Dear SVIN Members,
I would like to start with applauding and thanking you all for your service. With everything going on around the world over the last year, we understand the struggles some of you have endured caring for patients, loved ones and the world as a whole. Before discussing the challenges and advances made in our field, I would like to say that we need to stay supportive of one another and continue to help our brothers and sisters no matter what color, religion, sex, or beliefs they may have.
“We love and lose in China, we weep on England’s moors, and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores. We seek success in Finland, are born and die in Maine. In minor ways we differ, in major we’re the same. I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” – Maya Angelou
Ameer E. Hassan, DO, FAHA, FSVIN, President-Elect
Valley Baptist Medical Center Harlingen, TX
Stroke remains a disease of immense public health significance despite the advances in our understanding of epidemiology, quality of life, and pathophysiology. Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the number one cause of disability. Approximately 5.5 million people die of stroke every year around the world, and half of those that do survive are significantly disabled. With mechanical thrombectomy considered by many to be the most significant treatment in stroke over the last 2 decades, we still have a lot of work to do for those countries that do not have readily accessible treatment. As shown in Figure 1, the burden of stroke is highest in Eastern Europe, Northern Asia, Central Africa, and the South Pacific. There is a lot that we can do to help and this year we would like all societies to get together and promote stroke awareness and education.
Figure 1: Global Stroke mortality Rates
Given this immense need to improve stroke treatment globally, SVIN is blessed to have a hardworking board that is composed of members from Egypt, Brazil, India, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Vietnam; and committee members from at least four times as many countries! And so, while the majority of our membership resides in the USA, our perspective and our passion to serve is truly international.
SVIN’s growth and activities continue to benefit from the determined energy of our members.
The MT2020 Committee continues their campaign to reduce the impact of stroke disability globally. It has been estimated that with effective actions on common lifestyle factors, at least half of all strokes may be prevented. The prevention and treatment of stroke is a complex medical and political issue, but there is evidence that substantial prevention of stroke is feasible while simultaneously increasing access to treatments.
The SVIN Registry tracks and chronicles the profound impact we have realized in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with endovascular therapy. The SVIN Guidelines and Practice Committee is getting up and running and as a society we are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. In parallel, the SVIN COVID-19 Registry was launched in late March to study and learn from this global healthcare crisis to help those manage a pandemic we have not seen in a century. We continue to educate and rapidly communicate newfound lessons that affect our field. As a nimble society that understands the risks and burden on our members during these unprecedented times, we will adapt our SVIN Annual Meeting to a virtual platform though we cannot wait to see you in person when the world is safe again.
Thank you for being a SVIN member. Your support and your membership makes all of this possible.
Sincerely,
Ameer E. Hassan, DO, FAHA, FSVIN
SVIN President-Elect 2021
