2026 Symposium

The Vascular Access Society of the Americas invites you to participate as an exhibitor at the 2026 Vascular Access for Dialysis Symposium, May 20-22, 2026 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This Symposium is designed for all transplant, vascular and general surgeons, nephrologists, interventional radiologists and nephrologists, nurses and allied health professionals who are interested in the management of vascular access. The VASA Symposium is an excellent opportunity for your company to showcase its products and services to a multidisciplinary audience committed to advancing dialysis patient care.

The Program Committee is busy planning an excellent scientific meeting that will include:

State-of-the-art lectures covering all major areas in dialysis access
Diverse multi-disciplinary faculty including prominent international
speakers representing Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, & Japan
40 scientific abstract presentations
Vascular access nursing and allied health
New devices and technologies
Video presentations

Now accepting Abstracts

Interested in presenting? Submit an Abstract!

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Agenda

Speaker Bios

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Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Vascular Access Society of the Americas. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the AccreditationCouncil for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education(ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education forthe healthcare team.

Professions in scope for this activity are listed below.

Amedco Joint Accreditation Provider Number: 4008163

Physicians
Amedco LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 19.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM for physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
Amedco LLC designates this activity for a maximum of 19.00 ANCC contact hours.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026
07:00 AM - 08:00 AM	Breakfast
ALLIED HEALTH
08:00 AM - 08:05 AM	Welcome
08:05 AM - 08:20 AM	ESKD Life Plan and Access Plan Speaker: Debbie Brouwer-Maier, RN, CNN
08:20 AM - 08:50 AM	AV Access Creation, HD Catheter and PD Placement Speaker: John Lucas, MD
08:50 AM - 09:35 AM	Patient Models at Stations: 1-min Check with Patients, Physical Exams Speakers: John Lucas, MD; Dirk Hentschel, MD; Jacquelyn N. Hall, CCHT, VAC
09:35 AM - 09:55 AM	Break
09:55 AM - 10:25 AM	VASA Toolkit for Show & Tell Speakers: John Lucas, MD; Dirk Hentschel, MD
10:25 AM - 10:55 AM	Cannulation Stations Speakers: Debbie Brouwer-Maier, RN, CNN; Parker; Fahner
10:55 AM - 11:40 AM	ANNA Intermountain Chapter Collboration Session: 360 degree Care of the Nephrology Patient Speaker: Kennadi Lower, RN, BSN
11:40 AM - 12:05 PM	The Holland Keynote Lecture: Best Cannulation Practices are Achievable
12:05 PM - 01:05 PM	Lunch
CANNULATION
01:05 PM - 01:13 PM	Needle Designs and Impact on Cannulation Speaker: Debbie Brouwer-Maier, RN, CNN
01:13 PM - 01:21 PM	Eradicating Area Cannulation / Dead Space Between Dialysis Needles Speaker: John Lucas, MD
01:21 PM - 01:29 PM	Covered Stent Grafts in Cannulation Segment Speaker: Alexander Ushinsky, MD
01:29 PM - 01:37 PM	POCUS for Cannulation Mapping at the Dialysis Chair
01:37 PM - 01:45 PM	Buttonhole Cannulation
01:45 PM - 01:53 PM	Self Cannulation
01:53 PM - 02:13 PM	Cannulation Issues and Solutions: Americas and Beyond
02:13 PM - 02:33 PM	Break
USRDS
02:33 PM - 02:45 PM	2025 USRDS: A Fundamental Failure of Systems of Access Placement in the US Speaker: Victoria Teodorescu, MD, MBA, RVT
02:45 PM - 02:57 PM	Progress and Paradox: What the 2025 USRDS Report Reveals About Vascular Access The 2025 USRDS report reveals a paradox in dialysis access care: improved outcomes once access is established, yet persistently high catheter use at initiation. Declines in abandonment and infection rates highlight advances in access management, but failures in predialysis planning remain widespread. This presentation examines this disconnect and its implications for enhancing future access strategy. Learning Objectives Evaluate contemporary trends in vascular access outcomes from the USRDS 2025 report, including improvements in access durability and infection rates among prevalent hemodialysis patients Apply risk-based, multidisciplinary strategies to reduce catheter dependence at dialysis initiation. Speaker: Robert Lee, MD
02:57 PM - 03:09 PM	How can we get Nephrologists to Refer Patients for Access Earlier? Speaker: Jose Navarrete, MD
03:09 PM - 03:21 PM	Artificial Intelligence will Save the Day (or Not) Speaker: Karthik Ramani, MD
03:21 PM - 03:33 PM	IPRO: IS CMS Oversight Effective?
03:33 PM - 03:45 PM	Not a One-and-Done: Role of Surgeons in Longitudinal Access Surveillance and Maintenance Speaker: Karl Illig, MD
03:45 PM - 03:55 PM	Break
ACCESS PARADIGMS
03:55 PM - 04:07 PM	What Does it Take to Improve Dialysis Access Outcomes?
04:07 PM - 04:27 PM	DEBATE: OBL Vascular Access Centers vs Hospitals: The Good and the Bad Speaker: Stephen Hohmann, MD; John Ross, MD
04:27 PM - 04:39 PM	Shared Decision Making - How? Speaker: Karen Woo, MD
04:39 PM - 04:51 PM	Home Hemodialysis
04:51 PM - 05:11 PM	Keynote Lecture - Toward an Unlimited Organ Supply: Translating Xenotransplantation to the Clinic This session will review the scope and clinical consequences of organ shortage in kidney transplantation. The scientific rationale, recent clinical progress, and ongoing challenges of xenotransplantation as a potential solution to donor organ scarcity will be discussed. Participants will learn that the use of genetically engineered porcine organs for transplantation represents a scientifically advancing strategy to reduce waitlist mortality and address the persistent shortage of transplantable organs Speaker: Ragnar Palsson, MD

