Reflections from the Women’s Vascular Surgery Summit: Insights from Two BMC2 Scholarship Recipients

Women's Vascular Surgery Summit scholarship recipients Dr. Shukri Dualeh and Dr. Tiffany Nguyen. Dr. Shukri Dualeh stands with her arm around Dr. Tiffany Nguyen who is on the right side of the frame. Both women are smiling and looking at the camera. Dr. Dualeh has short, curly dark hair. She is wearing dark clothing and gold hoop earrings and a gold necklace. Dr. Nguyen has long straight dark hair which she wears half up and half down. She is wearing glasses and a light-colored top.

Through a scholarship funded by BMC2 in collaboration with the International Society for Women Vascular Surgeons (ISWVS), two Michigan-based surgical trainees had the opportunity to attend this year’s Women’s Vascular Surgery Summit on May 2nd and 3rd in Chicago. Dr. Tiffany Nguyen, a resident at DMC Sinai Grace and research volunteer at Henry Ford Sinai Grace, and Dr. Shukri Dualeh, a resident from Michigan Medicine, shared their reflections on what made the experience meaningful, both personally and professionally.

One standout aspect of the summit was its international reach. Attendees included clinicians and trainees from around the world, including India, Barbados, China, Bulgaria, and Canada. Dr. Dualeh noted how powerful it was to learn from women vascular surgeons practicing in different healthcare systems, each bringing unique challenges and perspectives.

“Even though the world is vast, surgery is a small world,” she said. “Our support for each other is essential to move the field forward. It gave me insight into the similarities and differences of patient populations and needs across the world.”

The conference sessions spanned a wide range of timely and relevant topics, from building leadership skills to navigating payer communications and advocating for patients in underserved communities. One session in particular stood out to Dr. Nguyen: a presentation on the use of artificial intelligence in vascular surgery. She admitted that while she’s sometimes slow to adopt new technology, the session shifted her perspective.

“It became clear that AI is a topic all physicians need to learn more about,” she shared, “given its ongoing applications in all aspects of our lives and clinical work.”

Outside the lecture halls, the summit offered rich opportunities for connection. Both trainees had meaningful conversations with peers, fellows, faculty, and industry representatives, engaging in conversations that sparked new ideas, fostered mentorship, and offered support as they prepare for the next steps in their careers.

“The connections I made were truly invaluable, both with attending surgeons and fellow trainees,” said Dr. Nguyen. “It was a pleasure to learn from Dr. Dualeh, my fellow scholarship awardee, and I appreciated the chance to speak with vascular fellows about the application process.”

Since returning to their institutions, both scholars have brought new energy and perspective to their clinical and academic work. Dr. Nguyen is already encouraging junior residents to consider attending the summit in the future, recognizing how rare and impactful it can be to attend a meeting that centers the voices, leadership, and experiences of women in vascular surgery.

BMC2 is grateful to ISWVS for their partnership in this opportunity, and for their leadership in creating such a dynamic, inclusive space for learning and connection. We are also grateful to BCBSM for making this scholarship possible. BMC2 is proud to support early-career clinicians like Drs. Nguyen and Dualeh as they continue to grow as leaders in the field of Vascular Surgery. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and engagement at the summit are exactly what our scholarship program was designed to encourage. We look forward to seeing how their experiences continue to shape their journeys ahead.