Costa Rican Association of Cardiology

Structure 2023-2024

President: Dr. Melissa Rodriguez Israel

Vice-President: Dr. Wilson Varela Rodriguez

Secretary: Dr. Andrés Garzona Navas

Treasurer: Dr. Enrique Malca Reategui

Number of Members: tbc

Year of Foundation: 1978

Year of ESC affiliation: 2010

History, Mission and Activities

In the fifties, Dr. Rodrigo Cordero arrived in Costa Rica, having just graduated from New York, USA as an internal medicine physician and following a six month fellowship at the Mexican Cardiology Institute. He initiated the systematic study of electrocardiography and cardiovascular semiology with his students, and motivated them to start a Cardiology Fellowship.

A small group of his students benefitted from a cardiology fellowship at the Mexican Cardiology Institute under the tutorial of Dr. Ignacio Chaves. By the end of the sixties, there were about ten cardiologists in Costa Rica, working in both adult and paediatric fields.

In 1973, one of their professors from the Mexican Institute, Dr. Pedro Medrano, prompted them to constitute the Costa Rican Association of Cardiology, but it was not until 1978 that the society officially started. In 1980 the society started with formal statutes under the command of Dr. Alvaro Aguilar Peralta as President.

Since then, every cardiologist graduated in the country as well as coming from an international academic centre, has become a member. The Cardiology fellowship was instituted 30 years ago in cooperation with the University of Costa Rica and under the command of Dr. Roger Vanegas.

Ten years ago the Society initiates the publication of its official Journal, to promote the local research and the discussion of cardiovascular topics. Dr. Mario Speranza, an Argentinean cardiologist practicing in the country, was elected first editor.

In year 2001, Dr. Andres Benavides, then president of the Society, created  the first National Congress of Cardiology that has been taking place every two years since.

Currently the society is undergoing a process of administrative renovation that allows us to insert in the international cardiology community. The society participates actively in academic symposia, workshops and summits for cardiologists, as well as in the Central American and the Caribbean region.  The Costa Rican Association of Cardiology promotes healthy living campaigns  for the general population and gives advice to the national media community on cardiovascular health topics.

The main objectives are to promote the scientific diffusion within cardiology, including related areas, for medicine professionals, nurses and technical professionals, and to reinforce the collaboration with different institutions in order to contribute to the increased health in Costa Rica.

Publications

The official journal of the association is the Revista Costarricense de Cardiología (Costa Rican Journal of Cardiology). The Revista Costarricense de Cardiología is published twice a year and distributed both nationally and internationally. An e-version is available from the web site. A Scientific Electronic Library Online is also available.