News:

The Oregon Vein Center is proud to announce that Dr. DuPriest is now a Board Certified Phlebologist.  

Phlebology is a Medical Specialty!

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of veins has now been recognized as a self designated specialty by the American Medical Association as announced in this press release from the American College of Phlebology. Also the American Osteopathic Association, the AOA,  has made a similar pronouncement which can be read in this press release. To those of us who are devoted to caring for patients with venous disease and problems this is a gratifying event. For too long, the treatment of venous disease has been a poor step-child in the many disciplines of medicines.  For this reason education, training, and research has been less than optimal.  Formal recognition of the importance of venous disease will help foster interest in and focus efforts on research and education in this field, which will benefit the patient with improved care and outcomes.

The American Board of Phlebology was formed for the purposes of education, testing, and certification of physicians in the specialty of phlebology.  Their stated purposes are reproduced here from their website:

       The American Board of Phlebology (ABPh) was established in 2007 to:

          1) Improve the standards of medical practitioners and the quality of patient care related to               the treatment of venous disorders and all aspects of venous disease
          2) Serve the public and the medical profession by establishing initial and continuing                                 qualifications for certification and maintenance of certification as physician specialists                        in the practice of phlebology
          3) Examine physician candidates for certification and maintenance of certification in the                         practice of phlebology
          4) Establish educational standards for teaching and training programs in phlebology
          5) Maintain a registry of individuals who hold certificates issued by the Board

In July 2008, the American Board of Phlebology announced its first class of diplomates, 248 individuals who represent the first board certified phlebologists in the country. The American Board of Phlebology was established in 2007 and administered the first certification exam in May 2008.