President’s column By Michael D. Dake, MD, FSIR


Thriving within new dimensions I


s there anything that hasn’t been disrupted in this COVID-19 era? We all have experienced first-hand the pandemic’s impact—upon our personal lives, our workplaces and spaces, and, notably, the IR communities we represent. COVID-19 has spurred the growth of telehealth, changed the way we practice IR and lifted the veil on systemic health disparities (see p. 14).


Yet, despite the tumult, life goes on. Medicine does not stop in the face of change, and neither does SIR. Interventional radiology departments and practices have moved beyond the reflexive reactions of the early months of COVID-19 to a new level of enhanced safety protocols, treatment guidelines and patient care requirements.


As a professional organization, we’re in the midst of a historic transformation in which distance learning, digital networking and new online platforms are not just options, but requisites for success. With that in mind, despite looking forward to seeing everyone in-person at our annual meeting in March, we have decided to take SIR 2021 completely online to insure the safety of meeting participants and staff, as well as their families, colleagues and patients.


In doing so, we eagerly anticipate what will be a full reimagining of our annual meeting through alternative formats. The goal is not to offer members another virtual Zoom-fest, but rather an immersive experience that creatively advances our long- standing dedication to science and education, cutting-edge technique and meaningful dialogue.


Beyond the exchange of scientific knowledge and IR know-how,


6 IRQ | FALL 2020


Interventional radiology departments and practices have moved beyond the reflexive reactions of the early months of COVID-19 to a new level of enhanced safety protocols, treatment guidelines and patient care requirements.


we recognize that networking is an important aspect of any SIR Annual Scientific Meeting. As we unveil educational and scientific programming in the coming months, we also will roll out revised formats for networking, committee meetings and an interactive Expo hall experience. I eagerly anticipate what new session types and interesting technology SIR staff and the Annual Meeting Committee have in store for us.


Of course, not all our new initiatives are COVID-related. SIR leadership is assessing ways to increase member value from cross-divisional workgroups to more creative educational offerings and delivery models. We are pleased to launch VIRTEX—SIR’s new IR data registry. At a time when collaboration is more crucial than ever, VIRTEX is a shining example of how the union of community involvement and technology can advance our profession. We look forward to this innovative service becoming the gold standard for clinical IR data, unlocking endless possibilities for better patient care and standardized


treatments. As the release of VIRTEX approaches, I urge all members to take advantage of upcoming SIR member training to become familiar with a program destined to become a critical component of IR.


SIR is closing out an era of scholarly excellence as Ziv J Haskal, MD, FSIR, steps down as editor-in-chief of The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the end of this year. Dr. Haskal has led JVIR for 10 years, making an indelible mark on the journal and continuing to elevate its reputation as the premier journal for IR science (see p. 28). I know we are all eager to discover what comes next for Ziv, and excited to see how JVIR continues to evolve under the leadership of his successor, Daniel Sze, MD, PhD, FSIR.


As the adage goes, the only constant in life is change. Together we face compelling questions brought about by an unpredictable future: How can we reposition IR’s relevancy in the post-COVID world? How do we stay true to the integrity of our mission? The answer, of course, is by staying true to the values and standards of excellence that have always served as our north star.


Due to its visionary and resilient membership, SIR and SIR Foundation have pushed IR farther than ever through research and science, education and training, and industry partnerships and advocacy. The characteristics of our medical landscape may have changed, but I remain confident in our ability to succeed in this journey together—for it is the very nature of our specialty to not just adapt, but to thrive by continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible.


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