“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Henry Ford
Hello and welcome to the first edition of Vascular Access for 2017. No “fake news” or “alternative facts” here, my friends. In line with good clinical practice and transparency, we have for your reading pleasure a research protocol, an end of study report and a comprehensive outline of biofilm formation. We are very fortunate to have an Australia-based publication dedicated to vascular access, and we welcome ongoing submissions sharing and disseminating research projects, quality initiatives, educational programs and case studies.
Complementing this is the upcoming Scientific Meeting in Perth. This year it is being held in conjunction with the World Congress of Vascular Access (WoCoVA) special event. Yes, Ukraine may be hosting Eurovision in early May, but we have the highlights from WoCoVA 2016 in Portugal! Overall, the three-day program will present international and national experts in the area of infection prevention, skin integrity, device choice and insertion, to name just a few. Joining the experts are scores of abstract presenters from around the country and our valued industry partners. If you haven’t done so already, please register and join us at the meeting.
This is probably my last letter as AVAS President. I and all members of the second national board are coming to the end of our two-year term as office bearers. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to represent the Society alongside my amiable and hard-working peers, especially Vice-President, Peter Carr, Treasurer, Nicole Marsh, and Secretary, Tricia Kleidon. All of the State Chapter leaders have ably represented their local vascular access community, with many holding successful educational and networking events. I thank each one of you also.
The opportunity for nominations to make up a new administration now exists. I encourage you all to nominate to be part of the leadership of AVAS. It is an invaluable professional development and networking opportunity. The Executive is well supported by the Secretariat from The Association Specialists. Societies do not run themselves. They do rely on the successive donation of good will and time of members. But if everyone does a little bit, then no single person bears an onerous burden. The sum of us is greater than any one of us.
Best wishes,
Samantha Keogh
AVAS President
Author(s)
Samantha Keogh AVAS President Page 2