The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation has selected Olamide Alabi, MD, to receive the Vascular Care for the Underserved (VC4U) Project Grant for her project, “Implementation of a Data-Guided 'Circulation Health' Community-Outreach Initiative: Reaching People Where They Are.”
Alabi, a vascular surgeon and chief quality officer in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Emory University School of Medicine, is recognized for her expertise in peripheral artery occlusive disease and is dedicated to improving access to quality healthcare. She is also the president of the Society of Black Vascular Surgeons (SBVS).
The SVS Foundation’s VC4U Project Grants support initiatives that address significant disparities in vascular surgery care across the United States. The donations collected during the 2024 Vascular Health Step Challenge funded the VC4U Award, which raised awareness and support for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Alabi’s project will employ data-driven strategies to promote equitable PAD care. Her proposal outlines the establishment of multidisciplinary teams to conduct “circulation health” screenings for community members in collaboration with local partners. Additionally, she plans to develop a community-based participatory research (CBPR) team involving PAD stakeholders.
“Thank you to my division leadership, Dr. Yazan Duwayri, for allowing us to participate in such high-impact, community-engaged initiatives,” Alabi said. “This proposal represents a collaboration with SVS and SVN members, representatives from the SBVS, students (MPH, MD, PA), faculty from Emory and Morehouse School of Medicine, our podiatry colleagues and more. We are grateful for the opportunity to utilize this competitive award in our local and statewide community.”
Through her community outreach initiative, Alabi aims to educate and empower individuals about circulatory health, improve disease prevention strategies and enhance access to necessary medical resources.
For more information about the VC4U project grants, visit vascular.org/VC4U.