ESC Stories

Asim Katbeh, Syria

 First year of ESC membership

2014

 How did you join the community?

I am very proud to be the first ambassador for Syria in young network of cardiovascular imaging (Heart imagers of tommorow) and I am deeply honored to have been selected as representative of my country in young community of ESC Cardiologists of Tommorow. When I joined the EACVI community in 2014, I had had more benefits to communicate with many directors of European cardiovascular imaging programmes, that helped me to get my chance to travel abroad and start my scientific career in cardiology after I had received a support from the European Society of Cardiology grants programme.

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

My best memory was the ESC Congress in London , that was my first chance to represent my national society in international congress and have opportunity to meet exceptional colleagues in an environment of international team work, enthusiasm and friendship. This experience encouraged me to enlarge my working connections and wide my horizons to international level and motivated me to be an active member in European young cardiologists communities and participate in scientific activities with the others.  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

The biggest support I had received was the grant of European Society of Cardiology last year for my project in guiding transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) by cardiovascular imaging , this grant helped me to find my opportunity of training in advance field of cardiology and enabled me to participate in intraoperative decision between interventionists and imagers in structural heart interventions.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

In the future, I hope that young cardiologists through ESC can arrange more scientific meetings and conferences outside Europe and I wish we can establish a special young group of cardiologists who are interested in support of preventive programmes of cardiovascular disease in poor and developing countries beyond Europe.

Alexander Kharlamov, Russia

 First year of ESC membership

2006

 How did you join the community?

I have received my M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) cum laude in 2005 from Ural Medical University (Yekaterinburg, Russia). After finishing the internship in internal medicine in 2007 in Ural Institute of Cardiology (mentor - Prof. Jan Gabinsky, Yekaterinburg, Russia). I started as a physician and translational researcher in the field of interventional cardiology and nanobiotechnologies acquiring the membership of the European Society of Cardiology in 2006 joining the Heart Failure Association and ESC Working Groups (atherosclerosis and vascular biology, cellular biology of myocardium, imaging). I have passed my C.Sc.-doctoral degree course in Cardiology (A.B.D.) at the Ural Medical University in 2008-2011. So, de jure I am in cardiology officially since 2008, but de facto since 1996 having for today almost 20 years of the clinical and translational research experience in general and interventional cardiology, vascular biology and nanobiotechnology.  

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

My best memory with ESC is related to the achievements by the Grants. I was awarded with the ESC Research Grant in 2009 and join a translational cardiovascular team in Radboud UMC (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) under mentorship of Prof. Paul Smits in 2009-2010. This experience inspired me then for further project with the globally renowned expert in interventional cardiology Prof. Patrick Serruys in Erasmus MC and CRO Cardialysis (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) in 2011-2013.

Be honest, I have a lot of nice memories with ESC. I have reported twice 'best' research at ESC Congress in 2012 and 2015 when I could literally exchange opinions. Another dimension is my involvement to the International Editorial Board of the European Heart Journal where I can be on the cutting edge and up-to-date with all new findings and scientific achievements.

One of the brightest memories at ESC Congress 2012 in Munich was my love story. I have met a person I am in love till today, and I hope forever. This is great when the scientific and educational activities could be combined in very healthy fashion with a private life.  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

The biggest support was a ESC Research Grant of 2009 when I joined a translational cardiovascular team at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Radboud UMC (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) under mentorship of Dr. Gerard Rongen and Prof. Paul Smits in 2009-2010. It was truly dramatic step forward which upgraded my level of knowledge and experience in cardiology.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

Generally, I would wish to the ESC Community to merge its synergistic efforts of the international collaboration for the development of the unified approaches of the professional education and management of the patients. 

Bohdan Lewartowski  

 First year of ESC membership

1985

 How did you join the community?

By membership of the Polish Cardiological Society. 

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

My field is experimental cardiology. I have the excellent memories of all meetings of the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology.  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

Direct contact with the fathers of European cardiac elctrophysiology and their followers within the working group.This was always of utmost importance, but the Society was particularly helpful supporting us also financialy during communistic rule in Poland.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

All the best.

Juan Carlos Becerra-Martinez 

 First year of ESC membership

2014

 How did you join the community?

The first time I decided to enter the community of the ESC was in 2014, when by an email I was invited to become a member of this organization, I filled out the on-line forms and it was simple and exciting. And then came the restructuring of the ESC website allowing me to complete my profile and to become member not only of the ESC but also of the working groups and associations.

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

The day you sent me via mail my ESC/SEC credential to my home. It was a very pleasant time !!!

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

Undoubtedly the clinical practice guidelines, which I consult  in my daily clinical and interventional practice; on the other hand your educational resources like articles, presentations, abstracts, etc.  And finally the opportunity to perform online tests and CME exams that keep me up to date.

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

Excellence, vanguard, fellowship.

Thomas Weiss, Austria

 First year of ESC membership

2001

 How did you join the community?

I joined the ESC as a medical student, involved in cardiovascular research. I will always remember my first ESC congress in 2002. I was amazed how easy it was to get in contact with leading scientists who I had previously only known from publications.  

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

My most memorable moments with the ESC are the first presentation I gave in front of many colleagues from all over the world and also the beginning of my active role in the ESC as a member of the nucleus of the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis.

