Doctor Steen Dalby Kristensen, FESC has been appointed Chairman of the ESC Credentials Committee 2008 - 2010. He is an interventional cardiologist with particular interest in acute coronary syndromes and antithrombotic therapy and is leading a research group on platelets and coronary thrombosis.
Doctor Kristensen, which are your other responsibilities within the ESC?
I am Vice-President for National Societies and Fellowships, Member of the ESC Congress Programme Committee and the ESC EU Relation Committee and Past Chairperson of the ESC Working Group Thrombosis.
You have been a Fellow since 2003. What was your motivation to become a Fellow of the ESC?
As a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology we are recognized as experts and the network provided within the Fellow Membership is very important for our possibilities of improving the quality of our research and clinical involvement. Also I see ESC as an organisation that is the lead of improving cardiovascular health in Europe and as a Fellow we are more involved in this important mission.
What are the key points of your satisfaction with ESC Fellowship?
The obvious direct pay-back is free congress fee, free subscription to a leading cardiovascular journal, access to the Fellowship services and the Fellows Lounge at the ESC Congress. However the spin-off is more important and in particular networking and fruitful discussions with colleagues all over Europe simply improve your standard of practising cardiology and doing research.
How would you encourage cardiologists to apply for the ESC Fellowship?
We should try to make the advantages of being a Fellow more visible for the members and to involve FESC more in the important tasks of the ESC.
As Chairman of the ESC Credentials Committee what is your vision of the ESC Fellowship in the future?
The criterion for becoming a FESC should remain the same. The title should make the FESC feel proud, and the FESC title should be more widely recognized and used for example in ESC Congress Programmes and publications.
As Chairman of the ESC Credentials Committee, what is the main message you would like to communicate to our audience?
FESC is a recognition of high quality clinical work and/or research.
FESC improves your opportunity for networking with the best cardiologists and cardiovascular scientists in Europe.
FESC is value for money and gives you free access to the ESC Congress, subscription for a leading cardiovascular journal and other privileges.