Cook Endovascular Partners with International Society for Vascular Surgery to Develop Training Fellowships.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Cook Endovascular Therapies is proud to announce a partnership with the International Society for Vascular Surgery (ISVS) to form the ISVS - Cook Training Fellowship. These $50,000 grant awards will be used to support fellows in training.

"Vascular surgery is expanding rapidly beyond its traditional areas of practice to include a new generation of interventional procedures such as endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR)," explained Barry Thomas, global leader of Cook Medical's endovascular therapies division. "Cook has a long history of supporting medical education through grants and fellowships, and we hope to help the next generation of vascular surgeons develop the skills they will need to bring the medical advances of the 21st Century to patients worldwide."

Formed in 2003, the ISVS is an international organization committed to the recognition and promotion of vascular surgery as a defined specialty separate and distinct from general and cardiothoracic surgery.

"We are glad to have this opportunity to partner with ISVS to further advancement in the area of vascular surgery," added Thomas. "Our hope is that these educational grants will be used to strengthen the global vascular surgery community and benefit patients worldwide."

"Vascular surgery is changing rapidly and there is a great need to ensure that vascular surgeons, particularly from countries where appropriate training is not available, can gain access to it. Cook understands this problem - by entering into a partnership with the ISVS," said Sir Peter RF Bell, MD, President of the ISVS. "This scholarship will allow the ISVS to offer fellowships to vascular surgeons to gain such training at renowned institutions in several different countries. Cook has always been at the leading edge of endovascular development and is now leading the way in this educational exercise. I would like to thank them on behalf of the many surgeons who will undoubtedly benefit in the future."

"Through this joint educational venture, Cook and ISVS will further demonstrate both organizations' long standing commitment to developing better training opportunities for vascular surgeons and enhancing treatment for vascular patients," adds Barry Thomas, "Cook believes in the goals of ISVS and is grateful to be a part of the medical advancements these educational grants will provide."

The International Society for Vascular Surgery's (ISVS) mission is to promote vascular surgery as a distinct medical specialty worldwide through the dissemination of administrative, scientific, and clinical knowledge and the creation of strategic alliances; to educate other healthcare professionals, government agencies and the general public concerning the unique services and valuable benefits provided by vascular surgery practitioners who are well trained and committed to the specialty in all its nuances; and to identify and provide recognition to individuals who meet certain guidelines, which qualify them as, committed and accomplished vascular surgeons.

About Cook Medical

The world's largest privately held manufacturer of medical devices with international headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., COOK[R] (www.cookmedical.com/) is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for drug-eluting and bare metal stents, aortic and vascular endografts, catheters, wire guides, introducer needles and sheaths, embolization coils, medical biomaterials and contract manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, vena cava filters and other minimally invasive medical devices for radiology, cardiology, urology and women's health, critical care medicine, surgery, gastroenterology, bone access and endovascular therapies.