The LIVE Award
A Leader In EndoVascular Education Award — The LIVE Award recognizes those vascular specialists who have dedicated their professional careers to educating students, postgraduate trainees, and peers in all aspects of vascular medicine and intervention.
The VIVA Foundation is proud to honor the 2025 LIVE Award recipient:
Tony Das, MD
Dr. Tony Das is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with national recognition in complex peripheral vascular interventions, particularly in chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention, Pedal Loop recanalization and the evaluation of emerging endovascular technologies. A founding member of VIVA (Vascular Interventional Advances), he has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of endovascular education and innovation.
Based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Das is a leading authority in Digital Health and Remote Patient Monitoring, with a strong focus on integrating novel technologies into cardiovascular care. He currently serves as the Chief of Strategic Planning and Development and Medical Director of Innovation, Digital Health, and Peripheral Vascular Interventions for the Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital Enterprise in Plano, Texas.
In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Das contributes to national innovation efforts as a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Innovation Section and as a Medical Venture Partner with Biostar Capital, a medical device venture fund specializing in early-stage cardiovascular technologies. His ongoing work continues to drive forward the fields of digital health, peripheral vascular care, and physician education.
Previous LIVE Award Recipents
| 2024 | ANDREJ SCHMIDT, MD |
| 2023 | MARIANNE BRODMANN, MD |
| 2022 | DANIEL CLAIR, MD |
| 2021 | JAMES F. BENENATI, MD |
| 2019 | BRUCE H. GRAY, DO |
| 2018 | DIERK SCHEINERT, MD |
| 2017 | THOMAS ZELLER, MD, PhD |
| 2016 | MARK BATES, MD |
| 2015 | TIMOTHY SULLIVAN, MD |
| 2014 | J. MICHAEL BACHARACH, MD |
| 2013 | JOHN LAIRD JR., MD |
| 2012 | MICHAEL DAKE, MD |
| 2011 | MARK WHOLEY, MD |
| 2010 | MICHAEL R. JAFF, DO |
| 2009 | GARY ANSEL, MD |
| 2008 | EDWARD DIETHRICH, MD |
| 2007 | L. NELSON HOPKINS III, MD |
| 2006 | BARRY KATZEN, MD |
| 2005 | KENNETH ROSENFIELD, MD |
The ATLAS Award
A Teacher, Leader, And Scholar Award — The ATLAS Award celebrates the career and impact of physicians who have distinguished themselves as scholars and leaders in their respective vascular fields. They have committed their careers to advancing the care of patients with vascular disorders, and they have taught countless numbers of physicians techniques to expand care across the United States and the world.
The VIVA Foundation is proud to honor the 2025 ATLAS Award recipient:
Iris Baumgartner, MD
The ATLAS Award honors the remarkable career and enduring impact of Dr. Iris Baumgartner, a distinguished leader, teacher, and scholar in the field of vascular medicine. This fall, Dr. Baumgartner will deliver the ATLAS Lecture at VIVA25.
Previous ATLAS Award Recipents
| 2024 | ALAN H. MATSUMOTO, MD |
| 2023 | PETER A. SCHNEIDER, MD |
| 2022 | MICHAEL DAKE, MD |
| 2021 | JOHN BARTHOLOMEW, MD |
| 2019 | CHRISTOPHER J. WHITE, MD |
| 2018 | FRANK VEITH, MD |
| 2017 | NICK HOPKINS, MD |
| 2016 | THOM ROOKE, MD |
| 2015 | GARY S. ROUBIN, MD |
| 2014 | BARRY T. KATZEN, MD |
| 2013 | JERRY GOLDSTONE, MD |
| 2012 | JOHN SPITTELL, MD |
| 2011 | GIANCARLO BIAMINO, MD, PHD |
| 2010 | ERNEST RING, MD |
| 2009 | JESS YOUNG, MD |
| 2008 | NORMAN HERTZER, MD |
The Vascular Career Advancement Award
VIVA and LINC have collaborated to develop the Vascular Career Advancement Award to recognize young physicians who show promise as potential leaders in the vascular field. Recipients are selected for their dedication to a philosophy of multidisciplinary vascular care and improving the care and outcomes of patients with vascular disease.
