Professor Claude Franceschi is a landmark figure who has fundamentally reshaped the global treatment of varicose veins. As a pioneer of modern vascular ultrasound and venous hemodynamics, he systematically introduced the principles of fluid mechanics into the study of arterial and venous diseases as early as the 1970s. In 1977, he published the world’s first treatise on Vascular Doppler Ultrasound, establishing the methodological and “semantic” foundations that remain essential for high-quality clinical diagnosis today.

Born in Parma on 14th May 1957. Enrolled in the degree course in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Parma. He graduated summa cum laude (110/110) in July 1983 with a dissertation titled: ‘Acute pancreatitis of biliary origin, the timing for surgical treatment of biliary lesions. In October of the same year, he passed the professional qualification exam. In October of that year, he completed the professional qualification exam conducted by the Order of Physicians of Parma.

Dr. Steve Elias is a highly respected physician and internationally recognized expert in venous and lymphatic disease. He is a board-certified vascular and general surgeon, with additional board certification in venous and lymphatic medicine, and has played a pivotal role in advancing modern, minimally invasive vein care in the United States and globally.

Dr. Maket Wong received his medical degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Shortly after attaining his fellowship in General Surgery in 2001, he continued his vascular and endovascular training in Kwong Wah Hospital, UK and South Korea.

He was formerly a consultant vascular surgeon in Kwong Wah Hospital and is currently a consultant vascular surgeon in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong.

His special interests are lower limb arterial and venous interventions.

He is a First Fellow of Specialty of Vascular Surgery and a member of the Vascular Surgery Board, the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong.

Dr. Xin Du is a vascular surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of lower-limb varicose veins, with a particular focus on the CHIVA technique. She currently serves as Attending Physician and Medical Director of Dr. Smile Vein Center Beijing, where she is involved in clinical practice, treatment planning, and medical management.

Dr. Takahiro Imai is a Japanese vascular surgeon with a focused clinical interest in venous disease and varicose vein surgery. He currently serves as Director of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Nishinokyo Hospital in Nara, Japan, where he is involved in both clinical practice and departmental management.

Gaorui (Gary) Liu is an experienced vascular sonographer and clinical educator specializing in vascular and venous diagnostics. He currently serves as Section Chief of the Vascular Laboratory at Nepean Hospital and as a Senior Vascular Sonographer at the Western Sydney Vascular Laboratory, where he oversees clinical standards, imaging protocols, and quality assurance across multiple sites.