| A forum for advances in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures |
About WAISMore than 54 years ago, a few West Coast Interventional Radiologists held the first annual Western Angio Club; establishing a forum for collaborative discussion about new procedures for image guided therapies. These visionaries included well-known WAIS members, Charles Dotter, Josef Rosch and Franklin Turner. In 1970, the Western Angiography Society was formally incorporated by 37 founding members and 3 officers: Dr. James Lecky, Dr. Alan Davidson, and Dr. Stewart Reuter. The mission of the Society was to provide a forum to share new ideas and to learn from each other's successes, failures and innovative techniques. Many of those first pioneers made valuable contributions towards improving patient care through the development of new techniques to treat disease. Others published research findings or worked with engineers to design new catheters and implantable devices, ultimately creating a new industry where minimally invasive procedures provided alternative treatments to peripheral vascular disease, aneurysms, cancer, stroke and many other vascular and non-vascular conditions. Today, the Western Angiographic & Interventional Society is proud to continue the legacy of its founders through an annual forum for advancements in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. Attendees benefit from interactive discussion in the M&M Sessions, as well as a broad spectrum of topics from today's thought leaders. In September 2020, we celebrated 50 years since WAIS was incorporated. In September 2022, we celebrated 52 years and 50 annual conferences. |
Mission
The Western Angiographic & Interventional Society was incorporated in 1970 to maintain the highest standard of patient care, providing quality, timely continuing education programs for member physicians and allied health care professionals. |
Membership RegionThe WAIS membership region covers 15 Western States and British Columbia Canada, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and British Columbia Canada. Members who joined WAIS while practicing in the member region but now reside outside the region may remain members as long as member status is maintained as active and in good standing. For questions about membership criteria visit Membership Webpage. |
|
Conference ObjectivesThe professional goal of WAIS is achieved through an annual seminar combining scientific presentations (by Society members and invited non-member experts), practical interactive discussion sessions, hands-on workshops and professional networking between members and guests. Annual lectures include the M&M Case Presentations, Rapid Fire Clinical Rundown and The Charles T. Dotter Memorial Lecture. Each year, the Dr. Charles T. Dotter lecture is given by an invited international expert in the field of Interventional Radiology with special emphasis on visionary topics such as newer modalities, long-term results of various therapies, professional development and quality control and monitoring. Click here to see a list of our past Dr. Charles T. Dotter lecturers (1982-2023). Dr. Charles Theodore Dotter (14 June 1920 – 15 February 1985) is credited with developing the medical specialty, Interventional Radiology and is one of the founding members of the Western Angiographic & Interventional Society. |
|
| The Coons-Dotter LectureThe Dr. Charles T. Dotter Lecture has been renamed! Beginning 2024, Western Angiographic & Interventional Society will honor its longest-standing member and director, Dr. Harold Coons and its most infamous founding member, Dr. Charles Dotter with the renaming of this annual keynote lecture. About Dr. Harold Coons Dr. Coons completed his MD and Residency at UCLA and Fellowship at VA Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. He also served in the US Air Force in San Antonio, TX where he held the rank of Major and was the Director of Angiography. From 1973-1996, Dr. Coons served as the Director of Interventional Radiology at Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. He joined WAIS as a member in 1975 and has held the legacy director position on the Board since 1985. |
WAIS Board of Directors & Officers |
Director (2020-2024), President (2024) Isabel Newton, MD, PhD |