Trainees for Quality FIT Program

The SVS PSO Quality Fellowship in Training (FIT) program is for residents and fellows in vascular surgery and medicine in collaboration with APDVS. The application window is closed for 2023. Currently, the FIT Program is only offered within our 18 VQI regions. The FIT program is open to interested residents and fellows in General Surgery, both tracks of Vascular Surgery programs, Interventional Cardiology and Vascular Medicine. 

The Fellowship in Training (FIT) program is designed to introduce residents and fellows in vascular programs to our patient safety organization (VQI/PSO). Using a mentor-directed approach, FIT applicants will work closely with their VQI mentor on participation in regional biannual meetings and review of comparative data including center level quality improvement processes.  Opportunities include engagement in quality charter development, center level QI process and research initiatives using VQI data reviewed by VQI research advisory committee (RAC).  Advancement through the 12 to 18 month program provides the FIT applicant opportunity to present their work during VQI@VAM with potential selection for a highly coveted Jack L Cronenwett Scholarship (5 awarded annually) to continue research and/or work more closely with VQI/PSO staff and committees. 

trainee resources

• SVS FIT Program Overview – New October 2024
• JVS Article: The Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization Quality Fellowship in Training (FIT) program, training the next-generation quality-focused vascular surgeons
• Upcoming Regional Meetings and Events
• Welcome to the FIT Program (2024)
• FIT Scholar – What’s Next?
• FIT Trainee Program Curriculum and Overview (NEW 2024)
• Mentor Responsibilities
• Candidate Goals and Objectives
• 2024 SVS VQI Annual Report
• FIT Program Trainee and Mentor Data Use Policy
• Past, Present and Future Jens Vision
• PSO PSES Document
• Why Should I Join VQI? 
• Top 10 VQI Pubications (selected by SVS PSO Medical Directors)
• Presentation: How to Submit a Venous RAC Proposal (By Dr. Jaime Benarroch-Gampel)
• Requesting VQI Data – Instructional Video with Dr. Leila Mureebe
• Getting Started Using the VQI for Research with Dr. Leila Mureebe
• VQI Webinar – Discharge Medications: Reaching and Sustaining our Goal of 100%
• Regional RAC Request
• FIT Program Charters 101
• Program Charter (Blank)
• GLASS Classification Graphic
• TASC Classification Graphic
• Aortic Zone Diagram

IRB Resources

• HHS guidance about whether IRB is needed for a project, whether it is human subjects research or QI
• Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH, 1 John W. Maloy, JD2 How to Determine if a Human Subjects Research, a Quality Improvement Project, or Both. Ochsner Journal 20:56–61, 2020 DOI: 10.31486/toj.19.0087 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32284684/
• World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects – PubMed (nih.gov)

Additional Resources

• Quality FIT Program Announcement
• Quality FIT Program Slides
• Trainee Application Sample Application

FIT Trainee Networking Calls

• August 29, 2022
• November 9, 2022
• January 25, 2023

VSGNE Lecture Series

• September 15, 2022
• Project Design: What Questions Can You Answer Using VQI? – Jens Jorgensen, MD
• Submitting to RAC: Regional vs. National vs. Special Projects – Cassius Chaar, MD
• Data Analysis – Douglas Jones, MD
• Paper Writing: Dos, Don’ts, Addressing Reviewer Comments – Jeffrey Siracuse, MD
• Paper Review and Journal Editorial Boards – Alan Dardik, MD, PhD
• Basic and Translational Research – Kimberly Malka, MD, PhD
• Navigating the IRB – Anahita Dua, MD
• Managing a Multi-Center Consortium – Andres Schanzer, MD
• Designing a Randomized Trial – Alik Farber, MD, MBA
• QI Projects – Kristina Giles, MD (May)

For further information please contact bwymer@svspso.org or adam.johnson@duke.edu.