22nd SFMV Congress September 20-23, 2023 - Interview with Professor Mahé, Congress Chairman and Professor of Vascular Medicine at Rennes University Hospital.

"The Palais du Grand Large is a convention center on a human scale".

With almost 2,000 members, the French Society of Vascular Medicine brings together the majority of vascular physicians in private practice and hospitals. Some of them met in Saint-Malo from September 20 to 23, 2023, for the ^22nd SFMV congress. Discussions focused on the theme of "Exercise and vascular pathologies". But that's not all, as Guillaume Mahé, chairman of the congress and professor of vascular medicine at Rennes University Hospital, explains.

Workshops, posters, exhibitors' stands, symposia... The program of this congress was rich and studious.

Doctors, students and exhibitors came together to take stock of physical activity concepts, sport-related vascular pathologies and the beneficial effects of physical activity on arterial, venous, lymphatic and microcirculatory pathologies. On the bangs of the program, however, informal exchanges and discussions during refreshments and breaks were numerous, appreciated and important. Discussions were held in a context other than that of work, and colleagues were more easily approached. On the penultimate day of the congress, the talk given by Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou was one of those "off" moments that mark a congress.

Why did you choose Saint-Malo and its convention center for this ^22nd event?

The SFMV organizes an annual congress and makes a point of touring the regions. We hadn't been back to Brittany since 2007 - that was in Brest. We thought of Rennes, but I wanted to go to the seaside andoffer delegates a breathtaking view. We were very well received and advised by Sophie Fontaine, the Grand Large's customer manager. We occupy the entire building. It's not as big as other convention centers, but this compactness creates a friendly atmosphere that you don't always find in larger spaces. Le Grand Large is a convention center on a human scale.

Accessibility, location... What feedback do delegates have?

We were careful to choosea city that was easily accessible, whatever the means of locomotion used. On the SFMV website, my pre-congress editorial winked: "All means of locomotion are possible to get to Saint-Malo: car, train, plane, bicycle and even boat! In short, there's no excuse not to be there."

Participants appreciated being in the heart of the city. Location is something we're paying more and more attention to. I have a bad memory of a previous congress, in a large southern city, where I had to take a 40-minute streetcar ride to reach my hotel room from the off-center convention center.

How many people attended the conference?

We welcomed 820 people from all over France. We had a few Swiss and Belgian colleagues, and a delegation from North America, whom we had invited. Last year, in Toulouse, we were 950. The drop is explained by the fact that, from this year onwards, participation in the congress is subject to a fee. These days, everyone is watching their budgets, organizers first and foremost: some convention centers have become inaccessible to us. Not Le Grand Large! 

Interview conducted by Béatrice Ercksen.