This is the time of year to think about growth and rejuvenation. Your patients may be considering cosmetic treatments to get them ready for the imminent summer sun (and beach, for those of you in coastal terrain), either to rid themselves of varicose veins or other treatments to enhance their appearance. It’s also a great time to take a step back and evaluate your opportunities for practice growth. For that reason, it’s appropriate for this issue-of VEIN to offer perspectives from practicing physicians who have enhanced their practice through new services or the pursuit of research studies. From the business side of growing your practice, we also offer some insights on practice advertising from the perspectives of industry and government experts.

We take a different approach to our cover story this issue-with an in-depth interview with Dr. E.J Sanchez, an interventional cardiologist who broadened his practice to first include vein care and more recently, laser lipolysis and liposuction. He offers great insights into the investment of resources required and further provides a cautionary perspective on all the factors to consider so that you go into this potential opportunity with your “eyes wide open.”

On the research front, Dr. Suresh Vedantham provides an overview of the opportunity to enroll patients in the ATTRACT trial, which is focused on new treatments for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and their potential longer-term impact on patients. We also delve into research opportunities available for phlebologists in this issue’s Featured Doctor profile. Here, we interview Dr. Clint Hayes, the Director of the Vein Center of North Texas who has built a thriving vein practice in a rural area of northeastern Texas. Dr. Hayes has successfully pursued grants to fund research in the area of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and as a member of the ACP Research Programs Committee, offers insights on the current opportunities to secure research funding for a wide range of studies.

On the practice development front, we share details from an interview with Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Assistant Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the FTC guidelines pertaining to the use of testimonials and endorsements in advertising. While not specifically focused on physicians, the questions posed are highly relevant to practitioners considering using testimonials on broadcast (television or radio) or web site advertising. Speaking of broadcast advertising, we also offer insights from Lyndsay Ballengee, industry marketing executive, on how to build a strategic radio campaign for your vein practice.

Education for phlebologists remains a core focus of VEIN and this issue-is no exception. Our Education columnist, Dr. Steve Elias, takes a step back and looks at the value of acronyms in phlebology education (though he doesn’t include the few I’ve already used in a few short paragraphs in this letter (i.e., ATTRACT, RLS, DVT, and FTC)! We also include a recap of the recent American Venous Forum meeting in Amelia Island, Florida and preview the upcoming 8th International Vein Congress to be held in May in Miami Beach. Our Medical Director, Dr. Marlin Schul, also addresses the role of each phlebologist in advancing venous disease awareness in this issue’s Speaking Out column.

One final note. We are very pleased that Lawson Mollica has returned to VEIN in the role of Associate Publisher. Our team remains committed to being your source of cutting-edge clinical, technological and business information pertaining to venous disease treatment. We welcome your feedback and input to future issues; contact me at [email protected] with your suggestions.

Many thanks for your continued support of VEIN Magazine.

All the best,
Andrea Epstein