The role of industry in vascular surgery trainee education

Abstract

Vascular surgery is a specialty discipline highlighted by a lifelong learning process from which new endovascular devices and techniques will continue to emerge. Industry partnerships can provide a safe learning environment for trainees, with a focus on maximizing learning opportunities during fellowship or residency. Unlike other surgical specialties, vascular surgery empowers its trainees to become competent in both open and image-guided endovascular interventions, requiring two unique skill sets to become a contemporary vascular surgeon. Due to the rapid growth of technology and innovations, industry partnerships enhance and maximize the learning experience of the trainee by often providing the products, education, research support, and financial assistance. This can come in the form of innovative and educational activities, including simulation, exposure to thought leaders, attendance at conferences and workshops, and one-on-one assistance with cases. In this article, we review the role that industry can serve in vascular education to support budding vascular surgeons through exposure and repetition as they lay down the fundamentals of their careers.