Interview with the chairperson of the Heart failure Working Group of Portugal

Marisa Crespo-Leiro, FESC, interviews Dr. Susana Martins, chairperson of the Portuguese Working Group of Heart Failure

Date: 20 Apr 2009

Dear Dr. Martins,

May I start to ask you why you were interested in becoming a doctor?
Very early, I was interested in mechanisms of the mind and the physiology of the body.
Did you have any other influences which gave you the incentive to study medicine?
I always wanted to have a job related to human and social issues and to have a change to help other people. So the influence was not related to a specific person or topic, but to a conjugation of different purposes in my life. Fortunately, medicine has a wide spectrum and in fact we can feel realisation in many different ways.
Where did you perform your medical studies? How long lasted your training after your medical studies?
I studied in Lisbon at the Faculty of Medical Sciences University for 6 years. After that time, I had a general medical training for 2 years, thereafter, I started a Cardiology training for another five years.
Why did you choose cardiology as your specialty?
Cardiology is fascinating because it allows us to save life’s as well as see a direct and objective impact on our work.
If I understand you correctly, your main interest in the field of cardiology is Heart Failure - why is that?
Heart failure is the end of the road.
What is your present position in your country?
I am cardiologist at the Santa Maria University Hospital at the Coronary Intensive Care Unit. I also have a teaching collaboration with the Medical Faculty at Lisbon University.
You are the chairperson of the HF working group in Portugal. How long can you stay as a chairperson according to your rules in your country?
We can only stay for a maximum of 4 years.
Could you share some of your objectives for the period you will serve as a Chairperson?
We have lots of objectives and tasks besides regular activities as collaboration with the National Society and the Congress. At the moment, we are planning activities with National General Practitioner’s Society like courses, congress, meetings, sharing information and opinions. We are developing some educational programs not only for cardiologists or residents but also for GP’s.
We also want to set up a national registry of hospitalisation for heart failure, heart failure units and left ventricular assist devices. We would also like to develop our contacts with others working groups of heart failure.
Finally I would be interested in hearing more about the structure in your Heart Failure organisation?
We are a Working Group of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, so our structure is equal.
Who provides financial support for your HF working group?
The main support is from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, but we can have some agreements with industry.
How is your social life today? What are you doing in your free time?
My social life is full but with less free time than I would like! I love to read, to travel, music and of course to be with my children.

Thank you so much for your time and willingness to answer my questions.
If the HFA can be of any help to you and your group, please feel free to ask me.

Best regards,

Marisa Crespo-Leiro, FESC, MD

Member of the HFA Committee on National Heart Failure Societies.