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

The ESC eLearning platform, the ESC journals and of course the treatment guidelines are a great help for my daily clinical practice.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

Grow smarter together.

Richard Sutton

 First year of ESC membership

1980 - FESC 1990

 How did you join the community?

I joined the working group on Cardiac pacing in the 1980s as a junior member to Edgar Sowton who introduced me to assist him in representing the UK.
I became FESC in 1990 and moved up to be Chairman of the Working Group in 1998-2000. This period coincided with major changes. Sam Levy and I worked on the combination of the Arrhythmias working group with Cardiac Pacing. This was a natural conjunction but there were problems ultimately resulting in the successful birth of EHRA. I edited the European Journal of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology 1991-1997. This was the first European journal in the field and it proved to be the forerunner of Europace of which I became Editor-in-Chief at the outset. It was first published in 1999. Since then it has risen to be number 3 journal in its field only marginally behind two competitive American journals. I was replaced by Professor John Camm in 2007. I remain as Founding Editor with great pride. During my tenure as Editor I held a position ex-officio on the Board of EHRA. I have attended and spoken at every Europace and Cardiostim meeting during this whole period.  

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

 The Impact factor of Europace rising above 4.0 this year  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

The meetings of the ESC are excellent. I have attended and spoken at all of these also.
I have been involved in Guidelines preparation for Pacemakers and Defibrillators in 2007 and 2013 and Syncope in 2001, 2004, 2009 as Co-Chair and the current due in 2018. These have proved very valuable to me in terms of clarity of thought and writing and I hope that readers find this so also.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

It should continue.  

Ivana Vranic

  First year of ESC membership

2002

 How did you join the community?

In 2015 I won EHRA inventors award in its first edition, that means a lot to me. I am very grateful for ESC support in promoting my career and providing excellent validation of my research. Also, I see the benefits of working in a network of prestigious peers who create the future in cardiology. My innovation is open for all members of ECS through www.hertzclinic.com under ARVC/D topic where each member of the community can test its patient's ECG for the risk of sudden cardiac death.  

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

 In hectic everyday clinical practice it is unimaginable to work without right guidance that ESC provides through its Guidelines on various issues in Cardiology. Also, ESC provides Grants for Education and Research that is valuable to beneficiaries (patients) and Science (publications). All the way through, all members of the Society feel confident in decision making in their professional life. As a Fellow I receive even more benefits that ease my activities.  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

In hectic everyday clinical practice it is unimaginable to work without right guidance that ESC provides through its Guidelines on various issues in Cardiology. Also, ESC provides Grants for Education and Research that is valuable to beneficiaries (patients) and Science (publications). All the way through, all members of the Society feel confident in decision making in their professional life. As a Fellow I receive even more benefits that ease my activities.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

INFLUENCE: To stay the most influential community of doctors who work together for the better health in everyday cardiology tasks.
INNOVATION: To provide even better solutions in future medicine of curing heart diseases.
NETWORK: To stay as friendly and attentive as it is.

Faizan Rathore  

  First year of ESC membership

2016

 How did you join the community?

I joined the ESC community by becoming a member of EACVI and subscribing to its Echo E-learning course,and getting its Echo handbook .   

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

ESC is a necessity for every practicing cardiologist,with continuously updating evidence and guidelines at your fingertips,with a vast amount of educational and clinical resources,it is impossible to imagine practicing cardiology without having ESC resources by your side.   

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

To continue to expand, introduce more Educational resources for physicians, continue to make leaders in Cardiology and make use of all the latest technologies to bring best evidence at fingertips and in doing so help make better decisions and improve patient care.  

Julia Grapsa, Greece

 First year of ESC membership

2005

 How did you join the community?

I first became an ESC member in 2005, when I decided that I would be trained in Cardiology. Subsequently, I was the ambassador for Greece for EACVI young community and since December 2014, I am chairing the group, representing at the moment 60 different countries around the world. In addition, I am a committee member of ESC online education and of the imaging sub-committee of HFA.
Being a part of the ESC is a real bliss: so many people to meet and interact with, brand new ideas, projects to enhance education and training: all these are the future of Cardiology and within ESC you feel that you have an active role in becoming a part of the future.  

 What is your best memory with the ESC?

The best memory is my role as a chair of EACVI Heart Imagers of Tomorrow - I really love coming into contact with every single young cardiologist and discuss with them, meeting different people, addressing their needs and simply listening.
Young community has a great potential to improve education and training and it is beautiful to discover this power that comes from inside. We value very high teamwork and honesty.  

 What is the biggest support you receive from the ESC in your daily practice or your career development?

ESC is always there for me in daily life. Starting from ESC elearning platform with all the webinars and educational course and ending to the most recent guidelines, ESC is changing our clinical practice and actively makes us better professionals and better human beings. Furthermore, all the conferences taking place is a great opportunity for us for networking, reaching opportunities and developing.  

 In 3 words, what's your wish for the future of the ESC Community?

Already ESC has paid great attention to the young community and we are grateful for that. My wish for young people to participate more and more in the future of ESC, is gradually turning out to a reality.
I am really proud of being an ESC member.