As the sun start starts to set on this presidential term it is time to reflect on what we have achieved so far and how the Society will move forwards into the future. The Congress remains the jewel in the Society’s crown and following the wonderful success of Vienna we are all looking forward to an even more exciting Congress in Munich. Cardiovascular Imaging is a timely and topical subject and forms the basis for the diagnosis and assessment of most cardiovascular diseases. Probably nowhere else in cardiology have the advances been so obvious than those achieved within the twentieth century and now the twenty-first century after centuries during which the only diagnostic tool was the stethoscope.
The European Heart Journal continues to go from strength to strength and we are now receiving over 3000 original articles per annum of which we publish only a very small proportion but those that are published are of the highest scientific quality as reflected in the impact factor and citation index of our journal. Guidelines and educational products continue to be pivotal and indeed will form the basis for our expansion into training programmes which we hope will ultimately lead to certification and revalidation of cardiology as well as the subspecialties across Europe by the UEMS.
By the time we have the ESC Congress 2008 in Munich the Research Foundation will be established and will be, I am sure, very important in facilitating research across the whole of Europe, not confined by national boundaries, but bringing together the best research and research workers throughout the ESC member states.
Finally, the ESC considers its role in prevention as one of its most important political activities. Through our European Affairs activities we are now regularly talking to Health Ministers, European politicians and European parliamentary members. We continue to receive considerable support in our endeavour to implement a prevention policy in each of the countries of the European Union so that we can ultimately achieve our mission to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.
Turning to the future I am sure there are many exciting times to come, consolidating and developing what we have achieved as well as seeking new horizons for our ever expanding society.
Soon there will be changes, Professor Roberto Ferrari will take over as President and a new a Management Group elected. This year the elections will probably be undertaken entirely by postal vote and the results of the elections will be available at the very end of June. Fausto Pinto will take over as Congress Programme Committee chair and we will be looking for a new Editor-in-Chief of the European Heart Journal since Frans Van De Werf, after an extremely successful six years in this position has decided to stand down. I can certainly fully understand the hard work he has put in over the past six years but it has been hard work that has achieved new higher levels of attainment for our journal at a time when the technological changes in publishing have been revolutionary. He will be a hard act to follow.
On 5 and 6 March we will hold this year's Spring Summit and I look forward to discussing issues with all the constituent bodies and seeking their advice so that Roberto Ferrari can plan his own strategy.
Kim Fox
ESC President