Annual SPecIalist Registrar
Educational Programme (ASPIRE)
The Vascular Society has a strong interest in vascular training, to support the future standards of vascular surgeons.
To support the future standards and education of vascular surgeons, the Vascular Society launched the Annual Specialist Registrar Educational (ASPIRE) programme in October 2013.
The Annual Specialist Registrar Educational Programme (ASPIRE) supports the education and development of trainee vascular surgeons throughout their training, which in turn compliments the national curriculum.
Over time, the ASPIRE programme has evolved with additional courses aimed at delivering education across our membership.
The Vascular Society Education and Training Committee, currently chaired by Mr Patrick Coughlin, develops, manages and delivers the ASPIRE programme.
@VascularWebinar
ASPIRE
Each year, the ASPIRE programme takes the form of six residential courses, each of which are between 2 and 3 days in duration. Each of the courses are led by a senior expert faculty, giving the trainees access to experienced senior vascular surgeons. The courses are designed to support trainees through each step of their training, and provide valuable mentorship by senior vascular surgeons throughout their journey.
In response to the global challenge, posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vascular Society took an early innovative decision to continue to deliver education via the ASPIRE Digital platform. This has resulted in an overwhelming positive response, and provided a growing resource of education for vascular surgeons.
More recently, we have added a number of additional courses to the ASPIRE portfolio.
ASPIRE 3: Introduction to vascular surgery training
Provides a full introduction and overview of vascular surgical training with an introduction to venous and endovascular techniques.
ASPIRE 4: Essential operative techniques
Uses a cadaveric based approach to facilitate practical understanding in open surgical arterial and venous exposures within the lower and upper limb.
ASPIRE 5: Advanced vascular surgery training
Provides an overview of the management of several core facets of vascular surgery including the management of AAA, CLTI and Renal Access. This course incorporates a number of practical stations alongside a series of casebased discussions.
ASPIRE 6: Advanced operative techniques
A cadaveric base course exploring complex arterial and venous exposures in the neck/ thorax and abdomen. This course also explores the management of complex aortic and venous pathologies, providing exposure to the latest technological advances in the endovascular management and infra-, juxta- and suprarenal aortic aneurysmal disease. The course provides an introduction to the role of endovascular technologies in the treatment of deep venous disease.
ASPIRE 7: Preparation for FRCS (Vasc.)
This course offers simulated clinical examination with patients; simulated oral examinations included academic stations.
ASPIRE 8: Preparation for consultant practice
During the course of the two days, mock interviews and presentation processes are undertaken, with interface with industry and medico-legal input to provide the trainee with the required skills for not only the consultant interview but for life as an early vascular surgery consultant.
Each of the courses are led by a senior expert faculty, giving the trainees access to experienced senior vascular surgeons. The courses are designed to support trainees through each step of their training, and provide valuable mentorship by senior vascular surgeons throughout their journey.
The ASPIRE course has proved invaluable to the future of vascular surgery.
We would like to thank all the faculty who have helped support the ASPIRE courses this year. The trainees are all grateful for the time you give up to help with the courses and the expertise that you are able to impart. We at the VS Education & Training committee are also hugely grateful for your help and support. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to provide the education portfolio that we do.
ASPIRE Report 2023
Additional ASPIRE course portfolio
Over the last year, the Training and Education Committee of the VS has continued to evolve the educational portfolio on offer to the vascular surgery community within the Great Britain and Ireland.
We have supported the following courses over the last year.
- Training day in conjunction with the Society of Vascular Nursing
- A training day with the focus on our SAS & LED colleagues
Both of these were delivered successfully digitally and will be repeated again next year.
We were also able to support the
- Cadaveric renal access course in Coventry
ASPIRE SAS Course. Online. June 2024.
Organiser: Mr. Ibrahim Enemosah; Mr Andrew Irwin; Mr Marco Baroni.
This course is in its second year, having been well received last year. The focus is on aspects of the curriculum alongside relevant aspects of career progression. If you wish to join the online event then please look out for details and joining information on the VS website.
ASPIRE Venous. November 2023. Dublin.
Organiser: Miss Kaji Sritharan.
This course was initially run the day before the ASM in Dublin. Over 30 candidates attended what was a comprehensive course on all aspects of managing superficial venous reflux. A further course is planned for November 2025 at the ASM
ASPIRE Trauma. Tuesday 26th November 2024. Brighton.
Organisers: Mr Ross Davenport. Mr Chris Alwyn. Miss Kaji Sritharan.
The ASPIRE trauma course is a new one day course that will run at the on the Tuesday prior to the start of the ASM. It is aimed at all vascular surgery trainees and early years consultants and will provide a broad overview of all aspects of trauma management for vascular surgeons.
Programme
ASPIRE VS / SVN Study day. 4th July 2024. Online.
Organisers: Miss Vicky Bristow (SVN) and Miss Kaji Sritharan (VS)
The course this year will be the second course that we have run. The programme is below and covers a broad range of topics of relevance to the vascular nurses and allied healthcare professionals
ASPIRE Digital
In response to the global challenge, posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vascular Society took an early innovative decision to continue to deliver education via the ASPIRE Digital platform. This has resulted in an overwhelming response, and provided a growing resource of education for vascular surgeons.
To date, there have been 43 webinars that have been delivered since May 2019. These have delivered in blocks of webinars which have taken place on a Monday at 2000 hours. The format has tended to focus on a topic, presented with an expert panel available for discussion and questions. Attendances has on average been between 40- 50 participants per live session.
Each of the recorded sessions are included on the Vascular Society members’ website. This allows for further review of the webinars which has been invaluable to trainees as part of exam preparation.
In addition, some of the sessions have been developed in association with other organisations, e.g. British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (BACPAR) (https://bacpar.csp.org.uk/) and The British Society of Endovascular Therapy (BSET) (https://www.bset.co.uk/).
You can view the recorded webinars here: ASPIRE Digital
Financial support for the courses.
We are greatly indebted to NHS England (previously Health Education England) for their continued support for the ASPIRE programme and allied courses. The education programme also could not run without industry support, and we would like to recognise the support from the following companies:
- Cook Medical
- WL Gore
- Bentley
- Terumo aortic
- Medtronic
- Lemonchase
- Penumbra
For the ASPIRE 3 course, GE provided ultrasound machines and Meri life sutures.
Further information
If you require further information on the ASPIRE series please email admin@vascularsociety.org.uk