Call for Formalized Pathways in Vascular Medicine Training

The burden of vascular diseases and complexity of their management have been growing. Vascular medicine specialists may help to bridge gaps in care, especially as part of multidisciplinary teams. However, there is a limited number of vascular medicine specialists because of constraints in training. Despite established pathways for training in vascular medicine, there are obstacles that restrict completion of training in dedicated programs. A key factor is lack of funding as a result of inadequate recognition by key national accrediting and credentialing organizations. A concerted effort is required to overcome the obstacles to expand vascular medicine training programs and ultimately the pool of vascular medicine specialists. Well-trained vascular medicine specialists will be well positioned to ease the burden of vascular disease and optimize patient outcomes. • The burden and complexity of vascular diseases has expanded while access to specialized care has languished, and despite the establishment of standardized pathways, opportunities for specialty training in vascular medicine remain limited. • Inadequate funding and under-recognition by accreditation and certification bodies are key factors restricting access to training in vascular medicine. • A concerted, national effort to promote training in vascular medicine can reduce the burden of vascular disease and improve patient outcomes.