 - 2:10 p.m. | Would a Union Allow Vascular Surgeons to Protect Themselves and Their Patients? - Enrico Ascher, MD

2:10 - 2:20 p.m. | Most Pressing Issues in American Surgery - Anton Sidawy, MD

2:20 - 3 p.m. |  Panel Discussion – Moderator: Ali F. AbuRahma, MD  

3:15 p.m. | Conference Evaluation and Adjournment

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025- Crystal Room  

Session V: 8 - 10:30 a.m.

Challenging / Complex Case Presentations

Moderators: Patrick Muck, MD; David Dexter, MD; Shadi Abu-Halimah, MD; Zachary AbuRahma, DO; and Catherine Go, MD

This session, by focusing on real-world examples, aims to enhance participants' abilities to approach and manage complex vascular cases effectively.

10 a.m. | Evaluation / Conference Adjournment  

Accommodations

Conference attendees are responsible for making their own lodging reservations. A block of rooms has been reserved for this conference. When making reservations, please remember to state that you are attending the 2025 West Virginia Vascular Symposium. Call direct 304-536-1110 or toll-free 1-855-453-4858 or visit greenbrier.com.

Faculty

Program Directors and Faculty  

Chair / Program Director:  

Ali F. AbuRahma, MD, FACS, FRCS, RVT, RPVI

Past President, Society of Vascular Surgery

Professor of Surgery  

Chief Emeritus, Division of Vascular/Endovascular Surgery  

Co-Director, Vascular Center of Excellence  

Medical Director of Vascular Lab

Vandalia Health CAMC

Visiting Guest Faculty  

Joshua D Adams, MD  

Associate Professor Of Surgery

Virginia Tech Carilion School Of Medicine  

Director, Carilion Clinic Aortic Center  

Frank R. Arko, III, MD

Chief, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery

Co-Director, Aortic Institute

Professor, Cardiovascular Surgery

Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute

Carolinas Healthcare System

Enrico Ascher, MD  

Past President, The Society of Vascular Surgery

Professor of Surgery  

New York University

Chief, Vascular Surgery

Lutheran Medical Center 

Keith Calligaro MD  

Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery  

Pennsylvania Hospital  

U Penn

R Clement Darling, III, MD  

Past President, The Society of Vascular Surgery

Professor of Surgery, Albany Medical College 

Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, Albany Medical Center Hospital 

President, The Vascular Group 

David J Dexter, II MD, FACS

Sentara Vascular Specialists  

Sentara Health  

Behzad Farivar, MD

Vascular Surgery

Co-Director Aortic Center

UVA Health  

Natalie Marks, MD

Vascular Surgery  

NYU Lutheran Health System  

Patrick E. Muck, MD, RVT, FACS 

Chief of Vascular Surgery

Program Director Vascular Fellowship & Integrated Residency 

Good Samaritan Hospital 

Dipankar Mukherjee, MD

Chief, Vascular Surgery  

Inova Fairfax Hospital

Bruce A. Perler, MD  

Past President, Society for Vascular Surgery  

Julius H Jacobson II Professor of Surgery  

Division of Vascular Surgery  

Vice Chair, Department of Surgery  

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Anton Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS

Past President, Society for Vascular Surgery

Lewis B Saltz Chair of Surgery

Professor of Surgery

George Washington University Medical Center

Michael Singh, MD, FACS

Chief of Surgical Services at UPMC Shadyside

Chief of Vascular Surgery at UPMC Shadyside  

Co-Director of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Aortic Center

Gilbert R Upchurch, Jr., MD, FACS  

Edward R Copeland III and Ann and Ira Horowitz Chair

Professor of Vascular Surgery  

University of Florida

Frank J. Veith, MD, FACS

Past President, Society for Vascular Surgery

Professor of Surgery  

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western University and New York University

William J Von Liebig Chair in Vascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Chairman, Vascular and Endovascular Issues, Techniques and Horizons

(VEITH Symposium)    

Paul W White, MD, FACS  

Inova Cardiac Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Vascular Lab  

Fairfax, VA

Local Faculty:  

Shadi Abu-Halimah, MD, FACS

Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency and Fellowship

Associate Professor Of Surgery

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

Zachary T. AbuRahma, DO, RPVI

Associate Professor, Vascular/Endovascular Surgery

Associate Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency and Fellowship

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

Adham Abou Ali, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Division of Vascular Surgery  

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

James R Campbell, II, MD  

President, CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

Chris Cook MD

Chair

CAMC Cardiothoracic Surgery  

Amy Deipolyi, MD

Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology

Vandalia Health CAMC Memorial Hospital

Mohammad Eslami, MD  

Professor and Chief

Division of Vascular/Endovascular Surgery  

Co-Director Vascular Center of Excellence  

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

Catherine Go, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery  

Division of Vascular Surgery

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine

Andrew Lee, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery  

CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine