OBJECTIVES:Vascular surgeons have traditionally been underrepresented in various media platforms. Adequate representation is critical in enabling the spread of both accurate and comprehensive information for treatment of vascular disease. Our study aims to characterize vascular surgeon involvement in online news coverage as it relates to various vascular pathologies. METHODS:Google news was queried for news articles published between July 31st 2022 and August 1st 2023 using keywords relating to carotid and peripheral vascular pathologies (“carotid stenosis”, “carotid artery disease”, “peripheral vascular disease”, “limb ischemia”). Duplicate articles and medical press under paywall were excluded. The following variables were collected: Author vocation, vascular surgeon representation, other physician representation, source type (medical press vs lay news), vascular surgeon institutional affiliation and vascular surgeon gender. Representation was defined as being the author, interviewed, or involved in the review process of the news article. Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-squared test and post-hoc analysis where appropriate. RESULTS:569 news articles were screened yielding 481 articles for analysis. 224 (46.6%) articles about carotid disease and 257 (53.4%) about peripheral vascular disease were included. 332 (69%) news articles were published in the medical press and 149 (31%) in lay press. Vascular surgeons were represented in 80 (16.6%) news articles, other physician specialties in 240 (49.9%), and no medical professionals were represented in 161 (33.5%) (Figure 1). Other frequently represented specialties include internal medicine (13.9%), cardiology (20.4%), neurology (7.3%), and radiology (7.3%). Vascular surgeons were represented in significantly lower proportions compared to their non-vascular physician and non-medical professional counterparts in both medical and lay press (p<.001). More articles represented vascular surgeons from academic centers (70%) compared to other practice types. Female vascular surgeons were significantly underrepresented in lay press compared to medical press (2.0% vs 5.1%, p=.042). CONCLUSIONS:
Vascular surgeons are widely underrepresented in online news articles regarding common vascular pathologies. Vascular surgeons as well as vascular surgery societies have to take a greater ownership and promote vascular surgeon representation in online news media. 
