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"Miracle on Ice" Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist Jim Craig teams with Society for Vascular Surgery to urge public to get screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

April 2007 (Medialink) -- Each year more than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms or AAA, the swelling or ballooning of the abdominal aorta. When AAA goes untreated it can lead to rupture, which is the 13th leading cause of death in the U.S. This year, Congress enacted the SAAAVE Act making available to qualified individuals a free, one-time, ultrasound screening for AAA as part of their "Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam."

To help educate the public about this silent killer, a new "Ultimate SAAAVE" AAA Awareness Campaign will feature "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. hockey team goalie and gold medalist Jim Craig to urge those who have smoked, are over the age of 65, or have a family history of AAA to make the "ultimate save" by getting screened for AAA and understanding the causes, symptoms and treatments for the disease.

Jim Craig - Gold Medalist Hockey Player

Jim made more than a few critical "saves" as goaltender for the gold medal winning 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic hockey team. Craig was the backbone of the team that won the gold medal in Lake Placid, NY. His 39 saves as goaltender led the U.S. team to a shocking 4-3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union in the semi-finals. His stellar play continued as Team USA beat Finland in the next game to capture gold.

Craig's father, who many remember he sought out in the crowd after the win over the Soviet Union, sadly later died from AAA. Today, Craig is a successful businessman and motivational speaker and resides in the Boston area.

Richard Cambria MD, Massachusetts General Hosp. Elected SVS Recorder and Chairman

 

Dr. Richard P. Cambria was elected 2006-2007 recorder and annual meeting program chairman of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) during the Vascular Annual Meeting on June 2, 2006.

Dr. Cambria is chief of vascular and endovascular Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. Doctor Cambria has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific papers and textbook chapters, and making more than 100 presentations.

Dr. Cambria has extensive experience in complex aortic reconstruction and is considered an authority in thoracoabdominal aneurysms. He is co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Thoracic Aortic Center. His research includes work with thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction, risk stratification in vascular surgery, spinal cord protection, and renovascular disease.

For more information: www.UltimateSAAAVE.com