2026 Speaker

Gabriela A. Velazquez, MD, FACS, DFSVS, RPVI

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Program Director, Vascular Surgery Training Programs Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Dr. Gabriela Velazquez is an internationally recognized vascular surgeon, educator, and academic leader. She serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where she also directs the Vascular Surgery Fellowship and Integrated Residency Programs. Her career is distinguished by a deep commitment to surgical education, clinical excellence, and advancing the field through collaborative leadership and innovation.

Dr. Velazquez completed her general surgery training at Emory University and a fellowship in vascular and endovascular surgery at the University of Florida. Her clinical expertise includes the comprehensive management of complex aortic aneurysms, aorto-iliac pathology, endoleaks, renal and mesenteric occlusive disease, carotid disease, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). She has played a pivotal role in expanding Wake Forest’s aortic program, particularly in the treatment of type II endoleaks.

A passionate advocate for surgical education, Dr. Velazquez has led initiatives to enhance recruitment into vascular surgery and expand training pathways. She serves as Councilor-at-Large for the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS) and contributes nationally to curriculum development through her work on the ACGME Milestones 2.0 and Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) for Vascular Surgery. She is also a contributing member of national guideline writing groups, helping shape evidence-based standards in vascular care.

Dr. Velazquez is a frequent invited speaker at regional, national, and international scientific meetings, and serves as a reviewer for leading vascular surgery journals. She holds leadership roles in several professional societies, including the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society (VESS), the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery (SAVS), and APDVS. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the prestigious James IV Association of Surgeons Traveling Fellowship, the AMA Inspirational Physician Award, and designation as a Master Surgeon Educator by the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Velazquez’s career is defined by her unwavering dedication to surgical education, her commitment to developing the next generation of vascular surgeons, and her passion for delivering exceptional, patient-centered care. Through her leadership, mentorship, and clinical innovation, she continues to elevate the standards of vascular surgery while serving her community with compassion, excellence, and integrity.

Call For Abstracts 2026

Invitations are open for submissions of abstracts for the 2026 Vascular Society of Aotearoa New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting. Original research, literature review and complex, interesting case studies are preferred. The closing date is Friday 5th December 2025 at midnight.

Please follow the template below for abstract submission:

• Title.
• Full name (first name, surname) list of authors with the presenting authors’ name underlined, followed by presenting author’s academic address.
• Maximum word count is 350, excluding title and author(s).
• Do not include diagrams, tables or graphs.
• Abbreviations should only be used for commonly known terminology.
• For Research papers: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
• For case studies: Introduction, Case presentation, Treatment, Conclusion.
• Your preferred mode of presentation (poster/verbal/any) – please note the scientific committee might change this.

Please ensure a contact email address and phone number is included with the abstract. Acceptance of an abstract will be communicated by email. Authors must register for the meeting to present their abstract – zoom presentations will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

You don’t have any original research to present but are passionate about a vascular surgery? – get in touch to share your ideas at one of our live debates!

Please submit all abstracts to: Sarah.Lesche@southerndhb.govt.nz

No later than Friday 5th December 2025