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026
07:00 AM - 08:00 AM	Breakfast
08:00 AM - 08:05 AM	Opening Remarks
08:05 AM - 08:25 AM	VASA Presidential Address Speaker: John Lucas, MD
AUTOGENOUS AV FISTULAS
08:25 AM - 08:37 AM	Vein Mapping: Ultrasound vs Venography The presentation will outline the key features of two techniques—ultrasound and venography—used to evaluate a patient’s vessels prior to vascular access creation. It will compare the advantages and limitations of each method and propose a recommended best-practice assessment pathway. Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to understand the difference between two different techniques for vein mapping before arteriovenous fistula creation and will be able to select the most appropriate one based on patient specific factos Speaker: Adina Voiculescu, MD
08:37 AM - 08:49 AM	Which AVF is Best? Speaker: Mohamad Hussain, MD, PhD
08:49 AM - 09:01 AM	Criteria and Predictors for Maturation Speaker: Jason Wagner, MD
09:01 AM - 09:13 AM	The Immature AVF: Methods to Induce Maturation Speaker: Yana Etkin, MD
09:13 AM - 09:25 AM	Endo AVF's - The Current Evidence and Role Speaker: Ahmed Abdel Aal, MD, PhD
09:25 AM - 09:45 AM	Debate: EndoAVF is Done vs Surgical Access Deserts Speakers: Dirk Hentschel, MD; Shahverdyan R; Elizabeth L George; Ahmed Abdel Aal, MD, PhD
09:45 AM - 10:05 AM	Break
AV GRAFTS
10:05 AM - 10:17 AM	AV Graft Materials and Configurations Speaker: Jeffrey Lawson, MD, PhD
10:17 AM - 10:29 AM	HeRO Graft - Pros and Cons
10:29 AM - 10:35 AM	M&M Case Potential pitfalls of AV grafts. Speaker: Tristen Chun, MD
10:35 AM - 10:41 AM	M&M Case
MANAGEMENT OF ACCESS COMPLICATIONS
10:41 AM - 10:53 AM	Management of HAIDI: Which Therapy in Which Stage? Speaker: Yael Vin, MD
10:53 AM - 11:05 AM	Preventing HAIDI (Hemodialysis Access Induced Distal Ischemia) How to prevent the devastating outcome of HAIDI (Hemodialysis Access Induced Distal Ischemia) Speaker: Robert Shahverdyan, MD, PhD
11:05 AM - 11:25 AM	Break
11:25 AM - 11:37 AM	High Flow Access Management: Surgical Speaker: John Ross, MD
11:37 AM - 11:49 AM	High Flow Access Management: Endovascular
11:49 AM - 12:01 PM	Surgical and Endovascular Managemet of Aneurysms in AVF's Speaker: John Lucas, MD
12:01 PM - 12:13 PM	AV Graft Pseudoaneurysms Treatment Options
12:13 PM - 12:43 PM	The Henry Keynote Lecture Speaker: Suren Shenoy, MD, PhD
12:43 PM - 01:43 PM	Lunch
AV ACCESS MAINTENANCE
01:43 PM - 01:55 PM	Access Surveillance - Optimal Methods Speaker: Andrea Lubitz, MD, MPH
01:55 PM - 02:07 PM	Biology of Intimal Hyperplasia and Strategies for Prevention Speaker: Sanjay Misra, MD
02:07 PM - 02:19 PM	Covered Stents at the Venous Anastomosis: First Line or Last Line? Speaker: Ziv Haskal, MD