The VIVA Foundation is proud to honor the 2025 VCA Award recipients:
Jun Li, MD
Dr. Jun Li is an Endovascular Interventional Cardiologist certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology. Her clinical expertise includes endovascular interventions for peripheral artery disease, chronic limb threatening ischemia, mesenteric and renal artery disease, pulmonary embolism interventions, and deep venous thromboses; interventional cardiology interventions for acute coronary syndrome and cardiogenic shock; and critical care cardiology.
After graduating with two bachelor’s degrees from University of Michigan, Dearborn, Dr. Li earned her medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor. At University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH, she completed an internal medicine residency, as well as fellowships in General Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, and Advanced Interventional Cardiology in Endovascular therapies. In the University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, she has grown in her capacity as Co-Director of the Vascular Center and Co-Director of the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team.
Dr. Li has authored more than 45 original publications, served on numerous clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements, and authored several book chapters. She has a strong presence at national and international conferences and symposia, including innumerable invited talks at American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), Cardiovascular Innovations (CVI), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), Vascular InterVentional Advances (VIVA), Japan Endovascular Treatment (JET), and Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC). With her rising prominence in the Endovascular field, she serves on multiple planning committees for national conferences.
As Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (FSCAI) as well Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), Dr. Li is a dedicated and active member in multiple societal committees and serves on the editorial board for Vascular Medicine.
Tim Wittig, MD
Tim Wittig is a senior resident in the Department of Angiology at University Hospital Leipzig, where he combines clinical practice with active involvement in translational and clinical research. His primary focus lies in the field of interventional angiology, with particular emphasis on the development of differentiated and patient-specific treatment strategies for peripheral artery disease (PAD). His research interests include the optimization of endovascular procedures through advanced vessel preparation techniques and the integration of cutting-edge vascular imaging modalities to enhance diagnostic precision and procedural outcomes. Through his work, he aims to contribute to the refinement of minimally invasive therapies and improve long-term vascular health in patients with complex peripheral arterial disease.
Previous VCA Award Recipents
| 2023 - 2024 | JORDAN R. STERN, MD & LORENZO PATRONE, MD |
| 2022 - 2023 | KUSH R. DESAI, MD; & TATSUYA NAKAMA, MD |
| 2021 - 2022 | ERIC A. SECEMSKY, MD, MSc; & EVA FREISINGER, MD |
| 2020 - 2021 | VENITA CHANDRA, MD; & YOSHIMITSU SOGA, MD, PhD |
| 2019 - 2020 | STEVEN KUM, MD; & PARAG J. PATEL, MD, MS |
| 2018 - 2019 | OSAMU IIDA, MD; & SABINE STEINER, MD |
| 2017 - 2018 | EHRIN ARMSTRONG, MD; & DANIELA BRANZAN, MD |
| 2016 - 2017 | SAHER SABRI, MD; & ANTONIO MICARI, MD |
| 2015 - 2016 | RAGHU KOLLURI, MD, MS; & THEODOSIOS BISDAS, MD, PHD |
| 2014 - 2015 | FELIX MAHFOUD, MD; & GUSTAVO ODERICH, MD |
| 2013 - 2014 | MEHDI SHISHEHBOR, DO; & MARTIN WERNER, MD |
The VEINS Award
Venous Educator, Innovator, and National Statesperson Award - The VEINS Award honors those individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the care of patients with venous disease.
The VIVA Foundation is proud to honor the 2025 VEINS Award recipient:
Lindsay Machan, MD
The VEINS Award recognizes Dr. Lindsay Machan for his substantial contributions to the advancement of venous disease care. Dr. Machan has played a pivotal role in shaping the field and improving outcomes for patients with venous conditions.
Previous VEINS Award Recipents
| 2024 | KATHLEEN GIBSON, MD |
| 2023 | STEVE ELIAS, MD |
| 2022 | RAGHU KOLLURI, MD, MS |
| 2021 | MARK H. MEISSNER, MD |
| 2019 | SURESH VEDANTHAM, MD |
| 2018 | SAMUEL Z. GOLDHABER, MD |
