2007 Annual Report PDF - Vascular Disease Foundation

“In 2007 the VDF Web site
was updated and improved
to offer more interactive
information for the public
and health-care providers.
During the past year the site
averaged approximately
26,000 visitors per month.
Since 2005, VDF has seen
substantial growth in its
Web traffic, receiving a total
of 309,563 visitors in 2007,
which is an increase of 46%
percent over 2006.”
4
VDF MILESTONES 2007
Throughout the past ten years, VDF has expanded its communications
outreach to include many interactive features, while maintaining
our more traditional communications efforts including our free quarterly
newsletter and educational pamphlets.
VDF's Web Site—www.VDF.org
VDF has greatly expanded its interactive outreach
in 2007. The Web site was updated and
improved to offer more interactive information for
the public and health-care providers. In 2007, the
site averaged approximately 26,000 visitors per
month. New additions to the site include:
• Additional disease sections
• “Ask the Doctor” live chat
• Bulletin board
• Interactive resources section
• Online store
• Press Room section
• Resources for health-care professionals
Since 2005, VDF has seen substantial growth in
its Web traffic, receiving a total of 309,563 visitors
in 2007, which is an increase of 46% percent over
2006.
HealthCasts
VDF's online audio podcast program continued to expand in 2007.
Twenty-three audio podcasts, or “HealthCasts” were produced in 2007,
all of which are available online and by subscription through iTunes,
Feedburner, etc. There are currently over 900 subscribers to VDF
HealthCasts. All of VDF's HealthCasts were also transcribed in 2007 so
that they may down-loaded and printed out.
Keeping in Circulation
VDF's free quarterly newsletter, Keeping in
Circulation, continues to provide vascular
information which the public can trust. In
2007, a total of 64,093 subscribers received
Keeping in Circulation, a 54% increase from
2006! Requested by both professionals
and the public, our circulation continues
to grow with each issue. Topics covered
during 2007 included:
• Aortic dissection
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• PAD and smoking
• Portal hypertension
What Is DVT?
Diabetes and Your Feet
Give Exercise One More
Chance
About White Blood Cells
Excellence In Care
Frequently Asked Questions
about DVT
In the News
More VDF Healthcasts
Thank You to Our Donors
Annual Meeting of the VDF
National Advocacy Board
Call 888-VDF-4INFO
for a FREE subscription to
Keeping In Circulation
or more information
about vascular disease
• The correlation between PAD and neuropathy
To reduce death and disability
from vascular diseases and
improve vascular health for all
Americans.
inside this issue
SPRING 2007 • VOL. 7 NO. 2
our mission Saved by a Whisker:
PE Survivor Given a Second Chance
In May of 2006, 52-year-old John Bunch of Springfield, VA, had a knee injury
requiring surgery and then went home to recuperate. John then found himself in the
emergency room just a day after his release from the hospital with a life-threatening
condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is a blood clot that breaks free
when a thrombus (clot) develops in the large veins of the legs or pelvic area and travels
to the lungs (for more information, please see story on page 3). On average, an estimated
650,000 PEs occur annually. PEs are the third most common cause of hospital
death.
John went home from the hospital on a Sunday just a few days after his surgery and
was surprised to find himself uncomfortable and in pain on Monday morning. He was
experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath, so John's wife Anne called for an
ambulance. When the emergency workers couldn't get an IV into his arm, they
rushed him to the hospital.
“All I remember is that I was sitting on the couch and didn't feel well. I was cold
and couldn't breathe,” said John. “The next thing I knew, I woke up in intensive care
Continued on page 2
Last fall, the Vascular Disease Foundation was one
of over 60 charities that were selected as one of the
official charities for the LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon. Twenty-six runners from all over the country
made up the first group of individuals to run in a
marathon to raise money for vascular disease. VDF
is once again an official charity for the race, and
now is the time to sign up for this year's marathon!
The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes
place on Sunday, October 7, and spring is a great
time to start training for the 26.2 miles that make up
the race. Being a member of Team VDF not only helps
to raise money for VDF, but also helps to raise awareness
about vascular disease for hundred of thousands
of spectators.
Want to be part of Team VDF? Now is the time!
Decked out all in red, Dr. Tim
The Chicago Marathon limits the number of runners Harward is shown running in the
it accepts to the first 45,000 participants who sign up, 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago
and that deadline will be here soon. Join us and sign Marathon. Harward was one of
Team VDF's top fundraisers in
up today. Please contact us at 888.VDF.4INFO or
2006, bringing in $3,205 for VDF!
online at www.vdf.org.
Photo courtesy of MarathonFoto.
Join Team VDF!