02:19 PM - 02:31 PM	Drug-Coated Balloons - Most Recent Data This presentation will update participants on the most recent published data related to drug eluting balloons and their applications in vascular access maintenance. We will cover most recent data from pivotal trials and summarize findings of recent meta-analyses. Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to apply most recent data about drug eluting balloons to decisions about device selection for interventions in AV access interventions. Speaker: Gordon McLennan, MD, FSIR
02:31 PM - 02:43 PM	Central Venous Stenosis - When to Treat and How? Update presentation on the best practices to treat central venous stenosis. Learning Objectives Discuss indications, devices, technical details Discuss how to avoid complications Speaker: Marcelo Guimaraes, MD, MBA, CPE, FSIR
02:43 PM - 02:55 PM	Bare vs Covered Stents for Central Veins: What to Use? A review of when to use bare stents, and when to use covered stents for Thoracic Central Vein Obstruction (TCVO) in dialysis patients. Learning Objectives Recognize the limited use of bare stents in the thoracic central veins Understand the potential for using covered stents in the thoracic central veins Speaker: Bart Dolmatch, MD, FSIR
02:55 PM - 03:15 PM	Debate: Venous Anastomosis Stenosis: POBA, DCB, Stent, Stent Graft, Revise? Speaker: Dheeraj Rajan, MD, FRCPC, FSIR, FACR
03:15 PM - 03:35 PM	Break
03:35 PM - 03:47 PM	Stent vs HeRO Graft Conversion for Arm Swelling in the Stting of Central Vein Senosis Speaker: John Aruny, MD
03:47 PM - 03:59 PM	Stent vs HeRO for Arm Swelling Due to Central Stenosis I will share data from our institution and others comparing outcomes when arm swelling due to central vein stenosis ipsilateral to an AV access is treated with central vein stenting versus HeRO graft conversion. Learning Objectives Learn the technique for two-stage HeRO graft implantation Familiarize audience with comparitive patency data between HeRO grafts and central venous stents Speaker: Brendan Cline
03:59 PM - 04:05 PM	Declotting AV Grafts: How I Do It (Vascular Surgeon) Speaker: John Lucas, MD
04:05 PM - 04:11 PM	Declotting AV Grafts: How I Do It (Interventional Nephrologist) Speaker: Neghae Mawla, MD
04:11 PM - 04:17 PM	Declotting AV Grafts: How I Do It (Interventional Radiologist) Speaker: Chuck Ray, MD, PhD
04:17 PM - 04:29 PM	Impact of Hypotension on AV Access Speaker: Jose Navarrete, MD
04:29 PM - 04:41 PM	Post Transplant Access Management: Keep or Ligate? Speaker: Suren Shenoy, MD, PhD
04:41 PM - 05:01 PM	Break
NEW TECHNOLOGY
05:01 PM - 05:07 PM	Xeltis
05:07 PM - 05:13 PM	New Technology 2
05:13 PM - 05:19 PM	New Technology 3
05:19 PM - 05:25 PM	New Technology 4
05:25 PM - 05:31 PM	New Technology 5
05:31 PM - 05:37 PM	New Technology 6

