Society Info

History & Timeline

Founded in 1985 by Dr. Anton Butie, the American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) began as the North American Society of Phlebology. AVLS was established to unite doctors and surgeons from various fields who were focused on diagnosing and treating venous diseases.

The organization was incorporated in 1986. It changed its name to the American College of Phlebology in 1997 to represent a broader educational mission. As its focus expanded to advocacy, research, and education for vein and lymphatic practitioners, it became the American Vein & Lymphatic Society in 2019 to reflect these new goals.

As set out by our visionary founders, the AVLS has always been an inclusive organization.

The AVLS adopts an inclusive strategy for advancing vein care, inviting physicians from diverse specialties and appreciating the contributions of nurses, lymphedema therapists, ultrasound technology and practice management professionals. By fostering a wide-ranging membership, the Society spreads knowledge, gains deeper understanding, and accelerates improvements in patient care across this extensive group.

The history of the Society has been one of dramatic growth and expansion.

The inaugural meeting took place on August 4th, 1985, in Encinitas, California, with fourteen founding members in attendance. Since its inception, the American Vein & Lymphatic Society has convened more than thirty Annual Congresses. Today, the Annual Congress is recognized as the foremost educational event for physicians and allied healthcare professionals specializing in the diagnosis and management of venous and lymphatic disorders, consistently drawing over 900 participants and 75 exhibitors each year.

The AVLS includes nearly 2,000 doctors and health professionals, making it a leading association for vein and lymphatic practitioners.The AVLS includes nearly 2,000 doctors and health professionals, making it a leading association for vein and lymphatic practitioners.

Due to AVLS efforts, the American Medical Association (AMA) formally recognized phlebology as a self-designated medical specialty.

AMA members may designate phlebology as either their primary or secondary specialty, similar to established fields such as dermatology or cardiology. This recognition significantly enhances the credibility and visibility of phlebology among peers, industry professionals, and patients. Additionally, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), along with several state medical organizations, has acknowledged phlebology as a distinct practice discipline.

The AVLS Board of Directors acknowledged both the opportunity and responsibility presented by the AMA decision. It was determined that advancing key initiatives desired by the membership would necessitate substantial resource allocation. To address this, the Foundation for Venous & Lymphatic Disease (FVLD) was established at the November 2006 Annual Congress. The FVLD’s creation provided an aligned partner for future expansion of programs and initiatives.

Establishing the framework for phlebology training programs became a strategic priority. To facilitate this objective, the AVLS Board Certification Development Task Force engaged an external organization to support the creation of a comprehensive, high-quality, and psychometrically valid phlebology examination. The FVLD Board of Directors, in collaboration with AVLS, authorized funding for the exam's development. The inaugural American Board of Phlebology Certification examination was conducted in May 2008.

The Fellowship Program Committee instituted a Phlebology Fellowship Program modelled on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) post-graduate medical training standards. Following a rigorous selection process, the inaugural AVLS Phlebology Fellowship was established at UCSD under the leadership of Dr. John J. Bergan in July 2007. Subsequently, the program was relocated to NYU Langone Medical Center under the guidance of Dr. Lowell Kabnick. Currently, the fellowship program operates within the framework of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine (ABVLM).

The American Vein & Lymphatic Society is poised to have an enormous impact on the care of patients with venous and lymphatic disease.

We continue to seek new opportunities to improve the education of physicians, medical staff, and laypersons about phlebology and to advance the highest standard of care for patients with venous and lymphatic disease.

Currently, the AVLS is working on a number of new initiatives. To learn more, view our progress.

Presidents of the AVLS

1985 – 1988: Anton Butie, MD, FAVLS
1989 – 1990: Walter P. de Groot, MD
1991 – 1992: Mitchel P. Goldman, MD, FAVLS
1993 – 1994: David E. Smith, MD
1995 – 1996: Wayne M. Marley, MD
1997 – 1998: Robert A. Weiss, MD, FAAD, FAVLS
1999 – 2000: Helane S. Fronek, MD, FACP, FAVLS, DABVLM
2001 – 2002: Craig F. Feied, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, FAVLS
2003 – 2004: Neil S. Sadick, MD, FAVLS, FAAD, FAACS, DABVLM
2005 – 2006: Steven E. Zimmet, MD, RPVI, RVT, FAVLS, FAVPH, DABVLM
2007 – 2008: Robert J. Min, MD, MBA, FAVLS, FSIR, DABVLM
2009 – 2010: Nick Morrison, MD, FACS, FAVLS, RPhS, DABVLM
2011 – 2012: John Mauriello, MD, FAVLS
2013 – 2014: Melvin Rosenblatt, MD, FAVLS, DABVLM
2015 – 2016: Mark Forrestal, MD, FAVLS, DABVLM
2017 – 2018: Neil M. Khilnani, MD, FAVLS, FSIR, DABVLM
2019 – 2020: Marlin Schul, MD, FAVLS, MBA, RPhS, RVT, DABVLM
2021 – 2022: Mark Meissner, MD, FAVLS, DABVLM
2023 – 2024: Kathleen D. Gibson, MD, FACS, FAVLS
2025 – 2026: Satish Vayuvegula, MD, MS, FAVLS