FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2022
CONTACT: Crystal Borde, cborde@vancomm.com

WASHINGTON — The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS), along with its agency partner, Vanguard Communications, was recognized by ASAE with the 2022 Gold Circle Award in the category of advocacy for its Get Ahead of Stroke® campaign — a first for SNIS and Vanguard. The Gold Circle Awards — announced at ASAE’s 2022 Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2022 — honor the creativity, execution and success of outstanding marketing, membership and communications campaigns in the association community.

SNIS’ Get Ahead of Stroke® is a national public education and advocacy campaign designed to improve systems of care for the nearly 800,000 individuals annually who experience strokes in the U.S. Most states do not have clear protocols to ensure that those experiencing a severe stroke get transported directly to a Level 1 stroke center. Like Level 1 trauma centers, Level 1 stroke centers have specially trained neuroendovascular care teams available 24/7 who can successfully treat the most serious strokes. But while a stroke patient might live near a Level 1 facility that is best equipped to help them, outdated policies might dictate that they be transported to the closest hospital. The time lost in transfer jeopardizes a patient’s chance of survival and recovery.

“Vanguard is honored to collaborate with SNIS on this important campaign to save stroke patients’ lives,” said Maria J. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Vanguard Communications. “We appreciate this recognition from our association marketing and communications peers.”

SNIS and Vanguard developed this coordinated, integrated communications campaign to urge state lawmakers to update their outdated triage and transport protocols, as well as educate EMS providers on stroke severity, triage and transport. To educate EMS workers, the team built the Stroke Scales for EMS mobile app, a free tool to help first responders assess stroke severity in the field. Campaign activities and materials include explainer videos, national conferences, earned and social media, infographics and advertising.

The 2022 Gold Circle competition drew nearly 200 submissions across 15 categories. More than 150 judges from a variety of associations, nonprofits and for-profit organizations evaluated this year’s entries. ASAE’s Gold Circle Awards are sponsored by rasa.io, the only AI-driven smart newsletter platform allowing organizations of any size to personalize content for every subscriber on their email list. Visit ASAE’s website to view the full list of 2022 winners and merit awardees.

About the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) is a scientific and educational association dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurointerventional surgery through research, standard-setting and education and advocacy to provide the highest quality of patient care in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, spine, head and neck. Visit www.snisonline.org and follow us on Twitter (@SNISinfo) and Facebook (@SNISOnline).

About Vanguard Communications
Vanguard Communications is a Hispanic woman-owned public relations and social marketing firm whose work is powered by and for people — the individuals, families and communities whose voices are the fuel for change. Since 1987, Vanguard has been working in the areas of health, wellness, energy, environment, education, international development, and diversity and inclusion to foster healthy communities and a thriving planet. To learn more about Vanguard Communications, visit vancomm.com, “like” Vanguard on Facebook, and follow Vanguard on Twitter and Instagram.

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