Handing over the reins

After nearly 30 years of organizing EVC, prof. dr. Michael Jacobs handed over the reins to a new EVC executive board. This board was officially installed on September 8 last week. A festive day during which we also reinforced our long-standing partnerships with MECC Maastricht and Partners in Congress Organisation – PCO.

The new EVC board will be led by prof. dr. Barend Mees, joined by dr. Marie Josee van Rijn and dr. Çağdaş Ünlü, and supported by mr. drs. Ernst Jan Broer, CFO. We are greatly honored to be trusted to continue the important work prof. dr. Michael Jacobs started. Prof. dr. Michael Jacobs build EVC from scratch into one of the most respected training and education events, especially for the younger generation of vascular specialists. Now it is up to us to carry the EVC legacy forward with renewed energy and dedication.

Who are we?

Prof. dr. Barend Mees is a vascular surgeon at Maastricht UMC+ and has been closely involved with EVC for over a decade as director of the arterial course. His clinical and research interests include complex aortic and peripheral arterial disease, vascular regeneration, and gene therapy. In 2024, he was appointed Professor of Vascular Repair and Regeneration and became one of the leaders of the national Aneurysm-NL consortium. He serves on the ESVS Guideline Steering Committee and the EJVES editorial board. As inventor of the mazeBox®, a novel hands-on simulator for endovascular training, he is dedicated to advancing cardiovascular education. After hours, he enjoys experimenting as an Italian chef and Sartorialist.

Dr. Marie Josee van Rijn is a vascular surgeon and epidemiologist at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. Her main clinical and research focus is on acute deep vein thrombosis and post-thrombotic syndrome. She is section editor “Venous and Lymphatic disease, Vascular Access” for The European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, was part of the writing committee of the 2022 ESVS guideline on chronic venous disease as well as the update of the Dutch guideline on venous pathology. In addition, she is co-author of the Dutch Phlebology Textbook, co-founder of the European Venous Registry (EVeR), and board member of the Benelux Society of Phlebology and European Venous Forum. When she is not working, she loves to go for a run.

Dr. Çağdaş Ünlü is a vascular surgeon at the Northwest Hospital Group in Alkmaar, one of the largest teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. For the past five years, he has served as co-director in the arterial team of EVC. His work and research is focused on peripheral arterial disease (PAD), with more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and the supervision of nine PhD students. He is currently the PI of two major multicentre trials CLEAR-PATH and OPTI-PAD both dedicated to improving outcomes in PAD patients. Alongside his clinical and research work, Dr. Ünlü is deeply committed to education. He actively trains the next generation of vascular surgeons through hands-on teaching, workshops, and the organization of both local and international educational programs in Alkmaar. Outside of medicine, he is passionate about music and enjoys attending live concerts, particularly at the Bimhuis and Paradiso in Amsterdam, where he lives.

Preparations are in full swing for the 29th edition of the European Vascular Course (EVC), and we warmly invite every vascular specialist, from young trainees to experienced colleagues, to join us from March 8 to 10 at MECC Maastricht. The UEMS Section and Board of Vascular Surgery will host the European Vascular Surgery Examination on Saturday, March 7, 2026, one day prior to the main event. Interested candidates can register at www.uemsvascular.com.

We are looking forward to celebrate this new chapter with you!

Barend Mees, Marie Josee van Rijn and Çağdaş Ünlü