It is both a true honour and a great responsibility for me to take part in this inaugural WoCoVA event as President of SEINAV. Being able to do so at an event of such international relevance and, moreover, here in Valencia, in my own country, makes it even more special.

I can think of no better combination to speak about vascular access. Because it means addressing one of the most relevant processes within the care pathway of patients. It is present at many of the most delicate moments of illness, supports complex treatments and, when done well, has a direct impact on safety, patient comfort, and also on the efficiency and sustainability of our healthcare systems.

For me, this moment also carries special emotion because of the people in front of me. Seeing professionals gathered here who have shaped my own journey—and that of many of us in this room—is truly inspiring. People such as Evan, Vineet, Nancy, Amanda, Mauro, Paloma, Masus and many others have not only shared knowledge and inspiration with us, but through your research and professional paths you have laid solid foundations on which we can now build increasingly structured, safer and more excellent vascular access and infusion teams, units and services.

Thanks to this work, a framework has also been consolidated in which the nursing profession has been able to claim and defend its place, bringing clinical value, a holistic view of the patient and an extraordinary capacity to lead complex processes. Today, in many centers, this field is not only developed through multidisciplinary collaboration, but is also supported by the clear leadership of expert nurses who organize, drive and transform practice through evidence, education, research and closeness to the patient.

Our profession has not occupied a space that was merely granted; it has earned deserved leadership, supported by knowledge, outcomes and commitment to the patient. And I believe it is important to state this clearly: the development of modern vascular access cannot be understood without nursing leadership, which is also called upon to continue growing in the years to come.

SEINAV is here today with pride. We are a scientific society that has spent years working to structure, drive and bring rigour to vascular access in Spain—training professionals, generating evidence and building bridges with the rest of the world. We firmly believe in the value of spaces like this one, where different scientific societies come together, engage in dialogue and build shared knowledge. This diversity of perspectives is, without doubt, one of the great strengths of this congress.

It is an honour to welcome you to this wonderful city. I hope you enjoy Valencia—its light, its open and Mediterranean character, its history and its way of life: a city that combines tradition and innovation. If you have the chance to stroll through its neighborhoods, be amazed by the City of Arts and Sciences or lose yourselves in the Central Market, you will take home a gift that goes far beyond the congress. And of course, also enjoy its gastronomy: a good paella, an arroz del señoret, a fideuà, coca de llanda, buñuelos or a well-chilled horchata. And perhaps, in addition to eating and drinking well, there may even be time for a little dancing.

Above all, I hope you enjoy this major scientific and professional gathering in which we come together to share science, knowledge, experience and concerns—all with a common goal: that our patients benefit from care that is increasingly safe, comfortable and also more cost-effective.

I would also like to expressly thank the industry for its support and commitment. Your collaboration is important, both from a technological and a financial perspective, because it enables us to continue moving forward, innovating and translating solutions into practice that improve the quality of care.

Thank you all for being here, for sharing this space and for continuing to drive the advancement of vascular access with rigour, evidence and commitment.

Welcome to WoCoVA, and welcome to Valencia.