Perspectives in community training in vascular surgery

It has been established that there is a shortage of vascular surgeons nationwide. This is attributed partially to an imbalance between the number of vascular trainees, and consequently the number of newly graduated vascular surgeons entering the workforce, and the number of clinically active vascular surgeons approaching retirement age. Concurrently, a "silver tsunami" of an aging population in the United States, and increasing prevalence of morbid obesity, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease portends a marked increase in the patient population in need of vascular care. This anticipated lack of appropriate vascular care may disproportionately affect specific populations. It is our aim to explore the role community training can serve in addressing this issue.