Interview with the Chairperson of the French Working Group on Heart Failure

Prof. Jean-Noel Trochu, FESC, interviews Prof. Damien Logeart

Topics: Heart Failure (HF)

Date: 30 Jun 2009

Jean-Noel: Dear Damien, may I ask you why you were interested in becoming a doctor?
Damien: I was very interested in biology, whatever aspects. I started by studying general biology as well as mathematics/physics and then I moved to a medical university: human biology and pathology sounded more exciting.
Jean-Noel: Did you have any other influences which gave you the incentive to study medicine?
Damien: I have no relatives in the medical field but I had some relatives with chronic diseases which intrigued me and I was also quite impressed by my family doctor. That has certainly influenced my choice.
Jean-Noel: Where did you study medicine? How long a training did you have after your medical studies?
Damien: I studied medicine at Reims University and then continued with my internship in Paris. In France, the internship for medical specialties requires 4 years in different departments : internal medicine, nephrology, intensive care unit and ... of course cardiology. I also spent three additional years in basic research and completed my clinical training with two years as an assistant professor.
Jean-Noel: Why did you choose cardiology as your specialty?
Damien: I started my fellowship in ICU and I was interested in cardiac diseases which were often the key disorders of my patients. Pathophysiological issues were fascinating and the number of different and attractive subspecialties – intensive care, imaging, interventional procedures, devices - convinced me to choose cardiology.
Jean-Noel: If I understand you correctly, your main interest in the field of cardiology is Heart Failure - why is that?
Damien: I am involved in different fields including Heart Failure but also echography as well as interventional cardiology. Cardiac mechanics and biology of Heart Failure interested me early during my internship and I have been involved in various clinical as well as basic research in this field. In addition, Heart Failure is really a translational subspecialty which I find very interesting: acute care, imaging, functional testing, devices, rehabilitation.
Jean-Noel: What is your present position?
Damien: I am a cardiologist at a university hospital in Paris. I am also involved in a research unit which has been created recently and which works on cardiac biomarkers. I was appointed as chairman of the French Heart Failure Working Group early 2009.
Jean-Noel: How long can you stay as a chairman according to the rules in your country?
Damien: Each two years, a new chairman is being elected.
Jean-Noel: Could you share some of your objectives for the period you will serve as a Chairperson.
Damien: The first goal, which is already ongoing, has been to create a national heart failure registry. We have decided to perform one-day surveys on acute heart failure. This survey includes all patients who are hospitalized due to acute heart failure. The first part was performed in March 2009, and around 1700 patients were included from around 170 hospitals. There is an ongoing follow-up of patients. We hope to repeat similar one-day surveys in the near future. Such surveys could be part of other European surveys.

The second goal is to include more clinical research in this new heart failure network. I hope our group will produce some relevant research protocols which could be carried out by a significant part of this heart failure network. It could also be an important way to attract young doctors.

Another goal, could be to help heart failure specialists in some specific and difficult areas where there are no clear (legal and/or scientific) guidelines, such as out-hospital and in-hospital networks or palliative care patients. In these cases, our group could help to synthesize local experiences and contribute to future achievements.
Jean-Noel: Who provides financial support for your Heart Failure Working Group?
Damien: We get funding from our annual meeting. The French Society of Cardiology helps us a lot regarding administrative work, the website and continuous medical education and I do thank all the staff members for that.

Jean-Noel: Thank you so much for your time and willingness to
answer my questions.