President’s Message | International Society for Women Vascular Surgeons

Dr. Kathleen Ozsvath, President, ISWVS

I am deeply grateful for the honor to lead this society as the third president of the International Society of Women Vascular Surgeons (ISWVS). I look forward to serving this remarkable community of leaders, innovators, and advocates, with membership ranging from students and trainees to the leaders of vascular surgery

Our society was founded on the principles of excellence, collaboration, and the advancement of women in vascular surgery. We continue to focus on the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease in women. Today, those values are more important than ever. As our field continues to evolve, so must our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where women surgeons can thrive, lead, and lead the future of vascular care.

With its origins in Buffalo, New York, The Women’s Vascular Summit was created by Dr. Linda Harris. Becoming a society a few years ago, the ISWVS has led to opportunities for research, mentorship, and sponsorship. It is the mission of this society to expand global relationships, and to support the professional growth of our members at every stage of their careers. Involvement has created a truly inclusive culture.

I encourage each of you to engage actively with ISWVS. It is through this shared commitment that together we will continue to build a strong, dynamic, and inspiring community.

Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your contributions to our field. I am excited for all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead, and for years to come.

Respectfully,

Kathleen Ozsvath, MD, FACS
President, International Society for Women Vascular Surgeons (ISWVS)

Play Video

Membership

2027 Annual Meeting

You are invited to the (ISWVS) International Society for Women Surgeons Annual Meeting being held in-person on April 30th - May 2nd, 2027.

 

Career Center

Other Events:

Pelvic Venous Disease Summit

Nearly 10 million women in the United States wake up daily with chronic pelvic pain sufficient to limit their activity and reduce their quality of life. More than 6 million of these women will have this pain due to pelvic venous disease. Despite the many attempts of these women to seek medical care, more than $1 billion is wasted each year on inappropriate testing and ineffective treatments, and the chronic pain persists. Additionally, this condition also affects men, but just not as frequently.

Article Read:

Article In Press:

"The Evolution of the International Society for Women Vascular Surgeons: Changing the Landscape in Vascular Surgery"

2025 Day of Service Highlight

In Collaboration with Care for Friends, American Venous Forum (AVF), Loyola University, and Northwestern University, The ISWVS came together in a powerful way for a day of service. Working side-by-side, we accomplished incredible things in the Chicago community. The 2025 ISWVS Day of Service was held during the 2025 annual meeting in Chicago, IL. It included free health education, screenings, food and beverages, and vascular health hand outs at a local church in downtown Chicago. Please take a minute to view our special clip of the event.

Advancing Vascular Health Equity

The ISWVS is a newly established organization founded in 2023 with a mission to promote fellowship, equality, and excellence in vascular surgery. Our core focus is on Education, Research, Advocacy, and Provider Pipeline Development to advance Vascular Health Equity. We are dedicated to improving healthcare access, innovating vascular solutions for women and minority populations, and supporting women vascular surgeons and aspiring professionals. Our vision is to provide the highest quality vascular surgery care to ALL patients. Join us in our mission for a healthier, more equitable future in vascular surgery.

Mission

  • promote health equity by improving the access and delivery of quality healthcare
  • provide innovative vascular solutions to women and minority populations through discovery and implementation
  • to ensure the holistic support of women vascular surgeons, underrepresented in Medicine/Surgery, vascular surgery trainees, vascular surgery aspirants, and diverse health professionals dedicated to the prevention and management of vascular disease within the United States and around the world.

Vision

Our Vision: We aspire to establish a future where the International Society for Women Vascular Surgeons leads the way in providing top-tier Vascular Surgery Care to every patient, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our commitment is to ensure that the highest standards of vascular surgery care are accessible to all individuals, contributing to a world where equitable healthcare is a reality.

Focus

Our main focus is to improve healthcare access, innovate vascular solutions for women and minority populations, and provide unwavering support to women vascular surgeons, as well as those underrepresented in Medicine/Surgery, vascular surgery trainees, and diverse health professionals dedicated to the prevention and management of vascular disease. Join us in our journey towards a healthier, more equitable future in the field of vascular surgery.

Partner Societies:

Our 2026 Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Exhibitors