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026
07:00 AM - 08:00 AM	Breakfast
PERITONEAL DIALYSIS
08:00 AM - 08:12 AM	Patient Considerations for PD: Pros and Cons vs HD
08:12 AM - 08:18 AM	How I Do It : PD Catheter Insertion (Surgery) Speaker: Karen Woo, MD
08:18 AM - 08:24 AM	How I Do It : PD Catheter Insertion (Interventional Nephrology)
08:24 AM - 08:30 AM	How I Do It : PD Catheter Insertion (Interventional Radiology)
08:30 AM - 08:50 AM	Debate: Who Should be First Line for PD Catheter Insertion?
08:50 AM - 09:02 AM	Management of PD Catheter Dysfunction Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter dysfunction remains a primary driver of technique failure. This session explores the clinical complexities of catheter dysfunction. Participants will evaluate a staged management algorithm, beginning with conservative medical therapies and advancing to more invasive therapies including fluoroscopic catheter wire manipulation, catheter reposition and catheter exchange. Learning Objectives Understand the different etiologies of catheter dysfunction and how they may present Be familiar with different strategies of catheter salvage Speaker: David Strain, MD
09:02 AM - 09:22 AM	Debate: Fistula First or PD Catheter First? Speakers: Mitch Henry, MD; Panel
09:22 AM - 09:42 AM	Break
HEMODIALYSIS CVC's
09:42 AM - 09:54 AM	Femoral TDC's: Always Bad?
09:54 AM - 10:06 AM	When the IJ's are Gone: Where to Go?
10:06 AM - 10:18 AM	Catheter Locks, Dressings, and Coatings: What Works? This session provides a high-level review of the current evidence regarding catheter locks, specialized dressings, and antimicrobial coatings in the prevention of CRBSI and catheter dysfunction. We will evaluate which technologies offer a statistically significant benefit in the hemodialysis population versus those that remain primarily theoretical. Attendees will leave with a clear, evidence-based framework for selecting the most effective infection-prevention strategies for their clinical practice. Learning Objectives Evaluate the clinical efficacy of various catheter lock solutions, dressings, and antimicrobial coatings in reducing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) and improving patency in hemodialysis patients Develop an evidence-based approach to selecting specific catheter-related technologies by distinguishing between statistically significant clinical benefits and theoretical manufacturer claims. Speaker: Neal Viradia, MD, MPH
10:18 AM - 10:30 AM	Avoiding IV's and PICC Lines in CKD Patients: HOW?? To improve long-term outcomes for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), we must implement a strict vein preservation protocol. This policy mandates a formal consultation with a vascular access team before any central or peripheral access is placed in patients with CKD stage 3-5. by requiring consultation this team can evaluate these patients and identify the most appropriate access for this patient. Learning Objectives Identify the risks of central vein stenosis and vessel depletion associated with non-indicated vascular access in the CKD population Evaluate institutional strategies and policy-driven interventions designed to limit peripherally inserted access and prioritize vein preservation in CKD patients Speaker: David Strain, MD
MISC AV ACCESS TOPICS
10:30 AM - 10:42 AM	Myth or Reality: Axillary Lymph Node Dissections - Impactful on Access?
10:42 AM - 10:54 AM	Nerve Blocks for Access Creation and Maintenance Speaker: Libby Weaver, MD
10:54 AM - 11:06 AM	Blood Pump Speed and Fistula/Graft Survival
11:06 AM - 11:18 AM	AI and Robotics in Dialysis Vascular Access: Future is Now
11:18 AM - 11:30 AM	Frailty and Multi-Morbidity Speaker: Andrea Lubitz, MD, MPH
11:30 AM - 11:42 AM	ESKD Life Plan and Access Plan: Surgery Perspective vs Practice Bldg Speaker: Brittany Aicher, MD
11:42 AM - 11:54 AM	Access for Morbid Obesity Speaker: Carlos Hinojosa, MCs
11:54 AM - 12:06 PM	Flow Volume Measurements
12:06 PM - 12:18 PM	TBD Speaker: Lucyna Price, MD
12:18 PM - 12:30 PM	TBD Speaker: Mitch Henry, MD
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM	Lunch
TOP ABSTRACTS
01:30 PM - 01:38 PM	Abstract 1
01:38 PM - 01:46 PM	Abstract 2
01:46 PM - 01:54 PM	Abstract 3
01:54 PM - 02:02 PM	Abstract 4
02:02 PM - 02:10 PM	Abstract 5
GLOBAL DIALYSIS ACCESS FORUM
02:10 PM - 02:20 PM	Updates in Dialysis Access Care in Japan Speaker: Toshihide Naganuma, MD, PhD
02:21 PM - 02:31 PM	VAS – Dialysis Access in European Nations Speaker: Prof. Jemcov
02:32 PM - 02:42 PM	Vacular Access Care in India Speaker: Prof. Jesuja
02:43 PM - 02:53 PM	Dialysis Controversies Across the Continents - Asia Pacific Region Status and trends of renal replacement therapy and vascular access strategies in Asia Pacific region. The region being very heterogeneous, I shall concentrate on India, which has a very active vascular access program with unique problems and solutions which could be in variance with the west. Learning Objectives Peep into the current situation of CKD, RRT and the Vascular Access program in the Asia Pacific region, especially India. There are likely to be some innovations and reverse innovations, which should be worth notable for the American audience. Speaker: Jeyaraj Balasubramaniam, MD, DM, FRCP, FASN; Sanjiv Jasuja, MD, DNB, MNAMS, FIMSA
02:54 PM - 03:04 PM	VASA – Problems and Initiative in Vascular Access Care in Latin American Countries Speaker: Carlos Hinajosa, MD
03:05 PM - 03:15 PM	USA Speaker: TBD
03:16 PM - 03:25 PM	Discussion
03:25 PM - 03:30 PM	Closing Remarks