The Global CHIVA Program Tier 1 Pilot: A Joint Initiative by Inteleos and Dr. Smile Medical Group to Establish a Structured Framework for Hemodynamic-Guided Venous Education
December 8, 2025 — United States
The launch of the Tier 1 pilot of the Global CHIVA Program marks an early attempt to formalize hemodynamic-based education in chronic venous disease. Developed through a collaboration between Inteleos and Dr. Smile Medical Group, the pilot introduces two foundational modules—Ultrasound Fundamentals and Principles of Venous Hemodynamics—intended to serve as the baseline for a comprehensive, multi-module curriculum.
Background and Rationale for Joint Development
Although CHIVA has gained broader use across several regions, its training pathways have remained heterogeneous. Most practitioners acquire the technique through local workshops or mentorship models, resulting in variability in duplex interpretation, mapping, and procedural planning.
Long-standing gaps include:
Lack of a unified, cross-regional curriculum
Absence of standardized competency assessment
Inconsistent interpretation of venous flow dynamics
In response, Inteleos and Dr. Smile Medical Group initiated a collaborative development process in 2021, guided by the Global CHIVA Program Advisory Panel. The partnership combines an international credentialing body with a clinical group experienced in CHIVA practice and physician training, with the aim of establishing a structured and internationally applicable educational framework.
Scope and Intent of the Tier 1 Pilot
Tier 1 will ultimately comprise six modules scheduled for phased release through 2026. The pilot phase focuses on evaluating content depth, pedagogical sequencing, and assessment feasibility prior to formalization.
Ultrasound Fundamentals
Covers protocol-driven image acquisition, essential device functions, and interpretation of duplex findings relevant to venous hemodynamics. The module seeks to reduce technical variability and improve reproducibility across centers.
Principles of Venous Hemodynamics
Introduces key CHIVA concepts including escape points, drainage patterns, shunts, and the rationale for targeted interruption while preserving physiologic outflow. This module provides the conceptual basis for later applied mapping and procedural planning content.
The soft-launch format allows for iterative refinement based on user feedback, reflecting the developmental status of the curriculum rather than a finalized structure.
Potential Implications for Venous Practice
A structured and internationally coherent educational baseline may support:
more consistent hemodynamic assessment across institutions,
improved identification of flow disturbances,
greater uniformity in ligation strategies, and
broader access to structured training in regions without local CHIVA expertise.
As interest grows in function-preserving approaches to superficial venous disease, standardized terminology, interpretive logic, and minimum training requirements may facilitate comparative research and enhance reproducibility.
Target Participants and Accessibility
The program is open to vascular surgeons, phlebologists, interventional specialists, ultrasound physicians, sonographers, and trainees. Individuals who enroll during the pilot will transition automatically into the finalized Tier 1 curriculum upon release.
Registration (Pilot Phase)
Interested participants may access the pilot modules through the program’s online learning platform: https://globalchiva.talentlms.com/plus
Outlook: Continuing Collaboration Between Inteleos and Dr. Smile Medical Group
Further modules are in development, with the overarching objective of creating an educational and potential certification pathway that is applicable across regions. Although the Tier 1 pilot remains introductory, it establishes core expectations for terminology, mapping logic, and ultrasound competency—elements necessary for future alignment of training and evaluation.
The collaboration between Inteleos and Dr. Smile Medical Group represents a coordinated effort to strengthen educational consistency in a field where practice has historically varied widely.