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World Heart Day is Sept. 29 — and September is Vascular Disease Awareness Month and Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month. According to the American Heart Association: PAD is the narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body; the most common type is lower-extremity PAD, in which blood flow is reduced to the legs and feet. An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by PAD.

The UVA Heart and Vascular Team is taking a multi-disciplinary approach to promote its mission of providing excellence in clinical care, education, research, and outreach to the community. The planning team for PAD and Vascular Disease Awareness months started meeting in the spring of 2024 every two to four weeks to follow the PAD Collaborative's National Action Plan roadmap. 

Stepping Up to the Challenge

They started the month off with a step challenge at multiple sites, encouraging team members to record their steps in Hoos Well. UVA Community Health’s Culpeper Medical Center’s team intentionally walked together for 30 minutes.

Save A Leg, Save A Life.

PAD, diabetes, and smoking can lead to amputations. This month at the UVA Health Cardiac Surgery Clinic, Vascular Surgery Clinical Program Coordinator Bernie Ammons, RN, MSN, VA-BC, is spearheading the White Sock Campaign to highlight PAD awareness. Ammons belongs to The Save A Leg, Save A Life (SALSAL) Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to decreasing amputations.

“Our mission is to educate the general public and healthcare professionals about these important issues,” she explains. “This month, we’re advocating for our patients and providing community outreach through the White Sock Campaign.”

Each participating UVA Health team member is wearing one white sock at work to symbolize PAD awareness. “When you’re asked why you’re wearing one white sock, it’s an opportunity to explain you’re supporting patients who’ve experienced a toe, foot, or leg amputation — and can’t wear a shoe. We’re also emphasizing the importance of self-care and disease management in an attempt to avoid amputation.”

On the Air

​​The team also planned and delivered educational events and public service announcements. Randy Ramcharitar, MD, Vascular Medicine, kicked off the new Vascular Disease Lunch and Learn series to educate University Medical Center team members on PAD diagnosis, treatment, and medical management.

He also appeared on WVIR-TV Channel 29 News to educate viewers about PAD and the White Sock Campaign. 

Caroline Tippett, DPM, also spread the word, joining WINA Live Well Radio to talk about PAD.

In addition, she provided foot exams and education as the UVA Health Heart and Vascular Center partnered with the UVA Latino Health Initiative and the UVA Health Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Office on screenings, education, counseling, and resources. Topics included PAD, cardiovascular disease, smoking cessation, diabetes and stroke risk. 

Lauren Huck, AG-ACNP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care nurse practitioner, presented a Lunch and Learn Lecture on aortic disease and Ammons participated in a virtual roundtable about PAD and rural U.S. healthcare.

The team will continue to educate the public about community vascular screenings and abdominal aortic screenings through more radio and TV segments and community outreach events in October.

Steps to Success

Ammons says everyone can make a difference through awareness and education by:

• Learning about the importance of PAD screening by their primary care physician.
• Checking their feet daily and undergoing diabetic foot exams regularly.
• Keeping glucose well controlled, and stopping tobacco use.

Bringing Hope to Life

Supporting UVA Health's mission, vision, values, and guiding principles and following the blueprint of the PAD Collaborative — team members collected new foot care Items such as socks, towels, wash cloths, and nail clippers at their Charlottesville and Augusta/Fishersville, Virginia sites for The Haven, a downtown Charlottesville multi-resource day shelter and housing resource center.

“We are driven to bring hope to life through education and advocacy for our patients through these events and programs,” says Ammons. “The time is now to raise awareness about vascular diseases, in particular, PAD.”

She reports that Kay Comer, Acting Deputy Director Development Manager, The Haven, is grateful to UVA Health team members for supporting our neighbors who are unhoused. “Providing foot care items or monetary donations is one way we can advocate and care for our patients in the prevention of PAD,” explains Ammons.