Wise Foundation announces name change

The Wise Foundation has announced the transition to its new name, the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) Foundation. The new name better emphasizes the organization's bond with its parent organization, the Association for Vascular Access.

The organization also noted the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors.

"By utilizing this new name, the foundation clarifies its direct channel of supporting the association's need for research and education in vascular access," said board President Denise Macklin, BSN, RNC. "The new name will also help us better communicate the opportunity that organizations and individuals have to support vascular access activities."

The foundation focuses on saving lives through risk free vascular access. It promotes education to enhance professionals' knowledge and skills in vascular access, along with research necessary for evidence-based vascular access practice.

These efforts support the efforts of AVA itself to:

* Increase awareness of the risks and benefits associated with vascular access;

* Improve patient safety, comfort and outcomes, and

* Help define the vascular access specialty.

The AVA Foundation's new directors increase the number of board members from six to nine.

"The addition of these accomplished individuals is another sign that the foundation has entered a new era in promoting education and research in vascular access," said Macklin. "These new members, along with our recent large grant from AVA and the growth in our corporate support, demonstrate that the foundation is entering a time of much greater outreach and activity."